When Australian parents Stacey and Ben Ring calculated the volume of single-use nappies waste they were using over the course of the year – and their impact on the environment – they knew they could find a way to do better. The result is Little Eco Baby, a startup empowering parents to choose safer nappies which has developed a range of sustainable modern cloth nappies, wet bags and accessories.
“When I was preparing to give birth to my son, we had a stash of cloth nappies to try but was unsure of their effectiveness,” explains Stacey. “After switching from disposable to reusable cloth nappies, our preconceived notions were blown out of the water.”
The Rings cite research that a child probably needs between 6000 and 7000 nappy changes before they graduate to undies. They estimate that around 800 million disposable nappies end up in Australian landfills every year, which can take hundreds of years to break down. Australian parents will spend around $3640 annually during the first four years of a child’s life.
That’s why the couple now wants to inspire other parents to switch from disposable to reusable cloth nappies.
They freely admit it took some motivation to stick to the plan – “but once we did, we never looked back”.
“Our boy did not get leaks or any nappy rash. We were proud to be reducing our waste and protecting our little boy from nasties against his skin. Cloth nappies reduce exposure to over 50 chemicals used in the manufacturing of disposable nappies.”
Little Eco Baby’s Easy Snap Modern Cloth Nappies are made from recycled post-consumer plastic bottles. Designed in the NSW rural town of Nowra, they feature designs by a local graphic artist.
Using only high-quality materials that are environmentally focused and free of toxins, the Easy Snap Modern Cloth Nappy is designed to suit all babies and their busy parents, says Stacey.
The Easy Snap Modern Cloth Nappy comes in two parts. A waterproof shell and an absorbent insert set.
Without the use of a solvent or chemical glue, recycled post-consumer plastic bottles are heat bonded to create a waterproof shell. The bamboo viscose used to make the absorbent insert is known for its fast absorption.
The company’s Double Pocket Wet Bags allow parents to store wet, dirty nappies and cloth wipes when on the move, eliminating smell or leakage, an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic bags.
The waterproof material is made from heat-bonded PUL, made without the use of a solvent or chemical glue. This type of polyester has a higher resistance to heat and chemical damage and is known for its durability.
Little Eco Baby ships assembled, ready-to-use cloth nappies and wet bags direct to parents’ homes in sustainable packaging – repurposed or reused satchels, or fully compostable courier satchels.
Working from 100 per cent solar-powered premises and offsetting 100 per cent of employees’ travel and energy consumption, the company embraces sustainable business practices wherever it can.
- Further reading: New BabyLove nappies feature organic cotton, PEFC-certified pulp.
