MNHQ here: what do you think about manufacturers marketing wipes as 'flushable'?

[RowanMumsnet]

Hello

We've been contacted by a major utilities company asking Mumsnet to throw its weight behind a campaign it's running on the marketing of 'flushable' wet wipes and 'moist' toilet tissue.

The organisation that's contacted us says that 80% of all sewer blockages are the result of sewer misuse, and that 70% of these blockages are the result of wet wipes. They want manufacturers to stop being able to label wipes as being 'flushable'.

They are going to write to the Advertising Standards Authority complaining that consumers are being misled by the packaging and claims on many of these products. They say consumers are encouraged to believe that these products break down harmlessly when flushed - whereas in truth, they don't break down after flushing and can end up causing blocks, leaks and flooding.

We know from previous conversations about tampons and sanpro that MNers tend to be stalwart defenders of the public sewage system, so we said we'd ask you whether this was a campaign you'd like us to swing behind.

As ever, it would be great to hear what you think.

Thanks
MNHQ

Northumbrian Water have been promoting safe flushing for a few years, now, with the help of Dwaine Pipe.
www.nwl.co.uk/your-home/your-services/love-your-drain.aspx

No - but they went into the bathroom bin not the loo and at least are biodegradable

Yep, excellent initiative.

I'm all for mumsnet supporting this campaign. I'm at the end of a drain that includes a public toilet and when the drain blocks it backs up into MY garden. Not just faeces but tampons,towels,wipes and even nappies. I'm firmly of the opinion that anyone who flushes anything other than toilet roll should be sent to swim in a sewar.

It seems so lax that companies can have this flushable nonsense on their packaging and cause so much trouble!

Manufacturers get away with it because the wipe are, in fact, flushable.
They can physically be flushed down the loo.

Is it misleading? Yes, but their claims are technically true.

The fact that they are an environmental disaster is something they choose to ignore.

I think that's it, the fact it disappears round your U bend doesn't mean it will keep going for five miles of pipe to the wastewater treatment plant without settling and starting to build up a blockage. Never mind overflowing into the storm water system and ending up in the river/on the beach. Do people need educating that there isn't actually a poo fairy? or a wipe fairy?

It would appear they do.

It's this sort of rubbish marketing that is up-selling us all to (medical issues aside) completely unnecessary levels of "hygiene".

I used to think they broke down, but after a blockage caused by them, I knew the truth. Can't believe that they stay fly sable as people trust the people that make them.

People trust labels. There's a sort of 'It must be true because they wouldn't be allowed to say it if it weren't'. A feeling that there's someone (else) checking on things somewhere.

And 'flushable' is a really great word from a manufacturer's perspective - means one thing to the lawyers but something else to consumers.

It makes me cross. I think it's irresponsible to encourage people to flush them!

Also, I agree with pp. People are squeamish about things like this. About the fact they shit and have periods. They want to get rid of whatever they use quickly. Flush and it's gone. I find it weird.

Poo, pee, paper in the loo. Nothing else. A bin in the loo is normal ime. Everyone knows what they are for and what goes in them.

Agree the word 'flushable' is misleading and leads us to believe they will harmlessly break down.

On the tampon issue, I had no idea that they shouldn't be flushed until very recently when I came across something on Mumsnet. I have used Lilet tampons since I started my periods - at that time the leaflet said you could flush them away. I had no reason to re-read the instructions (which have been updated and no longer say this). This probably applies to many people!

I thought they were flushable ,for the reason cozietosie gives .Though actualy I don't use them.

I've not read the whole thread ...am I the only person ?

Absolutely not, ginger. Very many posters here simplify had no idea there was any issue.

simply

We have a septic tank. If I put "flushable" wipes down the loo I'd be paying a squillion pounds for someone to empty the tank unnecessarily.

Yeah if it were me I would see all disposable wipes and cloths banned But it's not me and I think the tight focus of this campaign with its obvious achievable aim and potential cash savings for billpayers is a really good thing.

I flush them if they say flushable on the packaging. I don't think I would use them at all if they said not flushable. What would you do with them, put pooey wipes in the bin to stink? Take them down 2 flights of stairs and to the outside bin each time? Sorry, not happening!

I trust the packaging and assume that they have been tested for flushability- I wouldn't flush any old wipe down.

I think the campaign should be to encourage manufacturers to develop properly flushable wipes instead. If paper can be flushed, then surely a flushable wipe can be invented?!

So what do you think happens with them when you flush then down Rebecca?

I support this, totally.

Rebecca Erm, yes. And they don't stink. Put them in the bin, bin gets emptied into outside bin, with the rest of the rubbish. Now that you know that none of these "flushable" wipes should be flushed, do you still trust the packaging?

'I don't think I would use them at all if they said not flushable'

WIN