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 |
| Brighton & Hove and East Sussex Real Nappy Network |
| Areas Served East Sussex |
| Type of Scheme On-ward |
| Start Year 2000 |
| End Year Ongoing |
| New Real Nappy Users No information yet |
| No. of Temporary Jobs 2 |
| No. of Permanent Jobs 0 |
| Waste Prevented No information yet |
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Money Saved on Expenditure No information yet |
| Money Saved on Disposal No information yet |
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Notes Funding: There have been three main sources of funding for the project. They are: (a) Landfill Tax Credits from Viridor Waste Management. This funding was for £115,610 and has/will cover the period from August 2002 to February 2005. This funding source was transferred to the Legacy Fund part way through the project. Enventure Ltd acted as the Environmental Body to access these funds. (b) DEFRA Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund 2002/2003. This was for £78,000. Much of this funding was spent on capital (nappies and equipment) which is still being used to run the project. (c) East Sussex County Council. Staff time has been made available to run the project. In addition, a Nappy Promotions Assistant post is to be funded by the project until March 2005. ESCC have agreed to continue funding this post until September 2005. Aims: The Brighton & Hove and East Sussex Real Nappy Promotions Project is a comprehensive project to increase the number of parents using washable nappies as a waste minimisation initiative. Objectives: 1. To employ a part-time (22 hours per week) Real Nappy Promotion Officer and a full time (37 hours per week) Real Nappy Promotion Assistant to co-ordinate and develop the work of the project. 2. To loan birth to potty kits to enable low income families (in recognised Sure Start regions) to use washable nappies without large start up costs. Currently 337 kits have been distributed to local Sure Start groups. 3. To fund start up costs for ten nurseries to enable them to switch to using washable nappies. 4. To purchase and supply 1,000 reduced price starter packs per year to parents with babies and small children to enable them to try washable nappies. 5. To work with local hospital maternity units so that they may switch to using washable nappies on ward. 6. To conduct training seminars with healthcare professionals (midwives and health visitors) about the use of washable nappies and to provide them with demonstration materials (sample nappies and display boards) to enable them to promote the project to parents. 7. To attend ten public events per year with a nappy display and information stall. 8. To provide information to parents about modern washable nappies, leaflets, flyers, posters, a nappy guide, etc. 9. To develop a website for local parents to access comprehensive and clear information about washable nappies (to be developed). Scheme History: The Real Nappy project started in 1998 when the local authorities in the area worked together to produce a “folds like a nappy” leaflet to coincide with Real Nappy Week. This gave general details about washable nappies and where to get hold of them. These were distributed to local doctors surgeries, midwives and health visitors. Each year acceptance grew and in 1999 the Real Nappy Network was formed in preparation for Real Nappy Week 2000. This Network was formed by bringing together all the local businesses, organisations and local authorities in the area who were keen to promote washable nappies. The main change to the group’s approach was to take a travelling display of real nappies to various venues in East Sussex and Brighton & Hove. This has since been developed further and is now a regular feature of East Sussex County Council’s Rethink Rubbish Bus, a promotional vehicle which tours various events and locations throughout the year. It was recognised that external funds would be required to develop any serious promotional project. Bids for funding for a much wider ranging project were submitted to gain Landfill Tax Credits and also to DEFRA’s Waste Minimisation and Recycling Fund. Both bids for funding were accepted. The funding has enabled the Nappy Network to carry out a range of functions and activities such as: • Ten nurseries have been enabled to switch to using washable nappies • Two hospital maternity units have switched to using washable nappies • Seven nappy loan schemes have been established • 1,300 starter packs have been distributed • 15,000 “Time for a Change” leaflets have been distributed • 32,000 postcard adverts for the starter pack have been distributed • Adverts have been placed in approximately 25 magazines, newsletters and publications • 35 public events and parenting groups have been attended with a display • 31 WEN washable nappy boards (with leaflet holders) are on loan across the region • 23 demonstration bags of washable nappies have been distributed to health professionals and childcare providers • Events and activities have been organized throughout Real Nappy Week (2003 and 2004) • 28,000 copies of “A Guide to Washable Nappies” is currently being printed. Scheme: The Brighton & Hove and East Sussex Real Nappy Network promote a fair choice to parents by highlighting the availability and ease of use of washable nappies. Parents from across the area are provided with information from a variety of targeted sources. The scheme’s starter pack enables parents to try two styles of washable nappies at a reduced price before committing to buying the whole kit. Various nappy loan schemes are run by organisations which work closely with parents and enable low income families to use washable nappies without high start up costs. The whole project has aimed to increase the acceptability of using washable nappies by raising their profile, increasing their accessibility, and making them a “normal” option when choosing which nappy to use. Promotion: The project has been promoted extensively. Much of this marketing has been targeted so that parents and health professionals are made aware of what is available to them as a result of the project. The following list shows the many different approaches the organisation has taken: • A variety of events to promote washable nappies during Real Nappy Week • Approximately 15,000 leaflets with accompanying flyers and posters have been distributed in doctors surgeries • 32,000 postcard adverts for the sample packs have been distributed (many were placed in kerbside boxes in Brighton & Hove) • adverts and editorial in quarterly local parenting magazine (ABC) • articles in local Council newsletters and papers • advert to promote loan scheme in Sure Start newsletter • press releases about various aspects of the project • launch events are organised for each new element of the project • regular nappy promotions events with Rethink Rubbish Bus (key central locations in various towns and tourist attractions) • attending conferences and meetings of local health professionals to encourage them to work with the Network to promote washable nappies • an annual Real Nappy Report to show other interested organisations what the Network has achieved each year • 31 nappy boards are displayed by various clinics and parenting organisations on long term loan from the Network Council employees are made aware of this scheme by posters advertising the starter packs being displayed on staff notice boards and leaflets are distributed to staff taking maternity leave. Scheme Monitoring: There are several methods by which the success of the scheme is measured. Firstly, East Sussex County Council is to carry out an annual survey to monitor the effect of its waste awareness programme. Part of this survey measures the use of washable nappies. In the most recent survey (Waste Awareness Survey, June 2004) it was found that out of a sample size of 1038, 17% of parents of children (who wear nappies) were using washable nappies. The starter pack scheme is monitored via a user postcard questionnaire which is included in the pack. So far, low responses have been returned. Although these have been positive, there have not been very many, so a new method of recording all purchases of the starter packs has been developed with the help of the outlets of these packs. The new order pad form is filled in each time a pack is purchased. This includes a telephone number, so that follow up studies can be carried out (with the parent’s permission). 29 parents who have been part of the Eastbourne Sure Start nappy loan scheme have returned a questionnaire about their experience of the nappies. Achievements: The East Sussex County Council Waste Awareness Survey found that 17% of parents (with children of nappy wearing age) are using washable nappies. Since January 2004, 1,300 starter packs have been sold or given as free samples and 337 nappy loan packs have been distributed. It is very difficult to estimate the impact this has had on the waste stream as so many factors may influence nappy use. The next phase of project monitering will show a clearer evaulation of impact. In addition to the impact of these specific elements of the project, the switching of ten nurseries and two hospitals to using washable nappies, as well as the impact of the general awareness raising of these nappies is also likely to have had an effect on parents and led to a switch to using washable nappies. The Eastbourne Sure Start Nappy Loan Scheme recently won a prestigious East Sussex County Council Excellence Award. There were a record 56 entries to these awards this year. They reward and recognise innovative and exceptional behaviour for work that goes above and beyond the call of duty. The group jointly won an award for “Team of the Year”. The judges were particularly impressed with the group’s innovative approach to the project and how the team demonstrated community leadership in working towards a sustainable environment for the future. * Absorbent Hygiene Product Manufacturers Association Benefits of the Scheme for partners involved: East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council have benefitted from reduced disposal cost savings as a result of the project. Shops that sell washable nappies have reported an increase in sales of nappies, some doubled in the last few months. A part time Nappy Promotions Officer (22 hours per week) and a full time Nappy Promotions Assistant have been employed to manage the project. The seven Nappy Loan Schemes have enabled 337 low income families to use washable nappies. Environmental Impact: The transit packaging for the nappies (bags and boxes) are reused when re-packing them into starter packs. Deliveries of starter pack nappies and loan packs to partner organisations are made as one round trip or are combined with other journeys. Officers car share when possible when traveling to and from the depot to pack nappies. Most information about the project is available either on East Sussex County Council’s website or is available in e-mail form to reduce the amount of paper waste generated by the project. Future Plans: East Sussex County Council (on behalf of the Brighton & Hove and East Sussex Real Nappy Network) have been successful in their bid to LEEP for future WRAP funding of the project (for £74,958). This bid is to continue to develop the work of the Network. It also seeks to make some additions to the project such as employing parent nappy supporters to offer monthly nappuccino mornings and to engage 12 parents in a local study to trial and compare different styles of washable |
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