Reusable nappies: research

1 Introduction

1.1 Context

The management of waste from single-use disposable baby nappies is of growing concern globally. An estimated total of 6.7 million tonnes of disposable nappies were used across the EU in 2017, equating to 2.7% of the total municipal solid waste (Copello, 2021). Disposable nappies are composed of high proportions of plastic and other mixed materials, which, in combination with the presence of faeces in used nappies makes them challenging and expensive to recycle (Copello, 2021). This means they are one of the main residual problem products remaining after separation of waste for recycling (Arnold et al., 2023). In the EU overall, disposables have tended to be disposed of in landfill (87% in 2017), with the rest (13%) incinerated (Copello, 2021). In the UK, prioritisation of energy recovery from waste in recent decades has meant that the majority of residual waste is now incinerated (78%), with only 22% going to landfill (Defra, 2023).

Reusable nappies (also referred to as cloth nappies or real nappies) offer an alternative to disposable nappies. Whilst reusable nappies were once an essential item, the advent of disposable nappies, coinciding with increasing numbers of women continuing in or re-entering the workforce after starting a family, led to disposable nappies replacing reusables as the dominant type of nappy used by families (Randles, 2022). Modern reusable nappies differ from traditional cloth nappies in a number of ways – they are more breathable, absorbent, quicker drying and more user friendly (Delgadillo et al., 2021). Modern cloth nappies are available in a wide range of styles and are mainly comprised of a two-part system – an absorbent part (usually produced from cotton, bamboo or hemp) and a waterproof cover or wrap (Plotka, 2022). Some styles combine these two parts into an all-in-one single nappy.

The Scottish Government’s draft Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030 includes an objective to drive responsible consumption, production and reuse. As part of this, action to further develop measures to improve the reuse experience for consumers is proposed. This report seeks to contribute to the evidence base supporting Scottish Government decision-making on potential measures in relation to increasing uptake of reusable nappies.

1.2 Research objectives

The aim of this report is to provide baseline evidence on factors supporting and constraining uptake of reusable nappies in Scotland. The objectives of the research were to:

1) Develop a thorough understanding of the behaviours and motivations of families around nappy choices, both what encourages and prevents them from using reusable nappies.

2) Understand the overall impacts of schemes to increase reusable nappies use.

In fulfilling these objectives, the research brief specified that the research should consider both individual/family-level choices and also the wider social systems that enable or constrain the use of reusable nappies.