Four partnerships shared the £5,000 winnings in the first ever Real Nappy Week Awards 2002 Celebrating Working Partnerships. The Awards recognise the effectiveness of partnership in preventing waste. Real Nappy Week is 22nd to 28th April 2002.

East Sussex and Brighton & Hove Real Nappy Network shared first prize with The Recycling Consortium's Real Nappy Project. Sustainable Wales Projects Ltd won the special projects category with The Isle of Wight Real Nappy Network Project 2002 as runner up. Birmingham Washable Nappy Partnership and The Cornish Real Nappy Project were commended for their excellent work.

Joint Winner - East Sussex and Brighton & Hove Real Nappy Network involves seven local authorities, two hospitals, numerous nappy companies, a nursery, a continence advisor and the local NCT in raising awareness through the NHS.

'East Sussex and Brighton & Hove Real Nappy Network receive their award for an exciting project which has a broad reach across the south coast. They have taken time to develop a wide range of partners with both business and the community and have demonstrated innovative plans for the future,' said Catherine McCormick, Head of Midwifery at the Department of Health on behalf of the judges.

Joint Winner - The Recycling Consortium's Real Nappy Project employs outreach workers to raise awareness working with the NHS in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset targeting families on low income.

'The Recycling Consortium's Real Nappy Project is an example of how the involvement of a wide range of partners can benefit the community. As well as the health professionals the project has involved organisations such as Barnardos and community centres, which have reported increased usage of their facilities. The project doesn't just concentrate on the cities but also provides a service to rural areas. There is also a bid for funds to provide re-usable nappies to low-income families.' said judge Gillian Neville of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Winner Special Projects Category - Sustainable Wales Projects Ltd involves government agencies and local organisations, along with representatives from eight local authorities and a national park in promoting real nappies via an educational campaign and through the establishment of a community co-operative laundry service.

'The judges were particularly impressed with the practical approach South East Wales has taken towards ensuring the infrastructure is in place to make the scheme a success and the stretching but realistic targets set for expansion. We sincerely hope that this project achieves its ambitions and establishes itself as an inspirational model of good practice,' said Tracey-Ann Evans, of the Small Business Service at the Department of Trade and Industry on behalf of the judges.

Runner-Up Special Projects Category - The Isle of Wight Real Nappy Network Project 2002 is a partnership between the local Real Nappy Network and island services disseminating information on real nappies in the form of nappy kits distributed to health professionals.

'The Isle of Wight project is an excellent example of what one committed individual can achieve. Having started on an informal basis three years ago, and driven by enthusiasm which has spread to local health professionals, the project received funding in 2001 to produce attractive 'nappy kits' for use in informing parents. This innovative project has clear targets to avoid waste and will inspire other small local groups,' said judge Ann Link, Co-ordinator of Women's Environmental Network.

The Awards were presented in a ceremony at the House of Commons at 11am on 25th April 2002 during Real Nappy Week 22nd to 28th April.

For further information contact: Elizabeth Hartigan, Maeve Murphy or Liz Sutton
Tel: 020 7481 9004 Fax: 020 7481 9144 email: nappies@wen.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

Real Nappy Week, now a well-established annual event, is jointly organised by Women's Environmental Network's Real Nappy Project, the Real Nappy Association and the National Association of Nappy Services (NANS). The week focuses attention on the environmental impact of nappies and raises public awareness of the availability of convenient shaped and fitted modern cloth nappies and nappy laundry services.

Waste Reduction
Responsible for 4% of household waste in the UK, nappies provide a prime opportunity to reduce the rubbish in our dustbins. 3 billion nappies are thrown away every year in the UK. Nappies make up 50% of the waste from a household with just one baby so families can cut their waste in half by using real nappies. With the cost to each local authority in hundreds of thousands of pounds per year on disposal (Essex County, for example, spends £1 million per year) it is not surprising that nappy schemes now play a key role in local authorities' waste strategies.

Waste Disposal
Each year Britain throws away enough rubbish to bury Edinburgh a metre deep. Landfill space is running out. Many local authorities are struggling to stop waste amounts increasing and many more incinerators are planned to meet the Landfill Directive. Incineration is not a trouble free solution. The emissions from incinerators cause controversy wherever they are sited and up to 30% of the waste remains as ash to be disposed of in landfill. Waste prevention at source is the most effective way of reducing our rubbish.

Health
Why put your baby's bottom in a complex chemical environment when you have the option of a natural product? Disposable nappies are made of superabsorbent chemicals, paper pulp and plastics while real nappies put natural fabrics next to your baby's skin. If you want the best solution, free of pesticides and other synthetic chemicals, organic cotton and hemp nappies and organic wool waterproof overpants are available at reasonable cost.

Additional Contact Details
For a free parents information pack send a large SAE with two stamps to:
The Real Nappy Association, PO Box 3704, London SE26 4RX www.realnappy.com

For details of your local nappy laundry service contact The National Association of Nappy Services, NANS, 0121 693 4949 www.changeanappy.co.uk