The latest report by the Environment Agency confirms that reusable nappies, if used and laundered according to manufacturer’s guidelines, can reduce the global warming impact of using reusable nappies over disposables by an incredible 40%.*

Reusable nappies, if used in an environmentally responsible way, create significantly less environmental impact than disposable nappies.

The new report is an update of the Environment Agency’s initial report on the life cycle assessment study for disposable and reusable nappies, which was released in May 2005. The much criticised 2005 report seemed to conclude that there was no significant difference between the environmental impacts of disposable and reusable nappies.

Jane Johnstone of Perfectly Happy People says “This update has been published to correct the misunderstanding created by the initial report. It confirms that responsible use of reusable nappies would reduce the modern parent’s environmental impact. Many people questioned the 2005 report and this led to the government commissioning this latest update. Reusable nappies are not only better for the environment, as confirmed by this report, but can save parents considerable amounts of money, which is particularly resonant in the present economic climate.”

Defra’s findings have apparently been contradicted in the Sunday Times, who have latched on to the report’s findings regarding laundry habits. They state that if parents used tumble dryers and washed the nappies at 90oC the carbon impact could ‘spiral to 993kg of CO2.’ However, most parents wash at more sensible temperatures!

* An updated Lifecycle Assessment Study for Disposable and Reusable Nappies, published 17/10/08.

Copies of the latest report are available from www.defra.gov.uk

This entry was posted on Friday, October 31st, 2008 at 3:58 pm and is filed under Tips, Press Clippings, Office chatter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.