Are cloth nappies or disposable nappies better for the environment?
Many British families use disposable nappies. According to research by the Women’s Environment Network, about three billion nappies are thrown away each year, accounting for as much as 4% of rubbish going to landfill sites. However, there are some parents who are convinced that cloth nappies are more environmentally friendly. Experts, though, say the answer isn’t so clear-cut. Research has suggested that both disposable and cloth nappies affect the environment negatively – just in different ways. For example, disposable nappies require more raw materials to manufacture, and they generate more landfill solid waste that can take an extremely long time to degrade. However, cloth nappies use up large amounts of electricity and water for washing and drying. Plus, commercial nappy service delivery vans consume fuel and create air pollution. Dr Laura Jana, a paediatrician, agrees that there’s no clear winner in the nappy debate. She researched the controversy while co-writing the book Heading
