You’d have to be living on the moon to not know that the world, environmentally speaking, is going to hell in a handbasket. In fact, the moon is probably where we’ll end up if we don’t take action on waste and climate change.
Take nappies, for instance. In the UK alone, around 8 million disposable nappies make their way into landfill EACH DAY - and these take around 500 years to break down.
Parents, by switching to even just one reusable nappy each day, can personally prevent around 912 disposables going to landfill in the first 2.5 years of their baby’s life.
In recent years, more eco-disposables have entered the market, salving the conscience of busy parents by promising convenience with ‘greenness.’ It’s worth noting, however, that such nappies’ claims to environmental friendliness are usually based on how they’re made and what they're made from and packaged in: not whether they’ll break down in landfill.
Even Mama Bamboo, who make nappies that will largely break down, have information on their website about necessary conditions: hot compost (ie not what UK landfill offers) is preferable and more rapid, and the nappies’ non-biodegradable elements will still need to be removed.
Some may argue that reusable nappies use more energy due to the washing and drying they require, but most modern offerings feature removable liners to hasten the latter.
It’s been estimated that if nappies are washed at no higher than 60℃ and then air dried, their carbon footprint will be up to 40 per cent lower than disposables: use for subsequent siblings, and this percentage increases even further - and that’s without even taking landfill into account.
Think, also about how easily you can air dry when choosing your nappies: bamboo ones, for example, are made from natural materials but take longer to dry, whereas microfibre is quick-drying but synthetic.
Best eco-friendly nappies
Bare & Boho Onesize Nappy Bundle
New to the reusable market, these OSFM (approx 4kg to 20kg) nappies are from Australia and feature an ‘all in two’ design - so at changing time, you only change the inner, leaving the outer to be reused for up to four changes.
This means there’s less bulk to carry around when out and about, which will appeal to on-the-go parents, while a great fit and a wipeable shell all score big ticks, too.
The Bamboo cotton inserts and multi-layer microfibre booster pads simply snap or lie in the shell’s lining and the bright, fun designs are a cute bonus - but a dry, comfy baby and wet-free clothing surely seal the deal.
£21 | The Nappy Lady | Buy it Now
Bamaboo Biodegradable Nappies
Having launched just last year, Mama Bamboo are relative newcomers to the eco-nappy market, yet are already making worthy changes, such as now packing their Essentials range in fully-compostable corn starch film.
Made from 100 per cent biodegradable bamboo fibre layers and 100 per cent biodegradable chemical free FSC approved pulp, the nappies don’t only require less energy and fewer chemicals in their manufacture; they’ll also be up to 80 per cent degraded within 6 months of industrial composting (compared to 500 years for a standard disposable nappy.)
The side tabs and elasticated back panel aren’t decomposable but, on the other hand, nor did the nappy leak.
From £10 | Mama Bamboo | Buy it now
Kit and Kin Eco Nappies
First launched in 2017, Kit & Kin nappies use fewer chemicals than standard nappy brands and the core is made from chlorine-free fluff pulp, harvested from sustainably managed forests.
They’re super-absorbent: the baby was still dry and comfortable after a full night’s sleep which not only means fewer wake-ups, but also, from an eco-perspective, fewer nappies and less waste.
Biodegradable materials are used for the front panel, tapes, anti-leak barriers and packaging, and further eco-boxes are ticked with the brand’s promise to fund the purchase of 1 acre of threatened tropical rainforest through the World Land Trust with every 10 nappy subscriptions sold.
From £8.00 | Kit & Kin | Buy it now
Bambino Mio Misolo
The Bambino Mio Misolo combines reusable nappy and waterproof outer in one, making it as easy to use as a disposable.
It stayed super soft even after a number of washes and comes in a vibrant range of colours and designs - and, thanks to its adjustable poppers, its size can be adjusted as your baby grows - meaning that you only need to purchase your nappies once.
Moisture is wicked away from baby’s skin by a concealed microfibre core, which is absorbent and quick-drying - but be aware that it is derived from plastic.
Cleverly, though, this can be removed from inside the nappy, which improves both washing performance and drying time, thus notching up more eco-benefits.
It tends to be a little bulky, so size up in clothing to accommodate comfortably!
£15.99 | Bambino Mio | Buy it now
TotsBots Bamboozle
These beautifully soft, silky nappies are made in the UK from natural bamboo, which is one of the eco-friendliest materials out there: it’s fast growing, doesn’t need pesticides or fertilisers and consumes less water than cotton.
Compared to a microfibre nappy, a Bamboozle will take a long time to dry; on the other hand, it’s leak-proof and absorbent.
As with all TotsBots nappies, it’s also Oekotex certified, which guarantees that no harmful chemicals are present in the product; no other UK nappy company wears this badge.
A well-fitted nappy, it sat nice and close around baby’s bottom, and then a waterproof wrap provided another layer of ‘containment.’
From £10.99 | Tots Bots | Buy it now
Eco by Naty
I was slightly alarmed by how flimsy these disposable nappies felt as I didn’t see how they could possibly contain the baby’s frequently massive wees.
Having reassured myself that they went the distance on day trips, I took the overnight plunge and was impressed: there was a bit of leakage around one leg, but nothing that seemed to disturb baby’s comfort levels.
As for this Swedish brand’s eco-credentials, these can’t be faulted: everything in the range, from nappies to potty to feminine care, is sustainable and they pride themselves on having certification from organisations that demand the highest levels of ecological excellence.
From £6.25 | Naty by Nature | Buy it now
Bambinex Teddy Nappies
These daytime nappies are a superb answer to anyone who says that reusable nappies aren’t environmentally friendly because of the energy they consume in drying.
Not only are Teddy nappies incredibly soft and snuggly on baby’s bottom, but they dry rapidly, needing no longer than a couple of hours in a warm room before they’re ready to wear again.
They’re also very affordable and will stay soft even in hard water areas. Swings and roundabouts though … this ease of drying is due to the fact that they’re made from microfibre, which is a 100 per cent polyester fabric - super absorbent and quick-drying but, yes, synthetic.
Each nappy comes with a separate booster, which further facilitates drying but can also be removed if an outfit demands a less bulky bottom.
From £10.99 | The Nappy Lady | Buy it now
Baba & Boo Nappies
The designs alone make these nappies completely desirable, but their accessible price point and practicality are bonuses too.
They’re classed as ‘one size’ but probably will be too big for the first month or so; after this, the adjustable popper system allows the nappies to grow with the child.
Pockets enable you to insert an absorbent insert (or two, if your baby is a heavy wetter - although this will obviously make a difference to bulkiness and, therefore, outfits - which, if you were swayed by the fab designs in the first place … you get the picture).
Baba & Boo nappies are also waterproof - so no need for extra wraps or linings - and an elasticated gusset provides protection against explosions.
£14.95 | Lizzie's Real Nappies | Buy it now
Little Love Bum all-in-one
With cannabis derivatives and their stress relieving abilities being so of the moment, who wouldn’t want to explore the notion of hemp on a baby’s bottom?
And actually, yes - even though not ingested, it will have an impact on stress because these nappies are incredibly easy to use: the addition of bamboo makes them fantastically absorbent and no stuffing or lining is required for use.
The inner holds a stay-dry liner which keeps baby comfortable; additionally, the nappies are made to be OSFM (one size fits most) and no fussing with wraps is required, since the outer is waterproof.
£18.49 | Little Lovebum | Buy it now
Nappychat Eco-Nappies
These eco-disposable nappies are soft to the touch and boast an absorbent core that’s made from recycled wood pulp from sustainable sources - and they’re completely free from chlorine, lotions, dyes and latex.
Baby seemed perfectly comfortable, staying dry overnight and I loved the fact that, despite him going through a particularly wriggly phase, the nappy was easy to put on, it stayed in place and there were no leaks.
A handy wetness indicator signalled when it was time for a change, which tends to mean less wasted time - and nappies! Other eco-benefits?
The packaging is made renewable sugarcane, which dispenses with plastic, and for every subscription sold, the company donates a pack of nappies to the Hygiene Bank.
From £7.83 with subscription | Mum & You | Buy it now
Verdict:
I’m definitely a stickler for reusable over disposable but, if you really can’t face washing nappies, then the transparency around the Mama Bamboo products is heartening: you’ll know exactly how to get the most eco-benefits out of the product and exactly where (and why) they can’t deliver.
That said, if you’re willing to take the reusable nappy plunge - and really, why not, when the market has evolved so much as to do everything except wipe the baby’s bottom for you? - then Bare & Boho might just be the nappy to convert even the most time-poor and washing-averse of parents.
Plus, the designs are so gorgeous that we can pretty much dispense with outfits - and reducing textile waste is yet another eco string in our bows. Winning on all fronts!
