The UK Environment Agency has issued a report that shows disposable nappies overall do not have a better or worse
environmental performance versus reusable nappies.
The facts as we know them today...
A major study has been carried out to determine what, if any, difference in environmental impacts exist between
disposable nappies and reusable nappies.
Following an initial study in 2005, an independent update, sponsored by the UK Environment Agency, Department of Environment
Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and Waste Resource Action Programme (WRAP) was released in October 2008. The study entitled
"An updated lifecycle assessment study for disposable and reusable nappies",
confirmed its previous conclusion that overall no system clearly had a better or worse environmental performance.
This rigorous study assessed the wide range of activities associated with the manufacture and the use and disposal of disposable
and reusable nappies, all of which have an environmental impact.
It showed that reusable nappies use water, energy and detergents and disposable nappies contribute solid waste to landfill. It also
showed a significant reduction in the global warming potential of disposable nappies by 12% since the first study was carried out in 2005.
This is primarily due to a reduction in weight of disposable nappies by 13.5% and a reduction in manufacturing energy requirements.
These conclusions demonstrate that all activities have an environmental impact – some have immediate visibility (waste to landfill),
whilst others go unseen (energy, water and chemicals used in washing).
Our point of view...
Huggies® know that disposable nappies provide a safe, convenient and hygienic way of helping parents to enjoy their day-to-day
life with their babies, while ensuring their babies receive great skin care in the most comfortable way.
While reusable and disposable nappies have an equivalent environmental performance, it is important that Kimberly-Clark continues
working on reducing the impact of its Huggies® products on the environment.
You may be interested to know what we are doing...
While Huggies® is dedicated to providing parents with the best possible disposable nappies for their little ones, we are also working
hard on minimising the impact of our products on the environment.
You may be interested to see the work Kimberly-Clark (the maker of Huggies®) is doing in a number of areas to reduce its impact on the
environment.
Kimberly-Clark (the maker of Huggies®) has been identified as the sustainability leader in the personal products industry for the
fourth consecutive year by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. To read more about this
click here
