At a time when it seems that the world is constantly changing, environmental anxiety is at an all-time high.
The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals report that 1 in 6 people in the UK are suffering from ‘eco-anxiety’. This is especially true for new parents who are juggling sleepless nights with the pressure to create a cleaner future for the next generation.
The concept of sustainability can feel daunting and, at times, out of reach. But, in the homes of some Lincoln parents, a quiet movement is taking shape- one nappy at a time.
The Lincoln Cloth Nappy Library is part of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) and helps families across the city make the switch from disposable to reusable nappies.
Run entirely by volunteers, the organisation relies on the dedication and heart of Lincoln parents.
One of these volunteers is cloth nappy- loving mum Heather Arnatt, who describes the significant impact reusable nappies can have on the environment.
“Seven million trees a year are cut down to make disposable nappies and seven million tons of waste per day that goes into landfill is due to nappies,” she said. “It is a massive waste issue, and so from an eco-perspective, cloth nappies are much better.”
However, this can be a significant commitment for some, as the charity recognises that not every parent is in the position to make the change.
“If you have ever found anything about cloth nappies, you’ll know that they are really expensive. This causes a massive barrier to people accessing them because of the financial outlay.
“There are people who have told us that they have to choose between paying for a nappy hire kit or feeding their children,” she added.
It is this acknowledgement of differences that drives the charity to help those that are struggling.
“For us it is about keeping them costs down and making sure that parents have what they need. It’s that circular economy of getting donations, repurposing and reusing them.”
The Lincoln Nappy Cloth Nappy Library take part in several events as well as running two drop-in sessions every month at The Moorland Community Centre. Parents receive their nappy kits along with a demonstration on how to use them.
“There are people who have told us that they have to choose between paying for a nappy hire kit or feeding their children,”
The very foundation of the charity was built on community, as Heather describes: “It’s always gone from parent to parent.” In her opinion, it is this shared moral that will sustain the charity.
“We are finding that people are struggling to generate that peer support. This is the perfect opportunity to message each other and say, ‘I’m not sure about this…’ or ‘What do I do if this isn’t working?”
With research showing that four out of five new parents report feelings of loneliness and isolation, social support is crucial to both the charity and the wider community.
“What we hope to happen is to get a bit of momentum so that parents are meeting out of the demo sessions.”
It is easy to feel powerless in the face of global problems, but for these parents, change begins at home. Their message is simple: small acts matter because together they add up to something much bigger.
