Perspectives June 2021∣Youth Hong Kong
Happy babies and parents
in the circular economy l Eco-friendly, sustainable products for babies and mothers are popular around the world.
l 環保有機的母嬰用品受世界各地父母熱 烈追捧。
l Now gaining traction with Hong Kong’s environmentally-aware families, reusable diapers are a colourful, interesting option.
l 本港家庭日趨注重環保，有企業推出不 同顔色和花款的環保尿布。
l Derek Lam, founder of Ways BB, recalls how personal experience converted him and led the way for his business startup.
l Derek 憶 述 他 如 何 從 個 人 經 歷 得 到 啟 發，因而創辦環保嬰兒用品公司 Ways BB。
It all began in 2014 with Derek’s daughter, Elbe [pictured]. “I had to go from one small baby shop to another to find everything we needed for her. But babies grow fast and a lot was wasted so I created a second-hand baby product online platform where people like myself could buy and sell.” The circular economy concept was suitable for durable baby products such as baby cribs, baby strollers and baby walkers and reusable diapers came next. “Our cloth diapers can be adjusted to fit any baby, from a newborn to a toddler. They create far less waste than disposables – which are said to take hundreds of years to decompose,”explains Derek. Reusables can also save you a lot of money since a baby needs only about 24 washable diapers in the early years compared to 6,000 or more disposables, he says. Made from materials such as organic, antiseptic bamboo and organic cottons, hemp and other recycled materials, everything in Derek’s diapers except the buttons is 100% decomposable. “It will have disappeared from landfills within five years,” he says. “Our bamboo diaper inserts, when frequently washed, also become softer and are more absorbent than any made of polyester.” 18
The outer layer is waterproof and breathable and the inner layer is soft and hypoallergenic.
