How To Reduce the Ecological Impact of Using One-Use Disposable Nappies?

by Charndra Josling
(Australia)

The good news is that you can help save the planet as you save money on this daily cost of having a baby or young toddler.

You'll Be Happy to Discover That Simple Changes Will Make a Big Difference in the Carbon Footprint of Your Baby.

These 5 tips will help you to reduce the 'Eco footprint' of your baby.

By buying in bulk, purchasing some eco-nappies, emptying your disposables into the compost, switching to using some washable nappies and practicing some baby pottying or infant potty training you can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of your baby. Disposable nappies are quite convenient, but they come at a cost - ecologically and financially. The good news is that you can help save the planet as you save money on this daily cost of having a baby or young toddler.

These 5 Tips Will Help You to Reduce the Ecological Impact of Using Disposable, One Use Nappies:

1. Precycle by Buying Your Disposable Nappies in Bulk
Buying in bulk is called "Precycling" as you are preventing waste coming into the home and then needing to be managed. You'll reduce packaging waste, transport costs and financial costs.

2. Purchase A Packet of Eco Disposable Nappies
Whichever type, they have a lower ecological impact. You can get compostable nappies and ones that you can flush, called hybrids that may be part washable and part disposable. You can reduce waste in landfill and help your garden by burying your eco nappies or flushing special types down the toilet.

3. Empty Disposable Nappies Into the Compost to Reduce Waste Bulk in the Bin and Landfill
By slicing open the top of a disposable with scissors and shaking the wet gel contents into your compost or a garden hole, you can reduce the volume of waste in your bin each week as you provide the garden with water-retaining crystals and other bio-degradable products. It takes a few seconds, and their bulk is reduced by heaps. 50% of household waste is nappies in a house with ONE child in full-time disposables. By emptying them, that volume and stinky mass will be greatly reduced.

4. Get A 1 Day Supply of Washable, Modern Cloth Nappies for Your Baby to Wear
With just 7 modern cloth nappies you'll prevent waste each time they are used. Think of them as an item of clothing in the wardrobe of your baby and buy one at a time. Modern Cloth Nappies are washed and re-used, saving you money as well. Use them all on one day of the week, or use one cloth nappy each day; your eco karma will rise each time your baby wears a washable nappy.

5. Begin to Practice Elimination Communication (EC) So Your Baby Wears Nappies Casually
When your baby wears nappies part time, overall less nappies are used, them tossed or washed. This will reduce the environmental impact of any sort of nappy use. Baby Pottying is how baby hygiene was managed before disposable nappies made us lose these instinctive and cultural ways of helping our babies learn toilet skills gradually. Discover how to get started with infant potty training or EC at www.PartTimeNappyFree.com.au

With these 5 tips you will significantly reduce the environmental impact of your baby. Best of all, you can do one at a time as you gradually reduce your eco footprint.

One baby step at a time really adds up when lots of people are doing it. Keep the ideas in mind at the next nappy change - offer your baby a potty break, empty out that disposable you bought in bulk and then reach for a cloth nappy - the Earth will thank you and you'll set a wonderful example of sustainability for your family and friends.

Charndra has a free and popular guided tour about EC at www.PartTimeEC.com It's unique on the web!