The phenomenal growth of Real Nappy Week is to be celebrated with hundreds of events across the UK and abroad during the 10th anniversary Week from 24-30 April 2006.

From its birth around a mum’s kitchen table ten years ago, Real Nappy Week has become a firm fixture on the calendar and an international event with hundreds of activities across the UK, Ireland and as far afield as New Zealand and Mexico.

Support has grown year on year: from 157 organisations in 2001, to nearly 700 in 2005 – over 80% of all UK local authorities – and hundreds of other organisations, companies and MPs. Last year there were almost 500 events in 65 counties to raise awareness about the range of real nappies, laundry services and support available to parents.

Real nappies have come so far since the first Real Nappy Week in 1996, that they’re not just an eco and economic option but a fashionable lifestyle choice. Day-Glo colours, leopardskin prints, organic and unbleached fabrics, snug fitted styles and easy-to-use Velcro or popper fastenings are all evidence of how the growing real nappy industry is responding to the diverse demands of parents. Real nappy fashion shows are expected to feature among the week’s events, as well as ‘nappuccino’ coffee mornings, nappy giveaways and free trials, competitions and road shows.

Cloth nappies save waste and with a sensible washing routine, parents can significantly reduce their environmental impact. With nearly eight million disposable nappies thrown away in the UK every day, local authorities recognise how real nappies help reduce household waste.

Real Nappy Week is co-ordinated by Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) and sponsored by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) through its Real Nappy Campaign. To find out how you can celebrate Real Nappy Week’s 10th anniversary, visit www.wen.org.uk or call 020 7481 9004. Details of activities this year will be available on www.wen.org.uk from 13 March 2006.

ENDS

For more media information visit www.wen.org.uk or call Liz Sutton or Biba Hartigan on 020 7481 9004.

Notes to Editors

Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) is a registered charity that campaigns on issues which link women, health and the environment. WEN has been involved in Real Nappy Week since its inception and has coordinated the week in its current form since 2000. Other current issues include food, toxic chemicals and the environmental impacts of disposable sanitary and continence protection.

Cost
Home laundered nappies could save parents around £500 on the cost of keeping a baby in nappies. You can buy all the nappies and waterproof covers you need for your baby's nappy wearing life on the high street for under £50, about the cost of nine weeks’ of disposables.

Health
Disposable nappies are made of superabsorbent chemicals, paper pulp and plastics, while real nappies are mostly made of natural fabrics. Organic cotton and hemp nappies and organic wool waterproof covers are available at a reasonable cost.

Waste
Nearly three billion nappies are thrown away in the UK every year. Most (90%) end up in landfill.
Nearly eight million nappies are thrown away every day in the UK. We do not know how long it takes for the plastics in disposable nappies to decompose but it could take hundreds of years.

WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) is a major UK programme established to promote resource efficiency. Its particular focus is on creating stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products and removing the barriers to waste minimisation, reuse and recycling.

A not-for-profit company, WRAP is backed by substantial government funding from Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

WRAP is currently running fifteen programmes. Twelve relate to market development, comprising nine material streams (paper, plastics, glass, wood, organics, aggregates, tyres, batteries and plasterboard) and three generic areas (business & finance, procurement, and regional market development). Three further programmes relate to the wider resource efficiency remit - collections, communications and awareness, and waste minimisation.

Part of WRAP’s waste minimisation work, the Real Nappy Campaign is an element of the Real Nappy Programme, which is focused on helping parents to make an informed choice about nappies and increasing the visibility of real nappies. Its targets are to convert an additional 155,000 households to real nappy use, and in the process divert 35,000 tonnes per annum of disposable nappy waste from landfill.

More information on all of WRAP’s programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk

The Scottish Waste Awareness Group (SWAG) works in partnership with WRAP and the Scottish Real Nappy Network (SRNN) to deliver the Real Nappy Campaign in Scotland. The real nappy programme in Scotland is funded by the Scottish Executive. SWAG was established in 2000 to change public attitudes and behaviour towards domestic waste in Scotland. The Waste Aware Scotland campaign, developed after 18 months of both qualitative and quantitative research, has been adopted and is being used by all 32 Scottish local authorities. The campaign also receives cross-sector support from the Scottish Executive, the Convention Of Scottish Local Authorities, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management, the Scottish Environmental Services Association, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Community Recycling Network Scotland. For more information visit www.wasteawarescotland.org.uk