Plastic Free July encourages us to rethink our everyday habits and reduce single-use plastic. Here are 3 must-have EcoNaps accessories to minimise your plastic waste as a parent.
1. Bye bye disposable wipes, choose cloth instead
You’re probably aware of how harmful disposable wipes are to the environment. Most disposable wipes are made up of PET and cellulose, aka plastic, which doesn't break down. Micro plastics are flooding our oceans and causing long-term problems for our marine-based friends who ingest them.
In the first 6-months, let's assume you change bubs 6 times a day (more when they're newborn) and use 3 disposable wipes per change, which adds up to a huge 3285 disposable wipes! Making the switch to a set of 20 reusable cloth wipes could divert thousands of disposables from our waterways and landfill in the first 6-months of bubs’ life alone.
Plastic Free July is the perfect time to ditch disposables and make the switch to reusables. Our reusable bamboo wipes are super soft and absorbent to keep bubs’ bottom happy.
Learn more about reusable cloth wipes here >
2. Forget plastic bags, use wet bags instead
According to Clean Up Australia, only 3% of plastic bags used in Australia are recycled. Plastic bags are still heavily produced and then enter our oceans and landfills, making carbon emissions in the process.
A simple way to say no to plastic bags *and never be caught out again* is to carry a wet bag instead. While wet bags are designed to hold and transport dry and wet cloth nappies, you can use them for almost anything—think swimmers, toys, fruit & vege, and so much more!
Looking for a little more inspo?
Here are 33 creative ways to use wet bags>
3. No to throw-away nursing pads, yes to reusables
Breast pads are leaky boobs' BFFs, but disposables come with a cost to the environment. Many are made with polymers, aka plastic, and come individually wrapped in even more plastic. In addition, they're often made with cotton (one of the planet's most environmentally harmful crops) and are non-biodegradable.
Lower your plastic waste by ditching the disposables and giving reusable breast pads a go. Reusables work just as well and don't come with their disposable counterparts' harmful environmental side effects.
Let’s assume you breastfeed for six months and change breast pads three times a day (or more often as you establish your milk supply), a set of 9 reusable pairs of breast pads could divert 180 disposable pairs plus their pesky plastic packaging from landfill.
Learn more about breast pads here >
Washing and other considerations
A common concern with reusables is the increase in washing loads. But let’s be real, with a baby, you’re probably already doing a daily wash of cloth nappies or clothes right? Simply toss your reusable items in with them. Voila! No extra laundry power required.
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