The Real Nappy Project wants the NHS to stop promoting disposables and inform parents about cloth nappies. Elizabeth Hartigan on the green option for parents and babies

The National Health Service holds huge sway over first-time mums and dads coping with a new baby. But it could do much more when it comes to advising parents about nappies. All expectant parents are encouraged to attend antenatal and parentcraft courses at their local maternity hospital. Part of the course deals with how to put on a disposable nappy. Maeve Murphy of the Real Nappy Project reckons, 'By not offering proper information on real nappies, hospitals and maternity services are effectively promoting disposable nappies. Parents have the right to make an informed choice.'

The Women's Environmental Network (WEN) is calling on the NHS to tell parents about reusable, cloth, fitted nappies and the laundry services available for those who want an environmentally friendly alternative to disposables.

Nappy facts: environment

• Disposable nappies form about 4% of household waste.
• It costs the British taxpayer £40 million a year to get rid of them.
• Disposable nappies comprise 50% of the waste from a one-baby household.
• Decomposing disposable nappies emit noxious methane gas. It will take 200 to 500 years for a disposable nappy to decompose, leaving a harmful environmental legacy to your children's grandchildren.
• One baby will use over 6,500 nappies from the time of birth to potty training

• Introduce real nappy demonstrations to antenatal classes.
• Use real nappies in children's wards, neonatal units and maternity units.
• Establish a training scheme to educate midwives in the use and benefits of real nappies.

Several UK hospitals have already adopted an on-ward real nappy policy

• In November 1997 Crawley Hospital was the first to introduce real nappies for their maternity ward. They use an external laundry which, like all members of the National Association of Nappy Services (NANS), launders nappies to clinical standards.
• Crowborough Birthing Centre, in East Sussex, followed soon after in December 1997.
• Similar systems have been set up in St Richard's Hospital, Chichester, Royal Devon & Exeter, Tiverton, Honiton, Worthing, Okehampton and Oldham NHS Trust, with others soon to follow.

The knock-on effect of this approach is considerable

According to Cotton Bottoms laundry service, which provides the nappy laundry service to a number of hospitals in southern England, 25% of parents of babies born at St Richard's Hospital in Chichester have continued to use their nappy laundry service. At the same time the hospital has made additional savings on the cost of buying disposable nappies. Using real nappies on hospital wards also saves hospitals the cost of incinerating disposables as clinical waste.

St Richard's Hospital in Chichester is part of the award winning West Sussex Real Nappy Initiative involving West Sussex County Council and Cotton Bottoms nappy laundry service. In this innovative scheme, West Sussex County Council are offering a £30 cashback incentive to anyone continuing to use real nappies over a prolonged period, whether they wash their own or use a laundry service. This is financed by the potential savings made through diverting those nappies from landfill. Julie Wilkinson, Recycling Manager at West Sussex County Council is pleased with its success 'So far, 810 people have registered with the scheme which means that a potential 5.3 million nappies have been diverted from landfill.'

Nappy facts - the cost

• With real nappies hospitals make significant savings on incineration costs and the supplying disposable nappies.
• Local authorities save money because they don't have to get rid of their nappy mountains.
• Parents who choose real nappies can save £600 with their first child. This increases with second and subsequent children where the nappies can be reused.
• Some nappy suppliers have established payment schemes to spread the initial cost of buying a full set of real nappies.
• The Nappy Exchange Service has been set up to provide a source of second-hand real nappies.

This isn't the only way hospitals can implement a real nappy policy

Some hospitals, like Oldham NHS Trust, launder their own nappies. Parentcraft Co-ordinator, Sinead Saunders, is working closely with a local nappy manufacturer, Molly Coddles, on the scheme. 'It's working well. The hospital saves on the incineration costs of disposables, but don't incur any additional laundry costs as the nappies simply fill up existing loads rather than adding any extra loads to the weekly wash.'

By encouraging the NHS to adopt a real nappy policy, the Real Nappy Project is opening up a new opportunity for cost saving in the NHS, while offering UK parents a real choice.

If you're interested in supporting this environmental campaign:

• Contact your local hospital or NHS Trust to encourage them to consider using real nappies on the maternity ward.
• Encourage others to ask for real nappy information at antenatal and parentcraft classes.
• Send an SAE with two stamps to PO Box 3704, London SE26 4RX for information on real nappies, suppliers and laundry services.