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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.

Our friends at Divine Chocolate have come up with a fantastically novel way to encourage people to send an email to politicians to keep fair trade on the agenda at next week’s G20. It’s a simple game – Egg a Politician. You get to throw a chocolate egg at one of  five world leaders — Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy, Gordon Brown, Manmohan Singh or Wen Jiabao — who are all attending the G20 summit, where finance ministers and central bank governors of 19 countries and the European Union will meet to discuss “key issues related to global economic stability”.

As well as the therapy of hurling the egg at your leader of choice, you then get the opportunity to send an email to that leader – direct from the page – just as soon as they’ve devoured the chocolate.

When I first read about this idea I had visions similar to the incident that saw the

Read the rest of Have You ever Wanted to Egg a Politician? »

We never like to miss the opportunity to bend the ear of a politician – yesterday we had two visit the Ethical Superstore. Wendy Morton, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Tynemouth, was welcoming Bernard Jenkin MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, to our region, and decided that Ethical Superstore would be a great example of a North East business doing well despite the tough conditions. After a tour of the warehouse and offices, a fairtrade cup of tea was enjoyed by all.

Andy Redfern commented  “It’s all too easy to criticize politicians for being out of touch, so we never like to miss the chance to let them know what it’s like at the grass roots.”

Wendy gave us this feedback “As a Conservative I support Fairtrade. Developing Countries need aid but they also need economic development, trade and skills to lift them out of poverty. That’s why I believe Fairtrade is important.

“I was really impressed by the vast range of Fairtrade and ethical products at the Ethical Superstore – they have everything from groceries, to gadgets, to gifts. But what struck me most was the innovation and imagination behind many of the products. For example handbags made from recycled juice packets, and beer glasses made from recycled bottles.

“Visiting a place like this really does provide food for thought.”

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…

Read the rest of Hope For Better… »

Here is my third and final part of the A-Z of Fairtrade; enjoy!

R – RICE: “In 2000, FLO took the first steps towards the introduction of the Fairtrade Standard for Rice to open up new markets for the benefit of small farmers. Today a total of 15 rice producer organizations in Thailand, India, Egypt and Laos are Fairtrade Certified.” This means that more farmers are able to work their way out of poverty and provide for their families as well as avoid the vicious circle of debt which is typical of small rice farmers.

Image by Addictive Picasso (Flickr)

S – SUGAR: Sugar is one of the worlds’ most important and sought after commodities and is bought and sold around the globe. However, significant obstacles lie in the path of those small scale sugarcane farmers who struggle to earn a living. Farmers who produce Fairtrade Certified Sugar are guaranteed a Fairtrade Minimum Price for their produce and a Fairtrade Premium to invest in social and economic initiatives in their communities. Sugar producers are organised into cooperatives that are governed democratically and they must adhere to environmental standards which encourage sustainability and restricts the use of agrochemicals.

T – TRAIDCRAFT: Traidcraft work with more than 100 producer groups in over 30 developing countries to provide 450 fair trade food, craft and textile products. It was instrumental in setting up the Fairtrade Foundation which awards the Fairtrade Mark to products which meet internationally recognised standards. Established in 1979, Traidcraft’s mission is to fight poverty through trade, by practicing and promoting approaches to trade that help poor people in developing countries transform their lives. Traidcraft can also claim to have produced the first Fairtrade composite product, the Traidcraft Apricot Geobar.

U – UBUNTU: Ubuntu Cola was the first cola in the UK to get the Fairtrade Mark (back in 2007) and is made with Fairtrade sugar from the Kasinthula Cooperative in Malawi and from the Kaleya Cooperative in Zambia. Each year, Ubuntu give at least 15% of its profits to the Ubuntu Africa Programme which supports sugar producers and their communities and encourages entrepreneurial projects aimed at tackling poverty. As well as that, it tastes great too!

V – VAN DER HOFF: Frans Van Der Hoff, Nico Roozen and a Dutch development NGO, Solidaridad, pioneered the first Fairtrade Certification in 1988; Max Havelaar. In the same year the first ‘Fairtrade’ coffee from Mexico was sold into Dutch supermarkets. It was branded “Max Havelaar,” after a fictional Dutch character who opposed the exploitation of coffee pickers in Dutch colonies. In the late 80’s/early 90’s this initiative was replicated across Europe and North America to include the “Fairtrade Mark” in the UK and Ireland.

Read the rest of The A-Z of Fairtrade: Part 3 »

Here’s my A-Z of Fairtrade: Part 2; following on from Part 1.

Image by Mralan (Flickr)

J – JUICES: A lot of fruit used for juice production is grown on plantations ran by farmers who cannot compete with the International market in terms of production costs. This means that many plantations rely on temporary workers who face low wages and poor living conditions. The Fairtrade movement helps small farmers to survive on the world market by selling their products for a guaranteed price that is independent from market developments. Fairtrade also guarantees a fair wage for plantation workers and secures humane living and working conditions.

K – KENYAN FLOWER INDUSTRY:Fairtrade certification provides an independent verification that the workers on large-scale flower farms have decent wages and working conditions; including the right to join a trade union, the right to negotiate collectively with the employer on terms and conditions of employment, freedom from discrimination, no child labour, and a safe and healthy working environment.

January and February 2008 saw rioting and protests in Kenya due to charges of vote rigging following December elections which badly affected it’s three major foreign currency earners – tea, flowers, and tourism. On some Fairtrade certified farms premium money was used to assist the workers and management to be able to fulfill orders from the UK and other markets, despite fuel and fertiliser shortages and the need for military escort for all transportation.

February is obviously a crucial time for flower farmers, what with Valentine’s Day and Mothers Day orders coming in, and thanks to the Fairtrade Premium they were able to maintain production so that after the violence had passed, the business which so many people have come to rely on could function as normal.

Fairtrade flowers were first sold in the UK in March 2004 and the Fairtrade flower category now comprises 75 licensed products.

Similar organisations offer the opportunity to buy flowers grown with an emphasis on social sustainability and a controlled and traceable supply chain such as the Fair Flowers Fair Plants initiative.

The Fairtrade Label

L – LABEL: The Fairtrade Label or Fairtrade Certification Mark is is a registered certification label for products sourced from producers in developing countries. According to the Fairtrade Foundation, “For a product to display the Fairtrade Mark it must meet international Fairtrade standards which are set by the international certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO). These standards are agreed through a process of research and consultation with key participants in the Fairtrade scheme, including producers themselves, traders, NGOs, academic institutions and labelling organisations such as the Fairtrade Foundation.”

Read the rest of The A-Z of Fairtrade: Part 2 »

70% of the population recognise the FAIRTRADE Mark

The first Annual Fairtrade Fortnight was back in 1995 and was marked by Justino Peck, a cocoa farmer from Belize, touring the country. The theme for this year is “Make it Happen – Choose Fairtrade”, and in keeping with this spirit, In the run up to Fairtrade Fortnight 2009 I attempted an ambitious A-Z of all things Fairtrade. From Accreditation to Zimbabwe and everything in between including the Fairtrade Label explained, profiles of some pioneering Fairtrade brands, and some key product areas in the Fairtrade arena.

A – ACCREDITATION: To carry the Fairtrade Mark each and every product and producer must go through an independent process of auditing and accreditation to standards set by FLO. Faritrade is a people’s movement for change that aims to tip the balance of trade in favour of poor producers. Fairtrade Fortnight is a celebration of the fact that when you buy a product bearing the Fairtrade Mark you can be confident that the producer has received a fair deal.

B – BANANAS: Currently, there are Fairtrade standards for 18 different product categories; bananas are one of these products. As the European Union is the biggest market in the world for bananas, a massive proportion of all bananas in the world are shipped to the EU every year. However, due to licensing, quotas and duty rates, banana producers in Latin America are at a severe disadvantage. Also, because of the time-sensitive supply chain, the banana industry is increasingly dominated by transnational corporations who control the markets and price.

Image by Simon Rawles

Due to the falling prices of bananas over recent years, the everyday life of a plantation worker or small farmer has worsened and is characterised by an unfairly low wage and poor working conditions.

Bananas bearing the Fairtrade Certification Mark have been produced on smaller scale farms or on plantations that adhere to very high socio-economic standards. The farmers are guaranteed a Minimum Price to cover production costs and receive a Fairtrade Premium to invest in social and economic initiatives that will benefit their communities.

Image by Simon Rawles

C – COTTON: It is estimated that 10 million people in the West Africa region depend entirely on cotton production for their living. According to the World Bank, this region is among the lowest-cost producers of cotton, but is losing world markets, and its cotton farmers are suffering rising poverty. With the hope of improving the lives of many of these farmers, the Fairtrade Labelling Organisation (FLO) developed Fairtrade Standards for cotton in 2005 and it is estimated that 28,000 farmers are benefitting from the initiative. According to FLO, “In the 2005/06 harvest, the income farmers received for Fairtrade Cotton compared to the cotton traded under conventional terms was 40% higher in Senegal and 70% higher in Mali.”

Read the rest of The A-Z of Fairtrade: Part 1 »

Gordon Brown & Queen Rania -WEF Annual Meeting Davos 2008

On the 28th January, Heads of state, business and religious leaders are meeting in the Swiss alpine town of Davos to initiate the start of the five day World Economic Forum (WEF).

The WEF is a Geneva-based non-profit foundation best known for its Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland which brings together top business leaders, international political leaders, selected intellectuals and journalists to discuss the most pressing issues facing the world including health and the environment.

In 2008, some 250 public figures attended the Annual Meeting, including: Ban Ki-moon, Condoleezza Rice, Ferenc Gyurcsany, François Fillon, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Gordon Brown, Hamid Karzai,  Queen Rania of Jordan, Shimon Peres.

Al Gore, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Bono, and Tony Blair are also regular Davos attendees.

Read the rest of Dear Davos »

they loaded their skewers and coated it all in melted fair trade chocolate.

Last Thursday, over 50 people visited my house between 4pm and 8pm. Some stayed a few minutes; others a few hours. The lure? Not merely the opportunity to wish me a very happy birthday (which it was by the way, much to the relief of my husband!). No, they came for a dip in the chocolate fountain. Choosing from a wide range of fruit (fair trade or organic, of course), sweets and biscuits, they loaded their skewers and coated it all in melted fair trade chocolate. The ultimate guilt free treat.

For many there, it was the first time that they had considered the impact of their chocolate choices on those that grow the cocoa beans. The long hours, dangerous conditions, little or no pay, regular beatings – enough to put you off even your favourite brand.

Stop the Traffik organised the world’s largest fondue party to raise awareness and funds.

Read the rest of Retraining my taste buds – Fondue Follow Up »

Researching brand loyalty last week set me thinking. I would not consider myself a victim of brand loyalty. As any member of my family would tell you, I always buy what’s on special offer or stick to the supermarket’s own brand – which is sometimes boring and sometimes rather unusual, depending on the offers that week!

I guess chocolate is my main weakness. The main weakness for the majority of women, if my friends are anything to go by. Actually, it’s not that I often overindulge; it’s what I choose when I do. I already know all the arguments, but I still reach for the brands I grew up with. It’s just something about the taste.  A lick of a Cadbury’s crème egg takes me back to the tin of goodies under the driver’s seat in my Dad’s car. The first bite of a Double Decker prompts a flashback to my teenage years. The unwrapping of a Galaxy bar has Proustian reminders of waiting for the first signs of labour with my first child.

This week, Stop the Traffik(1) is organising the world’s largest chocolate fondue party. Stop the Traffik is a worldwide movement dedicating to raising awareness of and campaigning against the trafficking of people. Didn’t that end with the abolition of the slave trade? And didn’t we celebrate the 250th anniversary of that a couple of years ago?

Read the rest of Retraining my taste buds »