30 March 2006
Nappy fashion hits the catwalk in 10th Anniversary Real Nappy Week

Diary Date: 24-30 April 2006, Real Nappy Week 10th anniversary

Real Nappy fashion shows in Dublin and South Tipperary to mark the 10th Anniversary Real Nappy Week reveal just how far real nappies have come in the last decade. No longer just an eco and economic option, real nappies are now a fashionable lifestyle choice.

The latest in sassy nappy style and high street chic will also be on show in ‘nappuccino’ coffee mornings and displays in Carlow along with a nappy stall in Limerick and a real nappy workshop in Longford. Parents will be able to find out what’s available and how they can save money and waste. There will also be a real nappy demonstration on TV3’s Ireland AM, April 18 at 8.10am.

For details of more Real Nappy Week events visit Women’s Environmental Network’s website, www.wen.org.uk. The list is updated as new events are confirmed.

Biba Hartigan of WEN said: ‘There is now such a range that parents can choose real nappies to suit their own personal style. With the new easy-to-use designs, real nappies provide the performance parents demand while giving them a chance to save money and save waste at the same time.’

A record 840 supporters have signed up to back Real Nappy Week 2006, including 75% percent of Irish and over 90% of UK councils. Support has also spread as far afield as Australia, Hong Kong, Mexico and New Zealand.

Real Nappy Week is co-ordinated by Women’s Environmental Network (WEN), sponsored in the UK by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) through its Real Nappy Campaign and supported by the Waste Aware Scotland campaign.

ENDS

For more media information visit www.wen.org.uk or call Liz Sutton, Biba Hartigan or Suzanne Simmons-Lewis on + 44 (0)20 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. Support for the Week has grown year on year:
from 116 organisations in 2000, to more than 800 supporters in 2006 – over 90% of all UK local authorities – and hundreds of other organisations, companies and political representatives. Other current WEN issues include food, toxic chemicals and the environmental impacts of disposable sanitary and continence protection.

NAPPY FACTS
Cost
Home laundered nappies could save parents hundreds of euros on the cost of keeping a baby in nappies.

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
Disposable nappies are the largest single product in household waste. We do not know how long it takes for the plastics in disposable nappies to decompose but it could take hundreds of years.