to ask... If you're comfortably off and don't buy organic / biodegradable nappies etc...

[PramFace2018]

Why not?

Not trying to be goady, just wondering.

I know one couple like this - very comfortable indeed (and I know this for certain), buy the cheapest value meat etc, and buy pampers / buggies so not a cost saving. I think they don't believe in climate change /don't care about animal welfare. Fair enough, their choice.

However if you are comfortably off and don't buy organic and biodegradable, what is your reasoning?

Just wondering... No real reason

Maybe that's why they are comfortable financially?

To save money.

We use cloth.... Originally for environmental reasons, now because it’s actually much nicer.

(Although cloth is cheaper anyway so I’m not sure us being financially comfortable had any bearing on that decision. I suppose it was a large initial outlay).

I wonder this too.
I'm not very well off but I do make an effort with a few things. I only buy Duchy meat, but we last had it at Xmas. I'd rather be veggie than eat bad meat.

Biodegradable nappies are only so in the right environment, not going to help on a landfill. Organic - some people aren't bothered.

Others find a brand that works (leakwise) and stick to it.

Other people have their waste burnt (as opposed to landfill) so makes little difference.

Because I've got enough other shit to deal with in my life without being environmentally conscious about every single aspect of life.

Also, only pampers work for us from a non-leak nighttime perspective.

Do you tie them up in biodegradable bags or do they go in black sacks to landfill?
I found them leaky.

Our nappies go to be incinerated so why would I buy anything other than Aldi? Actually we do all our shopping in Aldi, despite earning almost 200k between us - we find it excellent value for money and generally great quality. I’d rather spend my money on more interesting stuff! Planning to do cloth nappies for our next (currently pregnant) but will no doubt still use Aldi disposables sometimes.

Would go for the ones that don’t leak. I didn’t think they went completely anyway I think you should use cloth ones if you feel strongly about it.

Why does comfortably off mean having to buy organic or biodegradeable?

We're "comfortably off" in that I've not really got a budget to stick to when I go shopping for groceries.

I still want to make sure I'm getting good value though. I don't want to feel ripped off. I'm savvy enough to know that supermarket own brand is often just as good if not better than branded.

I don't buy organic because I don't think the increased price represents a similar increase in quality. I never used cloth nappies because disposables made my life a lot easier. I don't fill my trolley with chemical cleaning sprays or bleach though - those are hugely damaging to the environment.

Biodegradable nappies/pass don't come in sizes to fit teens. The normal ones already cost almost a pound each.

I buy as local as possible in preference to organic from the other side of the world.

Possibly they tried and the supposedly better nappies were useless and meant more washing/stained clothes, or child didn't get on with them. Nappies all fit individual children.

For what it's worth I used/will use cloth while it works, and limit my greenhouse gas emissions by buying Aldi as getting fancy nappies would be a 40 mile round trip to a big supermarket that actually stocks them.

I mostly buy free range meat (fail on convenience meals/sandwich fillings) where available and prefer local where possible (e.g. whole lamb from local small holder)

I do what I can within the constraints of my life and budget, others have different choices.

Because they don't make them bigger than size 6.

Because I feel as if the hot washing to clean them would defeat the purpose plus you have to get nappy liners which I doubt are environmentally friendly

I recycle elsewhere but will stick to Aldi nappies

Maybe because they’ve read the actual evidence which shows that cloth actually produces more carbon emissions than disposable and biodegradable nappies often don’t degrade very well. I find intelligent, educated people often lose sight of the research evidence in an effort to appear eco friendly. Having children is one of the worst things you can do for the environment.

They are not as absorbant and they leak.

The waste in our city is incinerated, so biodegradable nappies wouldn't do anything that normal nappies do (I'm certainly not going to put nappies in my compost bin).

The best way to protect the environment is not to procreate at all. Biodegradable nappies will make little impact.

We all have different ‘passions’ in life. I care very deeply that many, many people in our world do not have enough to eat, so if I shop wisely I can afford to give more to charities that help the starving, and the hungry in our country that need to use Food Banks. I like to know that I am contributing as generously as I can and buying ethically reared meat or environmentally friendly nappies is less important to me than helping to save some poor mother’s child from dying of starvation.

We tried cloth nappies and didn't like the idea of wet cloth next to skin. The only cases of bad nappy rash I've seen have all been on cloth nappied babies. And they've persevered despite red sores. It seems to become a bit of a religion/belief system to some.

So tried and wasnt impressed. Much prefer clean dry bums without rash! Also saw the evidence didn't weigh up environmentally. And some people spend a fortune on cloth (and slings...) We didnt need to change a disposable nappy as often. Convenience etc. But mainly comfort.

The carpark in my local Aldi normally has quite a few mercs, Audi's and BMW's parked there.
Presumably people can afford those cars BECAUSE they do their shopping in Aldi.

@Hisashiburi nappy liners made from fleece and you wash at 40 with bio powder.

OP we use reusables and Aldi at night. We did use biodegradable ones but they all leaked, do I was doing much more washing.

"Maybe that's why they are comfortable financially?"

My thoughts exactly. What people choose to spend money on is none of your business. Maybe they prefer to buy value meat and cheap nappies because it meabs they can afford a nicer car or a holiday abroad. That's ok.

Biodegradable nappies are harder to find. If you run out you can't just pop to aldi and buy more. They are a lot more expensive and often less reliable.

We use cloth nappies because in the long run they are cheaper and result in less disposable plastic. I don't judge others for their choice in this regard.

Really interesting to read a range of responses, thanks.

By comfortably off I mean enough that you can easily afford organic and expensive eco nappies and also give to charities etc which matter to you. I mean enough money to not decide either or when shopping.

The people I'm thinking of are mortgage free and earn 6 figures after tax plus live outside London, and no expensive hobbies etc.

I suppose at heart I'm wondering what chance there is of people shifting towards prioritising welfare and eco choices if price wasn't an issue.

Totally agree about these not necessarily being the most eco things to do, they're just two very obvious ones to me where I don't see any real downside. Cleaning products I can imagine people tho king they don't perform as well, though I'm happy with them myself.

Cloth I used for my first and my second to 8 months but then I had to give up as he was so wriggly it made nappy change time something I dreaded, so for my own sanity I moved to eco disposables. I'm not happy with this decision, but I own it.

However this post isn't about my choices, nor about telling other people what to do or to become an eco bore. I just wondered if you have near limitless cash in your purse why you'd buy supermarket own / richmond etc rather than organic. I want to see how many people think organic is a con / waste.