Bamboo is a grass not a tree and it grows super fast in it's natural environment. It is organically grown without pesticides or fertilisers. Unlike many crops, including cotton, bamboo does not needs an enormous amount of water to grow.
We use 100% FSC certified Moso bamboo for the top and bottom layers of our nappies. Most nappies use nasty plastic; polypropylene, polyethelene and polyester.
Bamboo is also 3x more effective as a carbon sink than any other tree or grass. This makes it the ideal crop for helping to lower CO2 and slowing climate change.
Traditional nappies are made from oil-based single-use plastics. Each normal nappy requires 150-200ml of crude oil in its production.
And they are normally wrapped in nasty single-use plastic packaging.
Our nappy top and bottom layers are made from bamboo, as are our wipes. And our inner liners are made from corn starch based film and our core is made from 100% FSC certified plant-based pulp. Even our nappy packaging is made from plant-based PLA.
We believe an eco-nappy should be at least 70% bio-based materials including packaging.
Unfortunately many are not.
Well, don't even get us started! Only 9% of plastic has ever been recycled - so we don't rely on recycling if we can help it.
Our nappy packaging is a 100% compostable corn starch film. Our wipes are packaged in recycled plastic (that is commonly recycled again in kerbside collections).
Thing is, lots of recyclable packaging isn't as friendly as it sounds. It's complicated - so you can read more in our blog. Basically if it's not a 1 or 2, it means it's tricky to recycle.
Why we chose bamboo
Listen to Laura Crawford, our CEO, talk about why she chose bamboo for our Mama Bamboo products.
We can't abide greenwashing and lip service to social and environmental responsibility. So we decided to put ourselves through the rigorous assessment process to achieve B CorpTM accreditation. And WE DID IT! Joining some of the worlds most pioneering, environmentally conscious brands.
Anyone can call their product 'eco' - clever branding and careful choice of words is often all that is needed. And, sometimes the smallest % of cotton is enough to make you think you are making a really good environmentally friendly choice. We think all parents should know what is in the nappies their baby is wearing. Here's what to know.
Only 9% of recyclable plastic has ever been recycled. This is why we choose a compostable plant-based plastic for our nappy packaging. In this months blog we delve into the different types of 'eco-friendly' plastics to uncover which really are the best for Mama Earth.