A study to find out the environmental impact of using disposable and reusable nappies has found there is little or nothing to choose between them.
Although the green credentials of the two types of nappy were found to be the same, the Environment Agency's report claims there is still plenty manufacturers and parents can do to protect the environment.
The agency claims disposable nappies, which accounted for 94 per cent of the market in 1999, are responsible for 400,000 tonnes of the UK's annual waste. Most are deposited in landfill sites.
There were 2.5 billion nappies sold in the UK in 2001 - nearly 7 million nappies a day - and they account for 2.5 per cent of annual household waste.
The study's findings will surprise many parents who use reusable nappies, 60 per cent of whom told researchers they did so for environmental reasons.
The main environment impact from reusable nappies comes from the electricity and fuel used when washing and drying them.
Tricia Henton, director of environmental protection at the agency, said: "Although there is no substantial difference between the environmental impacts of the three systems studied 'disposable, home use reusable and commercially laundered reusable', it does show where each system can be improved.
"We hope manufacturers of disposable nappies will use this study to improve the environmental performance of their products, particularly the quantities going to landfill."
But Ms Henton said they could still do their bit for the environment. "If parents using reusables want to improve the environment they will need to look more closely at how they launder nappies. For instances, can the nappies be washed in a bigger load at a lower temperature?"
For each nappy type studied, all the materials, chemicals and energy consumed during manufacture, use and disposal were identified and the resulting emissions to the environment accounted for.
The aim of the study, carried out by independent environmental consultants for the agency, was to assess the "potential life cycle environmental impacts" of using the two types of nappy in the UK during 2001/2.
Around 675,000 children are born each year in the UK and they wear nappies until they are two years and two months old on average. The Environment Agency study argues more can be done to reduce the impact nappies have on the environment.
|
