Real Nappy Schemes -
Promoting Waste Prevention Through Partnership
| Women's
Environmental Network Real Nappy Schemes - Promoting Waste Prevention Through Partnership |
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This index has been compiled with the generous co-operation of the many organisations involved in real nappy partnerships. WEN would like to thank everyone who participated in its creation. The information published has been provided by the 'partnerships' and there are not yet any national standard methods for information gathering and calculations. Publication here does not imply endorsement by WEN of any particular methodology. If you are actively promoting real nappies in partnership with another organisation and would like your scheme to be included in our index please e-mail nappies@wen.org.uk |
Funded
by |
| The Cornish Real Nappy Project |
| Areas Served Cornwall |
| Type of Scheme Educational |
| Start Year 0 |
| End Year Ongoing |
| New Real Nappy Users 20 per month |
| No. of Temporary Jobs 2 |
| No. of Permanent Jobs 1 |
| Waste Prevented (tonnes) 87.6 |
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Money Saved on Expenditure No Information Yet |
| Money Saved on Disposal £30,000 |
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Notes Funding: Financial: County Environmental Trust, CRED, Cornwall County Council, Restormel Borough Council, Lollipop Children’s Products, Mums and Little Ones, Bazaar Tents, Holz Toys. In Kind: Environment Agency, Cornwall NHS Trusts, Eden Project, Surfers Against Sewage, AllPay.net, CoaST, Royal Cornwall Show, Play Wise, Parents and Volunteers. Aims: To increase the number of households within Cornwall using reusable nappies. To decrease the amount of nappy waste going to landfill and decrease the environmental impact of disposable nappies. To provide and support a countywide network of informed professionals that will sustain the aims of the project beyond the funded period. To provide a comprehensive advisory and support service to health and childcare professionals and retailers within Cornwall on reusable nappies. To increase the number of households which have access to this information. To continue to develop and support best practice within this network of professionals. To develop links with local businesses, service providers and retailers. To give reusable nappies the mainstream profile that disposables have through increasing awareness of the choices available and the environmental, economic and social advantages. To increase the awareness of alternative sanitary and incontinence products. Scheme History: The idea for this project came from a Cornish first time mum (Rebecca Thomas) and the Director of Lollipop Children’s Products (Liz Scambler) who were both concerned about the impact of disposable nappies in Cornwall and contacted Cornwall County Council to try and set up a real nappy scheme. 18 months (and lots of hard work!) later the Cornish Real Nappy Project was launched in Real Nappy Week 2002 as a public private partnership between Lollipop Children’s Products, Cornwall County Council, the Environment Agency and Cornwall NHS Trusts. Funding was secured from CET (County Environmental Trust) from landfill tax credits. This funding came to an end on 31-12-03, which was when Rezolve took over the line management of the scheme, securing funding for a further three years and increasing the project manager’s job to full time (job share). The project was successful in a bid to CRED for £143,000 to fund the ‘Get Real’ initiative enabling the employment of two more full time members of staff and funding a two-year programme of events and Nappuccinos across the county. Scheme: The CRNP exists to inform parents of the positive environmental, financial and social benefits of using real nappies (i.e. non-disposable). It provides valuable support to the users of reusable nappies and informs Cornish women of their options regarding the use of sanitary products. The CRNP is an independent project, managed by ReZolve, a membership led Cornish organisation promoting waste reduction, reuse and recycling across Cornwall. ReZolve’s members are diverse and range from Surfers Against Sewage to Friends of the Earth, Local Authorities and commercial recycling companies. The project also works closely with a number of different retailers, community groups, volunteers and health service providers. Management of the project is through the ReZolve Waste Awareness Coordinator who works closely with the following team members: Full time Project Manager – job share. Full time administrator (starts 1-11-04) Full time Get Real events coordinator (job share starts 1-11-04) The project also has a highly experienced Steering Group drawn from the healthcare sector, Local Authority and Environment Agency. The group meets quarterly. Volunteers, parents, member’s network, retailers – help with all aspects of the project on a regular basis. The CRNP is now one of the largest Real Nappy Projects in the UK. The project now has three full time members of staff and up to 20 volunteers, spreading the message across Cornwall. Most members of staff are mums and therefore have a good working knowledge of raising children and the benefits of real nappies as opposed to disposables. This experience is invaluable in ensuring that this project and its initiatives are backed by practical knowledge and experience. Promotion: The following are used to promote this scheme: Leaflet (general information leaflet which is handed to all parents when they register the birth of their baby at any registry office in Cornwall) Poster Information guide Website www.crnp.org.uk Graphic display boards Marquee for outside events which includes baby changing facilities Information displays Seasonal programme of events (Royal Cornwall Show, summer fetes etc). There is also significant local press coverage through newspapers, radio, television and local council magazines.The project has benefited from national coverage through Countryfile (TVprogramme), Press for Get Real launch, Surfers Against Sewage member’s magazine and Country Living magazine. Word of mouth is also very powerful and the considerable network of volunteers and mums helps to spread the word. Other promotional routes include Members’ network, retailers across the county, NHS professionals, Sure Start and Registry Offices. Scheme Monitoring: Sales Monitoring the sales of washable nappies is done through figures supplied by retailers and, using equations supplied by Cornwall County Council and converting these figures into tonnes equivalent to disposable nappies, allows us to provide quantitative data on the tonnage diverted from landfill. The CRNP provides information on where people can buy real nappies from. These retailer details are promoted once they have joined the real nappy network. Currently there is no charge for this but it is being reviewed. This list is updated annually at which point retailers are asked to provide the previous year’s real nappy sales figures and to complete a survey regarding how they view the CRNP and the effectiveness of its awareness campaign. Information dissemination A reflection of CRNP’s success can be monitored through the number of information packs distributed, number of returned information request forms, number of requests for repeat handout materials, number of helpline calls generated and number of website hits and specific page visits. Increased Awareness In addition to the quantity of information disseminated and measures of take-up, general awareness is also gauged by monitoring press coverage in health and childcare professional publications, as well as in local newspapers and other media. Achievements: In the past three years the project has diverted over 900 tones of nappy waste away from Cornish landfill sites through a number of initiatives and trials including: · Development and distribution of a midwife information pack to all Cornish midwives · Natures Gift, a Bounty pack alternative · Regular Road shows and Nappuccinos · Nappies 4 All, interest free loans for the purchase of reusable nappies and laundry equipment in partnership with Sure Start Pebbles and Trevu · Retailers Conferences · Hospital Trials · Nappies in Nurseries · Nappies within accommodation providers · Composting trial using Weenees – collected weekly by an existing organic waste scheme · Real Nappy Network – approximately 150 members, including 23 retailers (since launch in April 2004), receive a quarterly newsletter, information pack, etc. · Working with a major national retailer to pilot in store real nappy trials · Information available includes – video, posters, leaflets, nappy info guide, website, free phone help line · General countywide awareness campaigning · Registrars leaflet for distribution to all newly registered children · Working to increase awareness on reusable incontinence products and the issues surrounding sanitary products. Level of awareness – the Cornish Real Nappy Network was launched in January 2004 which has a membership of over 150 already. Anecdotal evidence from shows and events reveals an increased awareness across the county with many people coming to find the CRNP stand every year and bringing their friends! Also, the demand for washable nappies and the increase in the number of retailers and agents across the county shows a heightened awareness. Local authorities/hospitals/NHS professionals Departments involved in the Scheme: Cornwall Healthcare Estates and Support Services Directorate who serve all NHS Trusts in Cornwall to whom the Waste Manager is accountable Midwifery Services both community and hospital based Clinical Manager at St Austell Community Hospital Hotel Services Manager at St Austell Community Hospital where laundering is undertaken. Local authority (County and the 6 district councils in Cornwall) – waste minimisation department, LA21, recycling officers, early years development / education. Promotion within these departments: All midwives have regular meetings that include updates on the CRNP scheme and literature is available at maternity units for all staff access. In addition there is currently a Waste It Not campaign underway within the NHS which has included awareness through open days and the implementation of a new waste minimization website on the intranet that provides details and links to projects underway. This is accessible by all employees. Leaflets are available at all council offices and posters are displayed. Awareness is made through meetings and council magazines. Benefits of the Scheme for partners involved: · Cornwall County Council – waste disposal cost savings, contribution to their waste strategy. · NHS – waste disposal cost savings, providing choice and information for their ‘customers’ (mainly parents), added value to customers. · Midwives and health professionals – information packs / material available, informed choice to pass on, further support network. · Environment Agency – tackling waste from commercial organisations (waste minimisation) – nurseries, hospitals, hotels; composting trial. · Retailers – Increased employment, improved marketing and awareness, increased sales, Lollipop’s agents in Cornwall have increased from 5 to 18 and include the agent with the highest sales figures in the whole of the UK for 2003. · Nurseries – waste disposal cost savings, choice for parents, green option, potential new customers who seek cloth nappies option. · Sure Start – social benefit, financial benefit, local employment (nappy agents in Sure Start Nappies for All scheme areas), anti-poverty gains. · Accommodation providers – choice, ‘green points’, potential new customers, waste disposal cost savings. Environmental Impact: · Buy and use recycled and local materials where possible · Encourage working from home · Public transport is used where possible, plus car sharing is promoted · Aim to achieve a paperless office, but paper is reused and waste recycled wherever possible · Rezolve Environment Policy is adhered to. Future Plans: · Continuation of work to date for as long as possible (funding permitting) · Develop and run Sanpro awareness and incontinence awareness programmes · Extend tourism trials throughout the county and implement a national accreditation system for accommodation providers · Extend Nappies for All scheme to further areas · Develop commercial opportunities · Expand and relaunch Nature’s Gift · Extend hospital nappies trials · New education programme for healthcare professionals, childcare courses, schools and child minders |
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