Cloth nappies the solution to the worldwide shortage

Press Release

4 OCTOBER 2012

Cloth nappies the solution to the worldwide disposable nappy shortage

With a possible shortage of disposable nappies looming worldwide, reusable cloth nappies can provide a very real solution for parents worried about how to look after their babies’ bottoms. Following an explosion and fire last Saturday afternoon at a chemical plant in Himeji, Japan, production has ceased at Nippon Shokubai, the company responsible for the leading production of super-absorbent polymers used in the manufacturing of disposable nappies for the international market. Industry watchdogs say if work at the fire-damaged factory remains suspended for some time, it could seriously affect the supply of disposable nappies to New Zealand and the world.

“Zero Waste estimates over seven million disposable nappies are used in New Zealand every week,” says The Nappy Lady, mum and sustainable parenting advocate Kate Meads of Tauranga. “One million disposable nappies are used every day in our country. If the world is on the brink of a disposable nappy crisis, could see empty supermarket shelves and parents buying disposables on the internet for inflated prices – much like the Marmageddon crisis we’re also experiencing here in New Zealand.

“But there is a simple, sustainable solution to this problem. Modern cloth nappies are in ready, ample supply, and once parents start using them, you’ll never have to worry about running out of nappies again. Simply wash them, hang them to dry overnight, and they’re ready for another round of bottom changes.”

Modern cloth nappies are so advanced in design that they’re just as convenient to use as a disposable, Kate asserts. “And unlike disposables, they’re environmentally conscious and will save parents thousands of dollars per child. A single baby will need 6,000 nappy changes in the first two-and-a-half years of life, and at around 50c per nappy, parents are literally throwing their money away.

“If disposables suddenly skyrocket in price because of a worldwide shortage, cash-strapped parents will really struggle to afford this basic baby product. Nappies are something you really can’t do without if you have a baby. That’s another reason modern cloth nappies are such a good choice – they can save parents around $4,000 when compared to what you spend on disposables.”

Kate is urging parents who are worried about running out of disposable nappies not to stockpile them in fear of a shortage, but to give modern cloth nappies a go instead. “Every parent should have modern cloth nappies in their survival kit,” she says. “Modern cloth nappies are nothing like what our mothers and grandmothers used. They don’t need scrubbing, they’re comfortable and they are easy to use, easy to wash and take no more time to put on than a disposable nappy.

Now is the time to investigate switching from disposable to cloth nappies. Kate, The Nappy Lady is currently working with 14 local New Zealand Councils where parents can get a variety of different cloth nappy trial packs in her various nappy schemes, with some packs worth up to $150 worth of modern cloth nappies for only $20. Check with your local council or The Nappy Lady Website (www.thenappylady.co.nz) to see if there is a Nappy Lady workshop near you so you can make a rational, informed decision about your options.

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