Real Nappy Tartan launched for Homecoming
Environment minister Roseanna Cunningham has joined with Aberdeen Forward’s real nappy project and real nappy networks across Scotland to launch a special tartan nappy to mark the Year of Homecoming and encourage parents of young tots to save money and reduce household waste by switching to real nappies.
Designed in conjunction with Strathmore Woollen Company the registered real nappy tartan is called ‘The MacNappy’ and has been designed to stimulate demand for reusable nappies. Real nappies are made of lightweight fluffy fabrics which can be machine washed and reused over and over again; while disposable nappies can be used only once.
Eight million disposable nappies are thrown away every day in the UK, 3 billion every year. In households with a baby, nappies make up about half the volume of the weekly bin and the vast majority of disposable nappies (90%) end up in landfill, where they take hundreds of years to break down.
By using washable nappies, parents can potentially save hundreds of pounds compared to the cost of using disposables – even once the cost of washing them is taken into account.
Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Perth where the launch took place said:
“I am delighted to be here today to add my support to the Real Nappy Network as they launch the Real Nappy Tartan here in Perth, which provides both a colourful and fun way to promote the work they do and a new great looking design for the product.
“The Real Nappy Network does really good work in promoting alternatives to the disposable nappies which constitute such a significant part of the waste that we send to landfill.
“Real nappies save waste, save energy and save money and as this new tartan shows, they can look good too!”
Commenting on the special tartan nappy idea, Dr Nicki Souter of Waste Aware Scotland said: “Grampian and other real nappy networks joining forces to create this real nappy tartan is a great idea to promote this. By using real nappies parents can not only save money during tough economic times, but can also contribute to improving the quality of Scotland’s environment today and for the future.’’
She went on: “There’s a range of things we can all do to limit the amount of everyday waste ending up in landfill sites, and parents of babies across Scotland can play their part by switching to reusable nappies instead of using disposables.’’
The real nappy tartan will be used for promotional events, uniforms and real nappies. To find out more or find your local network visit:
http://www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk/html/realNappies.asp
Notes to Editors
The ‘Real Nappy Campaign’ was designed to reduce the waste impact of nappies by stimulating the demand for real nappies. Waste Aware Scotland in partnership with WRAP developed this campaign which included the production of a range of communication materials for use by both the general public, and the Retail and Healthcare sectors across Scotland.
The Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG) was set up in 2000 with the remit of changing public attitudes and behaviour towards domestic waste. One of SWAG’s key aims is to deliver the national campaign, Waste Aware Scotland. This campaign aims to raise awareness of, and change public attitudes and behaviour towards Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The campaign is delivered at a local level through a range of campaigning activities and in parallel with the implementation phase of the National Waste Plan for Scotland.
For more information visit www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk
Aberdeen Forward is an ENTRUST enrolled environmental body. Scottish Charity No: SC034866. Registered in Scotland, Company No: 200999