Ethics & Environment

Why Bamboo?

Bamboo is the only available crop on earth which can keep up with consumer demand. It reaches full maturity within 2 years and sustainable harvesting improves forest regeneration. We use Moso bamboo which grows very fast in the mountains. The yield is naturally very high without the use of fertilisers or pesticides or any irrigation. 12-15 feet growth in just 3 weeks has been recorded in the spring season. This provides us with a sustainable, low impact crop as a brilliant alternative to polyesters, cotton, plastics, etc.

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.

In addition, bamboo is naturally antibacterial and excellent at regulating temperatures against your baby's skin.

Why not use cotton like some other leading brands?

Cotton is a very thirsty, intensively farmed crop.

Cotton is mostly grown in monoculture and is a very pesticide-intensive crop. Although it is only grown on 2.5% of the world’s agricultural land, it consumes 16% of all the insecticides used worldwide. These pesticides are washed out of soils and pollute rivers and groundwater.

If cotton is cultivated intensively, it requires large amounts of water for irrigation. This causes soil salinisation, particularly in dry areas and hence a degradation of soil fertility. The diversion of entire rivers into huge irrigation channels to feed the cotton fields in Central Asia has led to the gradual drying-up of the Aral Lake, one of the largest inland waters in the world.

Cotton production also contributes to climate change. Industrial fertilisers are produced using considerable quantities of finite energy sources (1.5% of the world’s annual energy consumption), releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the excessive application of nitrates to agricultural land leads to their being transformed into nitrous oxide which in turn escalates global warming.

How can I be sure your bamboo is harvested sustainably?

We use MOSO bamboo which is harvested only after 3-5 years growth.

One bamboo plant will consist of several poles from which new shoots grow every year. Good practice allows for 20-25% of the poles to be harvested in a bamboo forest each year without any detriment to the density of the forest. Unlike trees, harvesting the bamboo poles in this way does not kill the plant but rather allows for new growth without deforestation.

Mama Bamboo is certified by FSC® (Forestry Stewardship Council ® Certification code C134890) to manufacture and sell Mama Bamboo nappies. You can find out more at https://www.fsc-uk.org/en-uk/about-fsc/what-is-fsc.

The FSC® is the leading authority for responsible wood sourcing. Since 2008 bamboo, though a grass rather than a wood, has been included in the scheme and is closely controlled.

Mama Bamboo’s certification number is NC-COC-026801

How do you carbon offset your transportation?

Firstly, we chose to transport all our goods as finished products by large container sea freight as this is the least carbon producing option.

Secondly, we have partnered with Uganda Bamboo Village Programme to plant bamboo forests in deforested areas. Each year we calculate our carbon footprint and replant enough bamboo to soak up the equivalent carbon within 2 years.

Bamboo provides a 3x more effective carbon sink than any other tree or grass.

You can read more about this in our blog: https://www.mamabamboo.com/blogs/news/were-so-proud-to-be-a-friend-of-the-bamboo-village-and-be-carbon-neutral

Do you test on animals at all?

Absolutely not!

We are officially registered with the Vegan Society and do not test any of our ingredients or products on animals.

Do you donate to any charitable organisations?

We are committed to donating 20% of our net profits to charity every year.

We donate to NSPCC, Ickle Pickles and the Ugandan Bamboo Village every year. We also offer to match any nappy and wipe donation our customers make to Ickle Pickles.

Nappies & Pants

How many nappies or pants are there in a pack?
Size Per Pack Per Carton (4 packs)
Size 0 30 nappies 120 nappies
Size 1 35 nappies 140 nappies
Size 2 30 nappies 120 nappies
Size 3 28 nappies 112 nappies
Size 4 26 nappies 104 nappies
Size 5 24 nappies 96 nappies
Size 4 Pants 22 nappies 88 nappies
Size 5 Pants 20 nappies 80 nappies
Size 6 Pants 18 nappies 72 nappies
Size 7 Pants 18 nappies 72 nappies
What size and how many nappies am I likely to need?

The size of nappy or nappy pants you need is dependent on the weight of your baby.

The number of nappies or pants you might need is dependent on their developmental age. The younger your baby is, the more frequently they will need a fresh nappy.

Below is a table detailing the approximate indication of the number of daily nappy changes by age range. Please be aware that the suggested age range is for guidance only as every baby is different.

Age (approx) Nappy Size Daily changes
0-3 months Size 0 and 1 10 changes
3-6 months Size 2 8-9 changes
6-12 months Size 3 8 changes
12-18 months Size 4 nappies or pants 6-8 changes
18-30 months Size 5 nappies or pants 5-6 changes
30-48 months Size 6 or 7 pants 2-6 changes*
*NOTE: You may find you need less frequent deliveries of the nappy pants as your child begins to potty train.

On average 4 packs of our nappies will last approximately 2 weeks.

Do you have wetness indicators?

Yes. All our nappies have a wetness indicator which turns yellow-blue as standard.

Are they as good as regular nappies?

We feel that they are better!

We are very proud to be the only eco-nappy ever to have won the Best Performance Nappy Gold award from Mother & Baby. Mama Bamboo nappies were judged to be more absorbent, softer, and better at controlling nappy rash than any other brand.

We have won several awards for our nappies from Made for Mums, Bizziebaby, Lux Life, and Parent & Baby.

[Awards here]

Feedback from parents has been excellent - high absorption, good fit, and noticeably less nappy rash.

How can bamboo help reduce nappy rash?

Our nappies are made from the softest bamboo viscose, chlorine-free wood pulp & plant-based liners. These are all breathable. There is no heat-trapping, bacteria-encouraging plastic layer wrapped around your baby's bottom.

Our nappies are free from chlorine, alcohol, latex and PVC. The bamboo viscose layers which lie against your baby's skin are naturally antibacterial, temperature regulating and breathable.

This all helps control or eradicate nappy rash.

Are the materials used to make your nappies biodegradable?

Our nappies are made from 100% biodegradable bamboo viscose layers, 100% biodegradable chlorine free FSC approved pulp and 100% compostable plant-based liners.

However, the side tabs, elasticated leg ruching and elasticated back panel are not biodegradable.

We use about 30% as much SAP as regular brands and will continue to research any alternatives.

Our nappies can biodegrade* over 60% in less than 3 months and can achieve 80% within 2 years in an industrial composting facility or hot compost.

*As tested by SGS International. Please note though, this cannot be achieved in a cold home compost due to the bacteria in human waste.

What is the nappy packaging made of?

Our nappy packaging is made from 100% plant-based material derived from renewable resources. It can be composted in an industrial compost facility. Our packaging meets EN13432, ASTM D6400. GreenPla and AS 4736 standards.

We are proud to be the only nappy brand using 100% compostable plant-based films.

How do I dispose of the nappies?

Our nappies can be composted at home but only if you have a hot compost system or wormery rather than standard cold compost system. The heat is needed to safely destroy the bacteria and pathogens associated with human waste.

The non-biodegradable elements will not compost and will need to be removed before using your lovely rich compost in the garden. These elements consist of the elastic tabs and ruching sections. These are usually easier to remove before you begin the composting process. You can simply tear these away before popping the bulk of the nappy into the compost bin

At the moment, if you cannot home hot compost, our nappies need to be put into general waste. Although our nappies can be composted no UK council is currently offering this. Wales do offer a nappy recycling service but this is not offered in the rest of the UK.

This is something we are working on constantly at Mama Bamboo HQ and we are currently working with UCL (University College London) on a research grant to investigate and promote the widespread implementation of council-facilitated waste management for bio-plastics and compostable AHP (Absorbent Hygiene Products).

Numerous research projects and tests for PLA composting at mass scale are currently underway in Germany, Belgium, and the USA. The UK is a little behind the curve. The studies have shown that the composting of bioplastics will be feasible in the UK as soon as the commercial volumes and sales increased sufficiently enough to cover the investments required.

By choosing Mama Bamboo products and other bio-plastics when you are shopping you are helping us to send a clear message to the government. We, as consumers and manufacturers, are willing to change and avoid fossil fuel plastics but we need their support to realise the full benefits of these choices.

Will they biodegrade in landfill?

The compostable elements of our nappies will biodegrade in the current UK landfills but at a slower rate than under hot composting conditions. UK landfills are not currently managed to promote biodegradability They are densely packed and lack the natural microbes, oxygen and light.

We are working with local environmental groups to campaign for industrial composting services within council landfills and where composting is not viable, we are encouraging councils to invest in recycling services for nappies.

Please do join our campaign #thenappyrevolution and sign our petition

https://www.change.org/p/defra-uk-encourage-councils-to-invest-in-industrial-composting-facilities-and-recycling-services-for-nappies

Can nappies really be composted by councils?

Whilst Canada, Germany, and New Zealand do have kerbside collections and industrial composting set up for nappies and wet wipes and Wales has a recycling service, the rest of the UK is sadly lagging behind. We are currently working with UCL (University College London) on a research grant to investigate and promote the widespread implementation of council-facilitated waste management for bio-plastics and compostable AHP (Absorbent Hygiene Products).

Numerous research projects and tests for PLA composting at mass scale are currently underway in Germany, Belgium, and the USA. The UK is a little behind the curve. The studies have shown that the composting of bioplastics will be feasible in the UK as soon as the commercial volumes and sales increased sufficiently enough to cover the investments required.

By choosing Mama Bamboo products and other bio-plastics when you are shopping you are helping us to send a clear message to the government. We, as consumers and manufacturers, are willing to change and avoid plastics but we need their support to realise the full benefits of these choices.

Is nappy composting viable?

Companies such as Soiled Diaper in Canada, Earth Baby in US and Envirocomp in New Zealand and community projects such as Dycle in Germany are composting nappies by the millions.

The city of Toronto has been composting eco-nappies for over 10 years. They have diverted over 2 billion used nappies away from landfill.

Toronto collects diapers and other organic items and sends them to a processing facility. The resultant compost gets distributed to farmland and parks. That’s right: Canada’s babies and toddlers, for all their messes, are helping Canadian crops to grow.

The program, called “Green Bin,” also accepts animal waste, kitty litter and sanitary products.

The Toronto program provides assurances that the process is “completely sanitary and safe”:

"Through decades of experiment and experience, sanitary engineering practice has developed standards for the composting process that ensure elimination of disease-causing organisms (pathogens). The high temperatures occurring naturally during the composting process destroy pathogens. Maintaining such high temperatures for a minimum time period ensures the final finished compost is pathogen-free."

We campaign tirelessly for our own government to make this service available in the UK.

Wipes

What are the ingredients in your wipes?

Our wipes are made from 100% bamboo cellulose and contain a 99.4% purified water cleansing formula enhanced with soothing aloe vera and moisturizing coconut extract.

These are kinder to baby's skin and suitable for use on newborn and sensitive skins.

The cleansing formula consists of:

  • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (Aloe Vera)
  • Citric Acid – Lemon juice - pH balancer
  • Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate - a coconut oil derived moisturiser recommended for sensitive skin
  • Propylene Glycol – moisturising ingredient
  • Tetrasodium EDTA – a foaming agent to reduce friction on delicate skin
  • Potassium Sorbate - prolongs shelf life by stopping the growth of mould, yeast, and fungi.
  • Sodium Benzoate - used as a preservative in medicines and cosmetics.

All ingredients have been approved for use in paediatric cosmetic products.

How biodegradable are your wipes?

We're very proud to say that our wipes are 100% compostable and will completely decompose within 3 months.

What is the wipes packaging made of?

Our wipes are wrapped in 30% recycled PET (recycled plastic bottles) and can be recycled again and again. RPET is one of the most widely kerbside recycled plastics.

How do I dispose of the wipes?

Our wipes can be put into your food-waste bin (if permitted by your local council) or they can be composted at home.

If neither of these is possible, they can be disposed of in general waste.

Will your wipes biodegrade in landfill?

Our wipes will biodegrade in the current UK landfills but at a slower rate than under best practice conditions. UK landfills are not currently managed to promote biodegradability. They are densely packed and lack the natural microbes, oxygen and light.

We are working with local environmental groups to campaign for industrial composting services within council landfills.

Please do join our campaign #thenappyrevolution and sign our petition

https://www.change.org/p/defra-uk-encourage-councils-to-invest-in-industrial-composting-facilities-and-recycling-services-for-nappies

Delivery & Returns

What is the standard delivery time?

Our standard delivery is 3 -5 workings days.

Our warehouse is closed on bank holidays so please be aware there may be an additional day’s delay at these times of year.

How can I track my order?

Once your order has been dispatched you will receive a Shipping Confirmation email with a tracking number. This number can be used on the courier website to track the order.

The courier will also text you (if you have provided a phone number) ahead of your delivery slot. We recommend you provide a contact number for this reason.

What is the cost of delivery?

Delivery is included for all orders over £30 and charged at £3.95for all orders under £30 within the UK, excluding Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands and the Channel Islands. Accurate shipping costs for these areas will be calculated at check out.

If goods are returned to us outside the standard delivery/redelivery/hold at post office terms, we will refund goods minus the penalty fee as applied by our courier.

Evri charge a £5.95 failed delivery penalty fee

DPD charge a £16 failed delivery penalty fee

Do I pay for subscription deliveries?

Delivery is charged at £3.95 for all orders under £30 within the UK, excluding Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands and the Channel Islands. Accurate shipping costs for these areas will be calculated at check out.

If goods are returned to us outside the standard delivery/redelivery/hold at post office terms will refund goods minus the penalty fee as applied by the courier.

Evri charge a £5.95 failed delivery penalty fee

DPD charge a £16 failed delivery penalty fee

What is your returns policy?

If you find you have over ordered anything in our Nappy or Nappy Pant Range and your little one has grown more rapidly than expected, you may return any unopened, undamaged packs for a refund or credit note within 21 days. You will need to pay the return shipping cost. We can offer a pre-paid shipping label with Evri for £7.95.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns of opened packs due to hygiene reasons and cannot accept returns after 21 days as the products themselves and packaging are compostable and have a shelf life.

In order to ensure your return is correctly processed, please go to our Returns Page to complete the online returns process.

How do I contact you?

Please contact us at admin@mamabamboo.com.

My parcel hasn't been delivered

Unfortunately issues with the delivery service, parcels being delivered to the wrong address or going missing can happen occasionally, especially during peak times like Black Friday or Christmas.

First Steps:

Check the tracking information on the courier’s website - it often can explain where your parcel is:

Track Evri parcel
Track Yodel parcel
Track DPD parcel

If there is an image provided by the couriers on your tracking info, you may recognise the location. It may be a neighbour’s house. Check the Map location the courier provides, if it's close, they may have delivered to a neighbour or mis-read the street name. Generally, you'll be able to locate the parcel quickly by checking this information.

Second step:

If this does not help to locate your parcel, email us at admin@mamabamboo.com.

Please email us before 7 days has passed since the estimated delivery date – beyond 7 days we cannot raise a case or request a refund from the courier.

If we can't resolve the situation using the image or map links, we'll launch an investigation with the courier which can take up to 5 working days.

Never Miss a Delivery Again

Download the courier apps and you can track your parcels, nominate a safe location and manage your delivery options.

DPD app Evri app Yodel app

Subscribe And Save

How does a subscription work?

Our subscription is a hassle-free way to have nappies and wipes delivered directly to your door with the added bonus of benefitting from a 20% discount on your nappies or nappy pants.

We have designed our subscription to be as flexible as possible so you can change ize of nappy, swap or add products, change the frequency of your orders, delay or bring forward an order or cancel the subscription whenever you need to.

Please be aware that your first order is placed when the subscription is set up and will be sent out to you within the following 24 – 48 hrs. For the orders following you will receive an email 3 days before your subscription is ordered, to allow you to login and change any aspect of the order.

Please ensure that your subscription is amended 24 hrs before your next order date.

How do I change my subscription?

If you need to change any part of your subscription: nappy size, frequency of your orders, add a product or swap products this can be done from the Manage my Subscription page within your Mama Bamboo account.

We ask that any changes be made before midnight the day your order is due so that it can processed in time.

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

This will take you through to the ‘Subscriptions’ page which shows your current subscription(s) and the date the order is due to be processed.

On the next page you can click on ‘Manage Subscription’ or ‘Add Product’.

‘Manage Subscription’ – this allows you to alter all aspects of your current subscription.

‘Add Product’ – will allow you to add any other product to your subscription.

How do I change nappy size?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Manage Subscription’ next to the subscription you wish to change.

On the next page click on ‘Product’ to change the size of nappy you need or to choose a different quantity: either 4, 8 or 12 packs.

This will open up the ‘Edit Product’ box where you can change size of nappy or choose a different quantity: either single pack, 4, 8 or 12 packs. Then scroll down and click ‘Update’to confirm the change.

How do I change the frequency of my order?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Manage Subscription’ next to the subscription you wish to change.

On the next page click on ‘Deliver Every’ to change how frequently you wish to receive your orders.

This will open up the ‘Deliver every’ box where you can choose the number of days, weeks of months between your orders. Select the options you require and click ‘Update’ to confirm the change.

How do I change how many nappies or wipes I receive?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Manage Subscription’ next to the subscription you wish to change.

If you subscribe to a Little Bundle or Bigger Bundle click on ‘Product’which will open up the ‘Edit Product’ box. Select the quantity of bundles desired and then scroll down and click ‘Update’to confirm the change.

NOTE: If you want to switch from a 'Little Bundle' to a 'Bigger Bundle', you will need to "Change Product" rather than increase quantities.

If you subscribe to nappies click on ‘Product’ to open up the ‘Edit Product’ box where you can choose a different quantity: either single pack, 4, 8 or 12 packs. Then scroll down and click ‘Update’to confirm the change.

If you subscribe to wipes click on ‘Product’ to open up the ‘Edit Product’ box where you can choose a different quantity: either single pack, 12 or 24 packs. Then scroll down and click ‘Update’to confirm the change.

How do I bring my order forward or delay it?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Manage Subscription’ next to the subscription you wish to change.

On the next page click on ‘Next Shipment’ to change when your next order will be processed.

This will open up the ‘Next Shipment’ box where you can choose the date you would like your order to be processed and click ‘Update Next Shipment Date’to confirm the change. Please note this is the date your order will be placed. It will be processed and dispatched within 24-48 hours of this date. If the order date falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday it will be processed and dispatched on the following Monday.

‘Ship Now’can also be selected. This will place your subscription order within 24 hours and it will then be processed and dispatched within 24-48 hours of this date. If the order date falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday it will be processed and dispatched on the following Monday.

How do I skip a delivery?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Manage Subscription’ next to the subscription you wish to change.

Scroll down the screen past ‘Next Shipment’, ‘Deliver Every’ and the shipping address. Click on ‘Skip Shipment’underneath the ‘Product’ box. This will open up the ‘Skip next shipment’ box which confirms which shipment you are skipping and the date of your following subscription: select ‘Skip’.

How do I swap products?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Manage Subscription’ next to the subscription you wish to change.

Click on ‘Product’ to open up the ‘Edit Product’ box, scroll down and click ‘Swap Product’.

Select the product you would like to swap to from the ‘Select Product’ box. Choose how often you would like the delivery and select the size of nappy required and how many packs if relevant and then click ‘Swap Product’.

How do I add a product?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the main subscriptions page choose the product you would like to add to your subscription and select whether it is a one-time purchase or a subscription.

In the ‘Add Product’ box choose how often you would like the delivery and select the size of nappy required and how many packs if relevant and then click ‘Add Product’.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Sob! Don't go!

If you do want to cancel you can log into your Account and select Manage my subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Cancel my Subscription’ below the details of your account and choose the products you wish to cancel.

If you subsequently change your mind, you can always activate your subscription again on the same page and continue to enjoy our standard 20% discount and free shipping on every order.

How do I re-start my subscription?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Re-activate’ next to the subscription you wish to re-start.

How do I update my payment method and/or billing address?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Manage Subscription’ next to the subscription you wish to change.

Scroll down until you reach the ‘Card on File’box and click on it. Complete the details in the ‘Edit card’ box and click ‘Update card’.

How do I add a Discount Code to my Subscription?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Manage Subscription’ next to the subscription you wish to change.

Scroll down the screen past ‘Next Shipment’, ‘Deliver Every’, ‘Shipping Address’ and Product.

Click on ‘Add a Discount’underneath the ‘Card on File’ box. In put the discount code and click on ‘Add Discount’.

How do I update my billing address and contact details?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Manage Subscription’ next to the subscription you wish to change.

Scroll down until you reach the ‘Billing Address’box and click on it. Complete the details in the ‘Edit billing address’ box and click ‘Update’.

How do I update my shipping address?

Log into your Account and select Manage my Subscription.

On the next page click on ‘Manage Subscription’ next to the subscription you wish to change.

On the next page click on the ‘Address’ box. Amend the address detail in the ‘Edit shipping address’ box and then click ‘Update’.

Still have questions?

Get in touch and one of our experts will respond as possible.

Our regular office hours are 9-3pm Monday to Friday.

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