Families in Cork who are interested in making the switch to reusable cloth nappies can now apply for a free Cloth Nappy Starter Kit through the Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme. Following a highly successful rollout in 2023 and 2024, where kits were quickly snapped up, the initiative has now reopened for 2025. The scheme is led by VOICE Ireland in collaboration with Cork County Council, Cork City Council and Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH).
09/09/25
The scheme is open to antenatal patients at Cork University Maternity Hospital, who can apply for a limited number of free cloth nappy starter kits. Each kit contains 10 high-quality reusable cloth nappies, a pack of 12 reusable cloth wipes, a waterproof storage bag for used nappies, nappy inserts for absorbency and comprehensive guidance on use and care.
Fergal Dennehy, Lord Mayor of Cork said “An estimated one million disposable nappies are sent to landfill in Ireland every day, so we are delighted to further support the Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme. Cloth nappies are a powerful way for families to reduce waste and save money over time.”
Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, Mayor of the County of Cork added, “We are proud to support the Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme once again in Cork. We believe that small changes like this can make a big difference in creating a more sustainable future and we encourage families in Cork to apply for a free starter kit”.
This year, the Cloth Nappy Library has joined the initiative, offering workshops and one-to-one guidance to kit recipients. These sessions will help parents understand the different types of cloth nappies, how to use and wash them, and answer any questions along the way.
Abi O’Callaghan-Platt, Programme manager of the Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme, VOICE said “We created the Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme to inspire families who may never have considered reusable nappies to give them a try. Collaborating with CUMH and the local authorities gives us a chance to connect with new parents and show them that modern cloth nappies have come a long way, they are soft, breathable, colourful and easy to use.”
The nappies included in the starter kit are primarily pocket nappies, which are adjustable to fit from approximately 10lbs up to potty training. These nappies feature a waterproof outer layer, a stay-dry inner lining, and a pocket for absorbent inserts making them nothing like cloth nappies of old! Inserts are made from eco-friendly materials such as bamboo, cotton, hemp, and organic blends, providing both comfort and flexibility for every child’s needs.
“We’re delighted to offer our parents the chance to try cloth nappies. This initiative puts sustainable healthcare at the heart of our hospital, helping reduce the carbon footprint of nappy use” noted Dr Cathy Burke, Consultant Gynaecologist / Obstetrician, Cork University Maternity Hospital.
Families interested in receiving a kit can find more information and apply through https://www.voiceireland.org/cloth-nappy-incentive-scheme. In return for the free kits, participants will be asked to complete a follow-up survey to share their experiences and help improve future rollouts of the scheme.
Additional information:
The Cloth Nappy Incentive Scheme was developed by VOICE with funding provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Research Programme 2021-2030. The EPA Research Programme is a Government of Ireland initiative funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
While similar schemes have existed in the UK for many years, this is the first of its kind in Ireland. The scheme is administered by VOICE and local authorities can select to run the scheme in their jurisdiction, making cloth nappy starter kits available to families in their area. The aim of the scheme is to support and encourage the uptake of reusable nappies in place of single use disposable nappies. Increasing cloth nappy uptake is one way to support a move from the linear to circular economy.
Families taking part in the scheme are surprised at how easy to use modern cloth nappies are, find they reduce nappy rash, and love their cute patterns.
The 2022 Household Waste Characterisation report found that nappies comprised 10% of waste presented in the kerbside residual waste bin and in total 75,618 tonnes of nappies were presented in kerbside waste collection, making it the third largest fraction of waste presented for kerbside collection (EPA, 2023).
The use of single-use disposable nappies over reusable nappies additionally has impacts in terms of carbon emissions. In 2023, the UK ministry for the environment, Defra, published a life cycle analysis for disposable and reusable nappies (Defra, 2023). It found that reusable nappies have a 25% lower carbon footprint than single-use nappies across their full lifecycle. The carbon footprint of reusable nappies additionally has the potential to be lowered further, through the decarbonisation of the energy grid. The figures used in the life cycle analysis when calculating carbon footprint were based on the UK energy grid in 2020.
The environmental impact of disposable nappies is in their production and in their end of life, which is out of the hands of the householder. The environmental impact of reusable nappies is in the use phase and can be influenced by washing temperatures and methods of drying nappies, highlighting the importance of providing user information as part of the starter kit.
To tackle these environmental impacts VOICE are calling for the establishment of national reduction targets for disposable nappies as the Dutch government has recently done, in setting a target to reduce the amount of nappy waste and accordingly CO2 emissions by 20% by 2027. Reduction targets can be met by promoting and incentivising reusable nappies as an alternative to disposables.
Contact details for more information:
VOICE Ireland: Abi O’Callaghan-Platt, abi@voiceireland.org