Information Bulletin
06 January 2006
The Shetland Real Nappy Website - Launch of Partnership Developed Website for Shetland
Shetland Islands Council’s Infrastructure Services Department and Shetland NHS Board are pleased to announce the launch of a new website providing information on the topic of cloth nappies:
http://www.shetlandrealnappies.org.
The project has been developed as a partnership venture between Shetland Islands Council’s Waste Service, Shetland NHS Board and the Waste and Resources Action Programme, a national waste advisory group. The project supports the concept of using washable, cloth nappies as opposed to disposables.
Nationally there is a growing movement towards the use of this type of nappy. The Gilbert Bain Hospital Maternity Unit converted to cloth in June 2005 and has found the conversion very successful. Resulting in an estimated saving of 11,000 nappies per year being sent for waste disposal. In doing so Shetland had the first hospital to convert fully to cloth nappies. Others are now following this example.
Nationally it is proven that even factoring in the cost of washing and drying the cloth nappies parents will save on average c £600:00 per annum per baby using this method as opposed to disposables. This is a sizeable saving at a cost conscious time for parents.
The Shetland website features sections on the reasons for using Real Nappies; gives supplier information; local retailers; contacts both local and national; useful websites and local testimonials from Shetlanders already using the product.
“Nappy Libraries” of samples of cloth nappies and literature for viewing are available at every local health centre and at the Gilbert Bain Maternity Unit for those wishing to examine sample cloth nappies before purchasing their own.
The website also offers links to national experts and sources of contact for those interested in the health aspects of the “real versus the disposable” debate.
Shetland Islands Council through funding from the Scottish Executive offers a £30:00 incentive off the costs of purchasing real nappies and details of this scheme are also available on the website.
Since the conversion to real nappies by the Hospital in June it is believed that about 30% of Shetland babies are now staying with cloth. This is one of the highest rates of cloth usage in the United Kingdom. Both Orkney Islands Council and Western Isles Council are following our example and developing their own programmes.
The Shetland webiste by offering information and local contacts will further encourage the use of this sustainable form of childcare and will further place Shetland at the forefront of this nationally supported waste prevention measure.
For further information on the topic of real nappies or the partnership programme please contact MaryLisk/Lorraine Gray on (01595) 744818/744890.
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