Eco Friendly Nappies and Wipes – Mama Bamboo
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Nappy Waste
Being a mum of three, with another on the way has always left me thinking about the amount of waste we create, especially nappies – they are an absolute nightmare! Did you know that by the time a baby is potty trained, they will have gone through 6,000 disposable nappies. That’s nearly £400 or more spent a year, and creates the equivalent to half a tonne of carbon dioxide!
Wipes too….
Thinking about that, and then comes the baby wipes! An average new born can use up to three to four wipes per nappy change – it is likely that as your baby grows this will reduce but as a mum you don’t just use baby wipes to change your little ones nappies – they are paramount in any household when you have little ones!
Making the Change to Eco Friendly Nappies and Wipes
With that in mind, I have been looking at ways to help to be more environmentally friendly. Becoming more environmentally friendly can be an absolute minefield and can involve hours of research, but that was when I was introduced to Mama Bamboo just in time, and wanted to share this amazing business with you guys in the hope that it can help you too!
What is Mama Bamboo?
Mama Bamboo is born from the idea that our little ones shouldn’t have to wear cheap plastic or start their lives negatively which can in turn impact their future world. That’s why Mama Bamboo developed a healthier, sustainable, and more natural nappy, and wet wipe!
Award-winning Nappies and wipes with a difference
Their nappies are made from organically grown and sustainably harvested bamboo, chlorine free pulp and compostable liners, making them super soft, breathable and regulate your little ones temperature, whilst also being naturally antibacterial – how fab is that? The properties of their nappies mean that they help to reduce nappy rash, and leave our little ones feeling comfortable and dry! Not to mention that their baby nappies have been awarded Mother & Baby “Best Performance” nappies, and have also won Made for Mums “Best Eco Nappy” and their wipes have won the Made for Mums award for “Best Baby Wipe”.
Meet the Founder!
Laura Crawford –Founder and CEO of Mama Bamboo, started the brand out of frustration at not being able to find a high performing eco-nappy option for her own children.
Laura strongly believes that it is a business’ role to do good, and to make positive changes. An early advocate of the Better Business Act, she seeks partnerships and supply chain partners with strong CSR, social and environmental practices. All of Mama Bamboo’s suppliers are audited, by the British Standards Institute, and all bamboo, wood, and cotton resources have FSC or OETX certification.
Run by Parents
Laura is also supported by a strong team of like-minded staff that believe in the same ethics of the company and the founder. All staff are encouraged to work part time and flexi time, and Mama Bamboo company policy to offer meaningful employment to return to work parents.
Mama Bamboo also works closely with the University of Hertfordshire to regularly allow students to unite with the business in their research programmes, and has also supported Digital Mum students who are upskilling to the field of marketing after long family career breaks.
Better for baby, better for you, and better for Mother Earth too…
Unlike the generic standard disposable nappies, Mama Bamboo nappies don’t use 1/3 cups of oil in their production process, and don’t have the use of chlorine, latex, phthalates or PVC! Whilst that sounds amazing, they are also packaged in 100% compostable plant-based film, and under industrial compost conditions means that they will biodegrade 80% within two years.
The Wipes
Mama Bamboo wipes are also made from 100% bamboo, non-woven fibre and they will compost completely in just six months! Using 99.4% purified water and a plant based cleanser, their wipes are hypoallergenic, vegan certified and cruelty free, and if that didn’t sound amazing enough, the packaging is wrapped in recycled PET, meaning that it is kinder to the earth!
B-Corp Certified!
Mama Bamboo are the only UK Nappy and Wipe Brand to be B-Corp certified. This makes them one of only 3,500 global companies to be accredited as meeting the highest global, ethical and sustainable standards. Mama Bamboo also practice carbon offsetting through bamboo afforestation with the Ugandan Bamboo Village, which provides jobs for local people, whilst helping to build a community and business centre within the bamboo plantation! Becoming a B-Corp accredited company, it means that they have legally changed its purpose to drive value and positive impact beyond shareholders to the wider community and the planet, and also commits to donating 20% of their net profits to charitable causes every year!
Baby Bank
With this in mind, Mama Bamboo have also agreed a partnership with a nationwide Baby Bank to supply nappies and wipes, and are committed to increasing funding to the Bamboo Village for a period of five years!
What are the most eco friendly nappies?
Mama Bamboo eco-friendly disposable nappies are the highest rated disposable nappy brand by The Ethical Consumer. Unlike other eco brands, Mama Bamboo top and bottom layers are 100% plant based, and their liners and packaging are compostable. Many eco brands use just 15% plant based covers, which means that 85% of their products are plastic.
Are the nappies totally biodegradable?
Unfortunately, there are no disposable nappies that are 100% biodegradable, currently on the market. However, Mama Bamboo nappies are 80% biodegradable within two years! And the company continue to research and trial innovative materials with the aim of achieving at least 95% by 2030.
Do biodegradable nappies break down in landfill?
Biodegradable nappies only break down in the right conditions, and the company advise hot composting or industrial composting.
If your normal bin lorry just dumps nappies in a landfill site, composting will be very slow. Compostable items of any kind, even apple cores or banana skins won’t biodegrade quickly in landfill sites, as they are managed to keep decomposition as low as possible due to the gasses that leaks out.
Choosing these nappies will save on the petrochemicals and chemicals used to make normal disposables nappies and wipes, and will mean less plastic packaging is produced overall. It also means that if they do end up in landfill, they will degrade slowly without releasing micro plastics and chemicals into the soil and groundwater.
Mama Bamboo has widened its remit to focus not only on the greener product development, but also the social impact and end-of-life processing; running the #thenappyrevolution campaign, and becoming a corporate sponsor for UCL’s research grant in to circular economy, and they aim to improve the waste management of all absorbent hygiene products across the UK and divert all nappy waste away from landfill by 2030.
Future plans…
Mama Bamboo is extending their existing range, and is diversifying in to ethical and sustainable baby gifts and homeware, which includes products such as a bamboo table wear range, and organic cotton towelling and toys.
They have also recently launched a series of bamboo tableware sets for weaning featuring 8 animal characters of WWF endangered species. These sets also come with story cards, which introduce young children to the concept of conservation.
Teach our little ones to care for our environment
Mama Bamboo is passionate about teaching little ones to understand their delicate environment and their role in protecting their world. Mama Bamboo also has plans to partner with Bears for Humanity, to create soft toys, towels and baby robes to accompany the endangered range.
If this hasn’t already sold you, then I would highly recommend having a look through their social media to learn more about this amazing business and their products!
Laura has definitely given me a huge push and helping hand in becoming more environmentally aware, and slowly but surely I am making the right steps towards becoming more eco friendly!
Social Media Links:
At MyBump2Baby, we believe that we should take care of the environment and help to prevent climate change. Find out more about Mama Bamboo and their products below:
Website: www.mamabamboo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mamabamboouk
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mamabamboouk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mama_bamboo
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCxfgK1zxlW45txyKwB2L2Og
Lauren Back is a mum of 3 & has a huge passion supporting small businesses and growing families in Newcastle Upon Tyne and throughout the UK.