The Guardian
Climate love
Climate love
Ann Nyambura
5 w
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Campaigners urge action over carbon footprint of disposable nappies
Environmental campaigners are calling on the UK government to take action after new analysis found a significant difference between the carbon footprints of washable and disposable nappies. Reusable nappies have 25% less global heating potential compared with single-use nappies.
Disposable nappies are one of the biggest single contributors to plastic waste worldwide, but a 2005 life cycle analysis declared there was “little or no difference between the environmental impact of reusable and disposable nappies”. This resulted in a lack of action from policymakers, according to campaigners, who say the government has a responsibility to make it easier for parents to switch to reusables.
Single-use nappies were only found to leave a worse impact in seven of the categories, including global heating potential, land use, fossil resource scarcity and water use in manufacturing. But campaigners say these effects are particularly critical in light of the climate crisis.
Reusable nappies scored worse in areas including marine eutrophication, freshwater ecotoxicity, mineral resource scarcity, marine ecotoxicity and water consumption. The main factors behind. their effects are water, detergent and electricity use when washing and drying nappies, and flushing faeces.
Parents can lessen their impact by using energy-efficient washing machines, air drying instead of tumble drying and passing nappies to a second child.
Campaigners urge action over carbon footprint of disposable nappies
Reusables have 25% less global heating potential, finds UK government report, but overall picture is mixed
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/18/campaigners-urge-action-over-carbon-footprint-of-disposable-nappies
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4 w
We should take immediate steps to reduce the carbon footprint of disposable nappies. We can do this by switching to more sustainable options such as reusable or cloth nappies. We can also look into recycling services that are available to reduce the waste that comes from disposable nappies. Ultimately, it is up to us to make sustainable changes to our lifestyles to reduce environmental damage.
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5 w
way to go!!
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5 w
this is a great initiative alot of disposable nappies are dumped on lands and take forever to decompose
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5 w
Lol, this is almost funny for me as a South Asian, we used to use reusable diapers before getting influenced by Western trends. People who did not follow the disposable diapers trend were looked down upon as "old-fashioned" lesser beings.
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5 w
This disposable nappies have become a menace just like plastics. Something needs to be done.
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5 w
@tabitha_kimani it's true there are scattered all over
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5 w
It is the responsibility of us all to reduce the carbon print
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5 w
To reduce carbon footprint in the planet it's need teamwork and taking good care of the environment
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5 w
@hilda_wangui true, teamwork is very important
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5 w
Reduction of carbon footprint is upon each one of us
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5 w
It is the responsibility of all of us to make conscious decisions that reduce our carbon footprint and contribute towards a sustainable future for our planet.
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5 w
@george_kariuki indeed it's our responsibility and we must make viable choices.
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5 w
@george_kariuki I agree, it is our responsibility
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5 w
@george_kariuki so true
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5 w
great initiative