At last a biodegradable nappy! (Nature Boy and Girl Nappies)

Member Name: Mels

Product:	Nature Boy and Girl Nappies
Date:	02/12/00 (6260 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: biodegradable, better for the environment compared to the leading brands, same price as leading brands

Disadvantages: still take approx 6 years to decompose, and are only 70% biodegradable

The decision to use disposable or cloth nappies can cause big debates between parents. On the one hand the invention of disposable nappies were a huge godsend for many of use, due to the sheer convenience and time saved in washing cloth nappies. However, in recent years it has been brought to light that disposable nappies have a huge impact on the environment, and with an ever-increasing population the problem is getting worse.

The trouble with disposable nappies is that they account for up to 8% of the UK’s household waste. The main concern is that the majority of waste disposed goes into landfill sites (holes in the ground). As more and more waste is produced, more and more disposal space is required. Suitable sites for landfill are rapidly being consumed.

Nappies are a major contributor to this problem. In addition to this, they also contain raw sewage, which consists of bacteria, viruses and live vaccines, which in turn seeps into our groundwater, which pollutes it. Methane gas is also produced by the rotting sewage, which is a greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming.

The longer-term issue, which needs to be addressed, is the environmental impact caused by the disposal of nappies into landfill sites. Nappies take hundreds of years to decompose, and consequently will become a problem inherited by our children and grandchildren.

Most people like myself think of reusable nappies as a return to the dim and distant past with complicated folding methods and safety pins, and most of all tons and tons of washing, as if I don’t have enough already!! I am aware that the modern types of reusable nappies are designed like disposables with Velcro fastenings, and flushable liners. However, these nappies cost around £10 per nappy to buy, but will save money in the long term.

I decided to use disposable nappies when my daughter was born, but wasn’t really aware of the environmental problem that d
isposable nappies caused. It is only recently that I have become aware of this ever-increasing problem, and I feel awfully guilty for contributing to it. However, I find that disposables are very convenient and as a working mother, I share the care of my child with my partner and her grandparents. I personally would find it difficult to use cloth nappies, and keep up with the washing and drying of them. Even considering the nappy laundry services available, this would cost more than using disposables.

When shopping in Sainsbury’s a couple of weeks ago I noticed a special offer on some new disposable nappies called “Nature Boy and Girl”. These nappies claim to be biodegradable, thus environmentally friendly. They are a Swedish invention and instead of being made from plastic, they are made from compostable biological maize film that breathes and therefore is still good for babies skin.

I decided to give them a try as they were the same price as Pampers (£5.65) and had the same amount of nappies per pack. They were on a “3 for 2” offer.

On first impressions, they looked a lot smaller than Pampers, and appeared to have a plastic film on the outside of the nappy. I normally buy the Maxi size for my daughter, but found them to be too small, so I took the other two packs back, and swapped them for Maxi Plus, which were a better fit.

I have been using the nappies for 2 weeks now and I am very pleased, as my daughter hasn’t developed any nappy rash, and they seem to work just as well as the leading brands, with no messy leaks.

I decided to have a look on the Swedish website, which is also translated in English to find out more (www.naty.se). I have listed below some of the points highlighted on their website: -

“70% of a Nature Boy & Girl nappy is biodegradable and of biological origin, compared to about approximately 30-40% for conventional disposable nappies.” r>
“The biodegradable plastic in Nature Boy & Girl is not only watertight but also “breathes” resulting in a more airy, drier and comfortable nappy.”

“The outer bio plastic is based on GM-free maize starch and a decomposable and compostable 100% biodegradable polyester – which is 100% biodegradable in the natural environment.”

“Nobody is comparing Nature Boy & Girl to cotton nappies. Most people buy disposable nappies for convenience: there is finally a disposable which is more environmentally friendly than the others and has superior performance.”

After reading the information, I am quite happy to carry on using the nappies. However, I do still feel that cotton nappies are far better for the environment as they can be washed and used over and over again. With the Nature Boy & Girl Nappy you are still adding to the amount of waste dumped into landfills, but at least they won’t take as long to de-compose like conventional nappies (approximately 6 years instead of 100 years).

Apparently you can buy biodegradable nappy sacks made by the same company, but I haven’t seen these on sale in my local Sainsbury’s yet. The only places that sell the Nature Boy & Girl Nappy at present are Sainsbury’s.

If you are concerned about the environment when using disposable nappies, and don’t fancy using cloth nappies, I would definitely recommend these nappies to you.