19 April 2006 - Green Party Euro-MP Caroline Lucas joins some 150 UK parliamentarians to celebrate the 10 th anniversary Real Nappy Week from 24-30 April.

Fashion shows, coffee mornings and hundreds of other events take place across the UK and beyond.

Dr Lucas, Green Party Principal Speaker and MEP for South-East England , said: “It’s fantastic that more and more parents have chosen to use reusable nappies since the first Real Nappy Week in 1996.

“There are now a wide range of reusable nappies available: they are easy and clean to wash and use, snug fitting and self-fastening, available in organic, waterproof, breathable materials – and cheaper than disposables too.”

Biba Hartigan of Women’s Environmental Network (WEN), which is co-ordinating the week, says, “There are nappies to suit all tastes: bright and funky Day-Glo, leopard-skin and tie-dye prints, classic whites and pastels in fluffy fleece, silky-soft bamboo or organic hemp fabrics, and a choice of snug-fitted styles.”

Reusable nappies are cheaper than disposables, by at least £500 per baby, healthier – they tend to be made from natural fibres rather than super-absorbent chemicals, paper pulp and plastics - and they don’t contribute to Britain ’s growing waste crisis.

Three billion nappies a year - eight million a day - are thrown away in the UK . 90% end up in landfill. Landfill space is running out and local authorities face tough targets to reduce waste. Real nappies can be reused time and time again so they don’t contribute to household waste.

Dr Lucas, who is a matron of WEN, added: “I am very glad to be supporting this worthwhile campaign again . Real nappies save money and waste and it’s great to see how many styles and options are now available to parents.”

A record 840-plus supporters have signed up to back Real Nappy Week including over 90 percent of all UK local authorities.  With some eight million nappies thrown away every day in the UK , authorities actively promote real nappy use to cut waste and as a cost-saving option for families.

Real Nappy Week is co-ordinated by Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) and sponsored by WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) through its Real Nappy Campaign and supported by the Waste Aware Scotland campaign.

Details of all activities are posted on Women’s Environmental Network’s website, www.wen.org.uk and the list is updated as new events are confirmed.

The Real Nappy Helpline – 0845 850 0606 – and Nappy Finder website - www.realnappycampaign.com/nappyfinder - allow parents to find all their local cloth nappy services, including suppliers, laundries and local authority incentive schemes.

ENDS

Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) is a registered charity that campaigns on issues which link women, health and the environment. WEN has been involved in Real Nappy Week since its inception and has co-ordinated the week in its current form since 2000. Other current issues include food, toxic chemicals and the environmental impacts of disposable sanitary and incontinence protection.

WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) is a major UK programme established to promote resource efficiency. Its particular focus is on creating stable and efficient markets for recycled materials and products removing the barriers to waste minimisation, reuse and recycling.