One World, One Change
Every Year in April, Go Real celebrates reusable nappies with Real Nappy Week. This is an opportunity for all reusable nappy lovers to shout about how wonderful they are at the tops of their voices. At Go Real we take to our social media platforms in full force with sharable memes, blogs, website links and competitions with the aim of bringing reusable nappies to the public eye along with the UK Cloth Nappy Libraries and the UK's cloth nappy industry.
Myth Busting
This is a big part of our mission at Go Real, so many people say "but aren't they all fiddly with lots of folding and pins?" and "won't I have to boil them?"
Terry nappies with folding and pins are still a popular reusable nappy option for many nappy users, but modern nappies are much more convenient, shaped to fit baby, with the water proof part attached and fastening with Aplex or poppers! Then, when they need washing, they just go in the washing machine. It really is that simple!
But why use reusable nappies?
By using Cloth Nappies, families could save anywhere from £100 - £1000 and the more children they have in cloth, the bigger the saving! And don't forget the cost to our environment. By choosing Cloth over Single Use Nappies, according to the 2008 life cycle analysis families could make up to a 40% carbon saving. Currently UK families send 355,000 tons of single use nappies to landfill and insinuation each year, costing Local Authorities (and tax payers) £32 million a year. This has to change!
What is Go Real?
Go Real is a social enterprise based in the heart of Cornwall, run by Anna, a mum of two, helping families find the greener side of life. We deliver clear, independent and easy to understand information about reusable nappies and menstrual products.
Our website and social media is the go to place for families, local authorities and even health professionals who need up to date information about reusable nappies and menstrual products.
We really enjoy researching and investigating the reasons families chose to use reusable nappies. In 2016 we conducted The Big Nappy Survey and in 2017 we will be publishing The Big Nappy Report. This will naturally progress into further research into some areas. We also have plans to do research into the choices menstruating people make when choosing the products they use.
Go Real is the progression of The Real Nappy Campaign. However we receive no funding from central government. Instead Go Real relies on funding from members. Without our members we cannot do any of this.
What can you do?
Well, if you already use reusable nappies full time, help a friend make the switch, or see if your local nappy library is in need of a volunteer to help convert hundreds of families to cloth.
If you're a part time cloth nappy user, why not switch one more nappy a day to cloth, which would be an amazing saving of 365 single use nappies over a year.
This year, if you have never used cloth nappies before you can take the #SwitchForSix pledge with Real Nappies for London and Go Real. We are encouraging families all over the UK to make the switch to reusable nappies for just six weeks to see how easy it is. You don't have to buy any nappies, you could go to your local nappy library to borrow the nappies and some local authorities offer a trial pack, or, if this isn't possible you could buy a few pre loved nappies to try them out. It doesn't have to be all or nothing, you could start with just trying out one or two reusable nappies a day and see how you go from there! Join the Switch for Six Facebook group for more information!
So, if you are a cloth nappy veteran, or completely new to the idea, there is something for you this week!
If you would like any more information about Go Real please email anna@goreal.org.uk
Twitter @GoRealNappyInfo