LATEST NEWS

02.03.2006 David Cameron and nappies – disposable nappy industry comment

To read the full text Click here or download as pdf

21.11.05 Shadow Environment Minister Bill Wiggin MP, hosted a reception in the House of Commons today for the UK disposable nappy industry.

To read the AHPMA Press release Click here or download as pdf

19.05.05 Environment Agency Report shows there is little or no difference between the environmental impact of cloth nappies and disposable nappies.

To read the AHPMA and Environment Agency Press releases Click here for general media and Click here for parenting media.

Click here for details of our forthcoming sustainability review on disposable nappies and continence care products

4th March 2004 Nine out of ten mothers prefer disposable nappies! Click for full text

15 Oct 2003 Second ruling against Cotton Bottoms literature - Click for full text

To view previous press releases visit the archive section

 

At a glance facts about nappies

There is a great deal of misinformation currently circulating about disposable nappies. If you want the facts, not the fiction, read on.

Benefits:

• They are an efficient, convenient and healthy choice
• Designed to keep baby dry and comfortable
• Hassle free, easily disposed after use
• Readily bought almost anywhere
• No start-up costs - just buy as you go
• No washing - saves time
• Wide choice of brands, sizes and styles
• Compact - easy to store and carry around
• In keeping with modern lifestyles

Environment:

• Neither disposable or cloth nappies can claim environmental superiority
• Disposables contribute to UK waste, whereas laundering cloth nappies consumes large amounts of water, energy and detergents
• Both types of nappy use energy in manufacture
• Trees used to make nappies are grown as a crop in well managed forests
• Softwood trees only are used and more are planted than harvested
• Process used to cleanse and purify wood does not involve elemental chlorine bleaching

 

Waste Disposal:

• Disposable nappies contribute 2.4% of household waste (Gov't Strategy Unit Report 'Waste not, Want not' November 2002.) This is a reduction from 4.1% (National Household Waste Analysis Project 1994) A 30% reduction in the size of nappies, and a drop in birth rate have contributed to this.
• Disposable nappies only account for between 0.1% to 0.15% of the total UK waste buried in landfill every year.
• Around 80% of a used disposable nappy and its content are biodegradable and can degrade if conditions in landfill permit
• It cannot be determined how long it will take for any material to break down in landfill as this depends on the construction and management of each individual site
• Disposable nappies do not pose a public health problem when disposed in landfill