Browsing: Comment

One of the chief criticisms of the burgeoning eco-fashion scene has been the relative dearth of stylish options for all the fellas out there. The fact is, even the most eco conscious chap with only the vaguest interest in style can’t help but feel a little put out when a hunt for an eco-friendly t-shirt can only produce a motheaten number that looks like something from a primary school nativity.

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Burns Night.  I’ve never participated in this before, but as far as I can tell, it’s aaaall aboot the Haggis. 

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Are real nappies greener?

Ethical Superstore unravels the government report on reusables vs. disposables for Real Nappy Week – which are the greenest?

The first government report suggesting “no significant difference” in environmental impact between reusable or disposable nappies, was speedily sent back to the drawing board a couple of years back for major revisions after campaign groups slandered it as being “seriously flawed”.

Then, finally, last October, came the revised report nappy-users had been waiting for. Yet, if you read the media reports surrounding the findings, no one would blame you for being left somewhat perplexed as to which was the ethical option.

Depending on which media coverage you read, parents portrayed as too-posh-to-Pamper were reviving trendy reusables, yes, but through using them, were oozing tonnes more CO2 into the atmosphere than those parents popping disposables on their nippers. Those in the green corner, however, were heralding reusables as being 40 per cent better for the environment – all based on the same government report findings.

So where is the truth? As usual, it lies somewhere in the middle.

Crucially, the updated report had taken into account a broader range of user behaviours for reusable nappies than first time around in order to give a more accurate representation, which is of course, good news.

But unfortunately, the user behaviours in the study tended to lean towards the extremes. Real nappy users are polarised as either modern mamas addicted to heat and tumble drying, or hippies happily hanging out nappies to dry outside – whatever the weather. The former having a higher CO2 footprint than a disposable user over the two and a half year nappy-wearing period, the latter a much lower one.

It might come as no surprise then to know that using high temperatures of 90 degrees to wash, and always tumble drying has the highest carbon emission according to the report due to, wait for it, “increased electricity consumption” – ahem. In carbon terms, it’s 80 per cent more expensive than using disposables.

I wonder how many real nappy users can relate to this high-energy approach?

Opting to line dry, however, and have more ‘efficient washing loads’ (in report terminology, this means owning more nappies and washing every three days rather than two) reduces the carbon emissions by 38 per cent compared to disposables. Choosing to pass on your nappies reduces the impact further still.

So, it’s key to note their so-called ‘high energy efficiency’ category – which means you simply wash at 60 degrees, have average tumble drying use, and use an A+ rated washing appliance – will be greener than the average disposable user. And perhaps, most significantly, even the average real nappy user (who according to the report washes at 60, averagely tumble dries but does not possess an A+ appliance) only has to pass on their nappies once in order to have less of an environmental impact than the average disposable user.

So, if you are at least as energy-efficient as the reports’ ‘high energy efficiency’ user or choose to pass them on, then real nappies are the greenest way to go.

One major fault with the report is it doesn’t bring into play the fact that nappies could be mixed with other laundry loads which saves on energy considerably. What parent doesn’t shove in a few extra items in a load to economise? This would bring down CO2 further. The report is also based on using ‘shaped’ reusable nappies only, and these are notoriously tougher to dry than say, pre-fold nappies confounding matters further.

And, as far as disposables go, the report reduced their manufacturing impact by 13 per cent from the previous study – based on information provided by the disposable nappy industry – as nappies have become “less weighty”. However, the fact that increased usage might follow due to lower quality was not taken into consideration and nappy numbers were based on the previous studies’ figures. The CO2 emission could in fact be more than the stated 550 kg per user.

As before, the report is someway towards helping us decide the greenest option, but read between the lines and I hazard a guess that simple green, not to mention economic, reasoning would guide you to the greenest way to care for your reusables and hence sway you to opt for the real nappy deal and go real.

Find out how real nappies are the cheaper option to disposables by up to £600.

Any questions on using real nappies? How do you wash and dry your reusables nappies – any tips to save energy? Comment below.

Comparing ourselves to other parents is a risky business. I waver between criticism of them eg. “Other parents let their kids stay up too late” – or inferred criticism of myself eg. “Other parents spend more time reading with their kids than we do.” Either way, it sucks.

Still, with Mother’s Day on the horizon, I will be affirmed in my role as Mum for one day, at least. The one day where having five children really pays off! Although to share the day with my daughter’s eleventh birthday is rather unfortunate, in my opinion.

Anyway, what is possibly even worse than comparing myself to other parents (and being compared to them by my kids is up there, too), is assuming that all parents think as we do. When I was called into school last Friday with a group of parents to discuss an incident of fighting, I was amazed when one man assertively informed the teacher that he was sure that all parents would join him in saying that they teach their children to

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This morning’s news has been buzzing with talk of recycling, and questions of which of the leading supermarkets are engaging most effectively in the war against waste.

I for one am pleased to see such questions leading the national headlines, and it certainly made me sit up and take notice as I gulped down my morning toast and tea. It’s good to hear the BBC cross examining Heads of Food Packaging Departments, and I’m satisfied to know that British consumers are becoming discerning and environmentally aware enough to care about which shops are reducing needless packaging and which are gearing up towards the recycling effort. The premise behind the Local Government Association’s Survey of holding supermarkets accountable is a great one, and I’m encouraged to hear that since their 2007 report amounts of food packaging have decreased.

Despite improvement in some areas, the findings of the survey have also resulted in widespread criticisms of the various chains, which have in turn provoked a variety of responses both attacking and defending the key movers and shakers in the supermarket industry.  You might not have anticipated this one, but the British Retail Consortium’s Head of Environment Bob Gordon spoke out in favour of some packaging, highlighting that the survey failed to recognise the crucial role packaging plays in preserving food: “It’s a nonsense to suggest that retailers swathe their goods in masses of unnecessary packaging. This would simply be a pointless cost. Packaging reduces waste by protecting and preserving products.”

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Yes, there are indeed more Fairtrade products to feast on than tea, coffee, bananas and chocolate. From marmalade, and mango chutney to sexy underwear and ethical cola, there’s a rare Fairtrade treat to be unearthed for everyone…

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Ever seen the film The Number 23? In it, the main character is confronted with the number 23 everywhere he looks. It’s been like that with the word HOPE for me this year.

On New Year’s Day, I posted a blog about hope. Ironically, at a time of year where I struggle to hold on to any kind of hope at all, I have been confronted with hope everywhere I look. In my own home life, even though I have failed to keep some of my New Year’s resolutions to the letter, I have managed to take some more small steps, make some more small changes towards a more ethical lifestyle. I’m sure the same is true for you too.

When Slumdog Millionaire won best film at the BAFTAs on Sunday night, Christian Colson referred to the people of Mumbai in his acceptance speech as people of resilient hope. I guess that resilient hope is what drives the main character, Jamal, to achieve his goal and win the girl. This kind of resilient hope can be seen in communities where homes and industries are rebuilt after a devastating tsunami, where replanting begins after another failed harvest, where growers continue to produce their best crops as market prices fall yet again…

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I’ve been avoiding the news of late. I realised I needed to take a serious time out from it last week when I caught myself day dreaming of launching a cheap and nourishing breakfast cereal which I’d call ‘Credit Crunch’.

Last night though, I thought I’d risk a glimpse – perhaps the sacking of Luiz Filipe Scolari by Chelsea (and let’s not forget Portsmouth’s dismissal of Tony Adams too) might provide a little colour in the monochrome news diet.

I have to say I was flabbergasted, not by (or perhaps that should be not only by) Scolari’s reported pay out, but by a report from Northern Ireland.  Predictably it involved two words, each starting with C – but this time they represented a different global threat – Climate Change.

It would seem that Environment Minister, Sammy Wilson has banned government television adverts in Northern Ireland warning of the effects of climate change.

The DUP man said he was not prepared to allow “insidious New Labour propaganda” about the impact of climate change which would have been screened on UTV.

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When I heard of SkiDubai, the world’s largest indoor ski centre, I felt convinced to the core that the world had indeed gone completely mad. An area of 22 500 sq m (the size of three football pitches) covered in real snow all year round – in the middle of a desert. The biggest and best – this is Dubai, after all – the centre boasts the world’s first indoor black run and the world’s largest interactive Snow Park. With the temperature maintained at -1 – -2 C, you can hire an overcoat if you have not packed your suitcase with snow in mind.

As I perused the website, I was silently screaming – “This is utterly mad. Instant gratification at what cost? The world is running out of energy and we are allowing this?” It reminds me of when I found out about the artificial beach on the banks of the Seine brought into Paris by the lorry load every summer. It just doesn’t seem right, just so unnecessary….

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Today is Groundhog Day, the annual holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on which, it is said, if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, winter will soon end. If on the other hand, it is sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow, the groundhog will supposedly retreat into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks.  Judging by the evidence outside my window I’m guessing that it beat a hasty retreat!

This side of the pond mention of ‘Groundhog  Day’ most likely conjures the memory of the 1993 comedy film starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.  In the film, Murray plays Phil Connors, an egocentric TV weatherman who, during his most hated assignment covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, finds himself repeating the same day over and over again.

Perhaps it’s a testament to the quality of the film, that despite February 2nd not been recognised as either a weather predictor or public holiday in the UK, the phrase “Groundhog Day” has entered common use in our vocabulary to describe an unpleasant situation that continually repeats, or at least seems to, until one finds a way to work through it.
Making my way (extremely slowly) through blizzard conditions to the office I found myself feeling very disgruntled by a billboard advertising  Easter eggs. 

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