Currently, Partou uses 7.8 million disposable nappies annually. Early potty training and the use of washable nappies significantly reduces waste. However, there are still lingering questions, such as whether washable nappies fit into the daily routine at the nursery and if it would entail additional work for the early years staff.
The Van der Parrastraat setting in the Bezuidenhout district of The Hague was one of the three childcare centres that participated in the pilot programme last year. "A sustainable world is achieved through numerous small initiatives that combined can have a significant impact," says Florien Vooijs-Uiterwaal, who, along with her colleagues at the childcare setting, tested nappies and worked on early potty training. “Partou is a large company. Implementing relatively minor changes can have a significant impact.”
The pilot project consisted of two phases. In collaboration with the Billie Wonder company, the childcare facility switched over to using washable nappies for a few months. Billie Wonder, in consultation with the early years staff, developed a washable nappy and a work process with the laundry service tailored for the childcare facility. The use of washable nappies in conjunction with the services of a laundry service is currently quite expensive. However, washing the nappies has a significantly lower environmental impact than disposable nappies, thousands of which are thrown away daily at Partou. The second phase of the trial involved promoting early potty training, which ultimately reduces waste and environmental impact. During this phase, Partou uses the "De Pot Op" app, which helps parents in potty training their children. As part of this trial, parents were given free access to the app.
A few extra seconds
A key aspect of the pilot project was involving parents in the experiment, says Florien. “Many parents found it very interesting and were genuinely receptive to learning something new. Using washable nappies at home requires a considerable amount of extra time and energy for parents. However, at Partou, most parents support the initiative of transitioning to washable nappies. The trial period ran from June 2023 to January 2024. The washable nappies were collected multiple times a week by a laundry service and washed at a professional dry cleaning service that also washes linens from hospitals and hotels. After washing, the laundry service returns the nappies neatly folded and ready for use.”
During the trial, Florien noticed that for early years staff, using a washable nappy requires only a few extra seconds than a disposable nappy. "A regular disposable nappy is disposed of along with wipes and waste," she explains. "With a washable nappy, you only throw away the liner with the stool that you remove from the nappy. The nappy itself is goes into the laundry. Altogether, it just takes a few seconds.” In both cases, some early years staff wear gloves. Florien adds: “Changing children, including disposing of stool, is simply part of the tasks in childcare. Honestly, I’ve never heard anyone complain about it."
Organic cotton
Florien and her colleagues noticed that the children also needed some time to adjust to the different feel of the washable nappies. "But it’s more a matter of getting used to it, not irritation," she explains. The Billie Wonder nappies are made from organic cotton and hemp and are free of chemicals. Hemp has the added advantage of being absorbent and antibacterial. There was a minor issue with an elastic in the nappy that left a slight mark on some children. “However, Billie Wonder quickly fixed the issue. These are minor teething problems. The pilot was also intended to further refine the design.”
A significant difference between using washable nappies at home versus at a nursery is that a 'home nappy' typically has more snap buttons to allow the nappy to 'grow' with the child. This isn’t necessary at a nursery where multiple nappy sizes are readily available. As the child grows, a larger size is simply used.
Partou will scale this up in the near future to assess the feasibility and costs of implementing this initiative on a larger scale. The aspect of early potty training with the app will also be further implemented. Florien is enthusiastic about this initiative: “So many children attend childcare. Our industry has the potential to make a real difference if we can achieve this.”
A commitment to care
No matter where Partou is, we strive to make a difference: for children, families, our people, and the planet. Curious about what we do, what we dream of, and the challenges we face?