Press Statement

4th March 04

AHPMA

Nine out of ten mothers prefer disposable nappies!

Nine out of ten mothers prefer disposable nappies! Disposable nappies play an important role in the daily care routine of most babies. Over 90%(1) of parents choose to use them for their children, as they are efficient, healthy and convenient.

Disposables have come a long way since they were introduced into the UK market some 30 years ago. They are now very compact, highly efficient and cost effective. In the past ten years the size and weight of a disposable nappy has been reduced by some 30% which means less waste and less packaging! Modern absorbent materials offer unrivalled success at keeping a baby dry. They are also one of the few everyday products which actually cost less than they used to. Fierce competition in the market has brought the price of nappies down, making them more affordable than ever before.

Few mothers choose to wash cloth nappies, when the modern alternative is an ultra convenient, healthy and efficient option. Eco-conscious parents can also be assured that there is no significant environmental difference between disposable cloth nappies, the decision as to which type to use should be based on whatever suits baby and lifestyle best.

END

Issued by: Tracy Stewart at AHPMA

Further Information: See Editors Notes below or contact Tracy Stewart or Peter Stephenson 01483 418221

(1) MINTEL Market Intelligence Report April 2002

EDITORS NOTES 'Real Nappy Week' (Campaign to promote cloth nappies)
Real Nappy Week runs from 29th March to 4th April 2004. Editors are advised to check information about disposable nappies where it has been supplied by cloth nappy campaigners, as in previous years a great deal of inaccurate and misleading information has been published. AHPMA are happy to provide accurate information and data upon request.

Environment
A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on both disposable and cloth nappies commissioned by the Environment Agency has been completed, and is expected to be published by the end of March 2004. This will identify the true environmental impacts of both systems and will allow environmentally conscious parents to make an informed choice as to which type of nappy they will use.

The LCA will also create a platform of up-to-date, unbiased and informed data for both sides in this long running debate.

Neither disposable or cloth nappies can claim environmental superiority, both have small albeit differing impacts. Disposable nappies add to household waste whereas laundering cloth nappies consumes large amounts of energy, electricity and water. Waste figures currently in use for disposable nappies are as follows:

2.4 % of household waste (UK Gov't Strategy Unit report, Nov 2002)
0.1 % of total UK waste which goes to landfill

Waste Management
The UK is overly dependent on landfill as a method of managing waste and buries around 80% of all waste created. Successive Governments have failed to develop alternative methods unlike other member of the Europeans Union. Disposable nappies are compatible with all forms of integrated waste management but have been targeted by Government and campaigners because of the lack of alternative methods of waste disposal.

Cost
Claims of saving £600 - £1,200 by using cloth nappies are unrealistic as the average total spend on disposables is £500 - £600. This is based on average use of 4.5 nappies per day for two-and-a-half years and an average cost of 12.3 pence per nappy.

Least expensive option - Terry squares
Middle price bracket - modern cloth systems and disposable nappies
Most expensive - Nappy Laundry services (usually)

According to MINTEL Market Intelligence the average price of an individual disposable nappy has fallen from 15.1 p in 1997 to 12.3p in 2002. The reason being a declining birth rate and fierce high street competition.

WRAP
The government has awarded £800,000 to the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to fund schemes to persuade parents to change from using disposable nappies to cloth nappies including cash incentives. AHPMA believes this to be against all basic principles of fair trading.

Biodegradability
Over 80% of a used disposable nappy and its content will breakdown if conditions in landfill permit. Disposable nappies should not be focused on in isolation of all other items routinely disposed in this way.