by Laura | Jul 31, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
They’re becoming more common – “eco-disposable nappies”. Biodegradable, chlorine free, fragrance free, chemical free, cloth-like … the list goes on and the packaging is convincing.
But I’ve always wondered – are these claims true or is it greenwashing? Can these nappies truly be compostable?
To find out for yourself, look up company websites or nappy packaging – what % of their nappies is compostable? Figures range from 10% upwards.
This means, only a part of the nappies is compostable. They still contain plastic, as a minimum, in: the elastic in the leg cuffs, the tabs that fasten the nappy, and the backing of the tabs (that you rip off to fasten the nappy).
So, no nappy is 100% compostable.
Because of this, even compostable nappies belong in the waste-to-landfill (red lidded) bin.
“All nappies, even those that claim to be biodegradable or compostable need to go in the waste-to-landfill bin. At present, there is no known brand of compostable nappies that can completely break down in a commercial composting system. This is due to the plastic elements such as liners, tabs, and elastic that remain as residue after being processed. The plastic components equate to more than 10% which is above the acceptable contamination.” https://www.whichbin.sa.gov.au/a-z-items
With babies needing on average 5000 nappy changes from birth to toilet training, that’s 5000 disposable nappies in landfill. Or, just 24 modern cloth nappies. More info on that topic here.
by Laura | Jun 6, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
Thanks to a grant from the Waste Authority, Green Skills has been training local Parent Educators how to use modern cloth nappies, and provided nearly all Perth’s maternity hospitals with an Antenatal Cloth Nappy Demo kit.
The kits contain a range of cloth nappies plus info on how to wash them (same as washing clothes) and some environmental mythbusting (let there be no confusion: reusable trumps disposable). If you’re having a baby in Perth, you can check out cloth (and disposable) nappies at these hospitals:
Armadale Health Service
Joondalup Health Campus
King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
The Family Birth Centre (King Edward Memorial Hospital)
St John of God Hospital, Midland
St John of God Hospital, Murdoch
St John of God Hospital, Mt Lawley
St John of God Hospital, Subiaco
Glengarry Private Hospital
Osborne Park Hospital
If you would like to book a cloth nappy demo for your organisation or join our Cloth Nappy Project, contact Aline in the office 9360 6667 or on email – [email protected]
This project is funded by the Waste Authority through the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account.
by Laura | Feb 6, 2019 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
In our line of work, we meet with so many interesting, committed, passionate people.
Last week, we had one of those meetings – with Kristy Wiegele and Georgi Wardrop from St of John of God’s Mt Lawley Hospital (pictured). These midwives were already *full bottle* on modern cloth nappies; they were just missing the actual nappies to show their parents-to-be.
Not anymore! Thanks to a project funded by the Waste Authority, Green Skills has provided them with a Cloth Nappy Demo kit – specially for Antenatal Educators, full of modern nappies and the information parents need to use them.
They join the list of cloth nappy-friendly, participating hospitals:
- Armadale Health Service
- Joondalup Health Campus
- King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women
- The Family Birth Centre
- St John of God Hospital, Murdoch
- St John of God Hospital, Mt Lawley
- St John of God Hospital, Subiaco
Interested in a free kit for your antenatal clinic? There are only 2 left! Midwives and Parent Educators can contact Aline in the office 9360 6667 or on email – [email protected]
This project is funded by the Waste Authority through the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account.
by Laura | Aug 22, 2018 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
Expecting a baby? Come see us at Coogee Community Centre for a Reusable Nappy information session, on Saturday September 15th at 1pm.
With modern cloth nappies, running out of nappies is like running out of clean clothes. Just put on the washing machine! (No last-minute trip to the shops required)
We’ll show you the convenience, the no-soak cleaning, and the maths – it really all stacks up.
More info & tix here
Presenter: Aline is an Environmental Scientist, Community Educator and Mum of 4. She is passionate about sustainable and slow living, and enjoys sharing strategies that really work.
by Laura | May 15, 2018 | Green Skills Inc. - Sustainability Non-Profit
Expecting a baby? Come see us at Clarkson Library for a Reusable Nappy information session, on June 9th at 10am.
With modern cloth nappies, running out of nappies is like running out of clean clothes. Just put on the washing machine! (No last-minute trip to the shops required)
We’ll show you the convenience, the no-soak cleaning, and the maths – it really all stacks up.
Free tix and more info here
Presenter: Aline is an Environmental Scientist, Community Educator and Mum of 4. She is passionate about sustainable and slow living, and enjoys sharing strategies that really work.
