feature NAPPIES & TOILET TRAINING
Bottoms up!
As nursery retailers navigate the evolving landscape of parenting trends, stocking cloth nappies and toilet training products could prove a strategic move. In response to growing environmental concerns and a shift towards sustainable parenting practices, cloth nappies, more so during the Covid Lockdowns period saw a resurgence in popularity. By offering cloth nappies and toilet training products, you, the retailer, could tap into a wider consumer audience while also positioning yourselves as advocates for sustainable parenting. Moreover, the inclusion of cloth nappies and toilet training products in your inventory could diversify your offering, as these appeal to a broader customer base. As more parents start to prioritise products that promote eco-consciousness and facilitate their child’s developmental milestones, these products could provide additional footfall, visits to websites and sales opportunities.
VIEWPOINT
Nursery Today caught up with supplier Modern Cloth Nappies Founder Stephanie Revill and online retailer Juliet Wickham, owner of The Washable Nappy Company to find out their thoughts on re-usable cloth nappies.
Juliet Wickham
Stephanie Revill
Have you experienced an increase in the popularity in the use of cloth nappies?
Have we seen an increase in the popularity in the use of cloth nappies?
The Washable Nappy Company My experience is that more new parents are willing to try cloth nappies, either on their own or mixing this with using disposable nappies. During the pandemic there was a huge surge in the popularity of cloth nappies when many retailers like me completely sold out. A bit like the great-Covidloo-roll-rush, a similar thing happened with supermarkets running out of disposable nappies and large numbers of parents started making a positive choice to switch to washable nappies. They could purchase some and become more self-sufficient during a time when supermarket-shopping was very difficult. And, since parents were at home anyway, during the various lock-downs, they had more time on their hands to practice using their newly purchased washable nappies. Since Covid, things have dropped back to more normal sales-levels, and with the increases in energy costs, some customers have also expressed anxiety about the washing costs. But the evidence is clear that even with slightly higher washing costs, cloth nappies are much cheaper overall and way better for the environment and the surge in popularity is clear.
Do you feel that ample awareness is provided highlighting the negative impact to our environment by the use of disposable nappies?
No, the government does not give nearly enough attention to the negative impact of disposable nappies. I guess the disposable nappy companies are huge multinational conglomerates, with lots of lobbying power. The amount of waste generated by disposable nappies is well-documented. As a society we have embraced the idea that single-use plastics are a bad idea and are switching to more sustainable alternatives, such as wooden coffee stirrers, in the place of the old plastic ones, but we seem to have a collective blind spot with regards to disposable nappies, which are also single-use plastic products.
Do you feel there is sufficient information available and support given to parents who might be considering using cloth nappies, their benefits and of course ease of use?
No parent wants to hear doom-and-gloom messages. Just as important as highlighting the negative environmental impacts of disposables, is the need for governments to publicise that parents can make a positive choice by switching to washable nappies. We want the government to help educate people about the benefits of washable nappies, both environmentally and in terms of financial savings. As washable nappy retailers, we know how easy they are to use, how great they look on your baby, how they leak less, use fewer chemicals, waste less water in their production and are significantly better for the environment. But due to lack of public awareness, many of our customers come to us with a low knowledge-base. Their grand-parents were probably using the old washable terry nappies. The disposable nappy revolution was so complete that we now have to build-up the community’s knowledge of, and confidence in, washable nappies once again. Fortunately, there are local nappy libraries and cloth nappy companies, like us, who are able and happy to give advice and support.
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Modern Cloth Nappies Modern Cloth Nappies has observed a significant surge in popularity, with an increasing number of parents and carers actively seeking for reusable options. This shift is attributed to growing environmental consciousness and a desire for more sustainable parenting choices.
Do you feel there is sufficient information and support given to parents who might be considering using cloth nappies, their benefits and of course ease of use? We believe we provide great information and support to parents and carers considering cloth nappies and we also support nappy libraries up and down the country who advocate for cloth nappies and offer online and in person support groups to those looking to try cloth nappies.
With clever design, ease of use has become a key highlight on many cloth nappies - how is this conveyed to the consumer?
The emphasis on clever design and ease of use is effectively conveyed to consumers through informative product descriptions, user-friendly packaging such as nappy guides, and online resources. MCN prioritises transparent communication to ensure that consumers feel confident in their choice when switching to our reusable nappies.
By using cloth nappies, what impact does this have on our environment?
Opting for cloth nappies contributes significantly to reducing the environmental footprint. DEFRA released their report to confirm that reusable nappies when also taking washing and drying into consideration, are still better for the environment. Reusable nappies produce 25% less CO2 than disposable nappies and the environmental impact of production is over 90% lower for a reusable nappy vs a single-use disposable nappy.
What type of savings can be expected by ditching the disposal?
By using reusable nappies full time over the course of birth to potty training (average 0-2.5 years) parents and carers can expect to save from £400 plus for one child, and considerably more when reusing already purchased nappies on children thereafter!
Finally, what are the main benefits retailers can expect by stocking a variety of cloth nappy options in-store or on their websites?
Retailers stocking a variety of cloth nappy options can expect several benefits, including catering to the growing demand for sustainable products, attracting environmentally conscious consumers, and fostering customer loyalty. Additionally, by offering a diverse range, retailers can meet the varied preferences and needs of parents, enhancing their overall customer satisfaction. Contact us today for wholesale information info@modernclothnappies.co.uk or visit www.mcn-wholesale.co.uk
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12/02/2024 13:19