Green + Simple co-founder, Erica Watson, shares her favourite eco-friendly, biodegradable nappies and wipes for babies.
Until I had children I don’t think I ever fully understood the concept of waste. Little ones create a lot of mess, and between the constant stream of nappies, wipes, lotions and potions, our weekly garbage output went from pretty respectable to something that resembled the aftermath of Glastonbury Festival. While reusables are an excellent option, they just weren’t something I could fully commit to. Enter biodegradable options. There’s now a great range of nappies that break down much faster than their traditional counterparts. They also skip the nasties like chlorine-treated inner pulp, artificial colours and fragrances. Add some compositible wipes and you’re on your way to a much more sustainable household. Here are some of our favourites:
Water Wipes; £2.80
It doesn’t get simpler than these wipes that use plain old water to cut through the mess. Made from 99.9 per cent water, the only other ingredient is grape seed extract – a natural anti-microbial – making them a no-brainer for newborns. They’re also OK to use on nappy rash and sensitive skin.
Find them here
Storksac Organics Hand and Face wipes; £2.95
These hand and face wipes are Cosmos certified organic and are super hydrating. They’re 100 per cent biodegradable and are free from artificial fragrance, colours and what’s more, they’re free from alcohol so they won’t dry out babies’ skin. A great option to keep in your handbag for spills.
Wotnot biodegradable baby wipes; £4.95
Biodegradable and compostable, Wotnot is a Green + Simple favourite. They use natural preservatives (citric acid), and have a lovely mild scent. They’re an affordable option and also come in a reusable travel case, making them great to throw in your nappy bag without too much bulk. They also make biodegradable nappy bags too.
Naty by Nature Babycare wipes; £5.70
Naty wipes are also compostable and made using FSC certified, unbleached wood pulp. The Swedish brand offers unscented, aloe and lightly scented options as well as a flushable wipe. They’re made with plenty of moisture and our another favourite of ours. Plus they’re easy to find in most chemists and supermarkets.
Moltex biodegradable nappies; £4.37
From newborns to toddlers, Moltex have a good selection of nappy sizes that won’t cost the planet. They’re made from skin-friendly renewable raw material including a chlorine free absorbent core and biodegradable inner fluff that’ll keep little ones dry for a long time. They also have a three-layer absorbency feature and use tealeaf extracts to help eliminate odours. They’re truly great all-rounders for all ages.
Beaming Baby nappies; £5.25
These nappies are made from a combination of cotton and GM free cornstarch fibres. They offer free nappy and training pants trial packs so you can give them a go before buying in bulk. They also donate to charity – including the Eczema Society and Baby Lifeline. Along with nappies they have a range of biodegradable bags, baby wipes bath, shampoo and body wash – also available in sample packs.
Kit and Kin hypoallergenic nappies;
Kit and Kin is the hard work of Spice Girl, Emma Bunton and presenter and UNICEF ambassador Christopher Money. Sales of their hypoallergenic nappies helps maintain rainforests through the World Land Trust, they’re cruelty free and made from sustainably sourced materials – like chlorine free, sustainable fluff pulp. The fastening tapes and anti-leak barriers are also biodegradable. They offer subscription and bundle packs to take the hassle out of buying, plus they’re super cute.
Eco by Naty; £6.25
The main absorbing ingredient of these nappies is wood pulp and the rest of the nappy is made of natural, biodegradable materials, such as compost certified tissue and sugarcane. They are fragrance free and unbleached. We loved the generous leak guards and best of all with this brand, we found there were no leakages overnight – a true win for mums and dads everywhere!
Interested in reusable nappies? Discover Fiona Walker‘s zero waste journey in Politics of an Eco Nappy and find her favourite zero waste swaps.