We know that when you’re thinking about putting something on your tiny new baby, you care what’s in it. Lots of new parents choose cloth nappies because they want to know exactly what’s in their nappies, and particularly to avoid many of the chemicals that tend to be found in disposable nappies.
For that reason, we’ve always sought for our nappies to be as safe as we can make them, and most recently we’ve taken another step towards showing you just how safe and gentle our nappies are!
What’s the change?
The production of our nappies has now moved from China to a factory in Turkey. As well as reducing the carbon footprint of our nappies by moving production closer to home, we’re very excited that this new factory is able to produce our nappies so that they meet the OEKO-TEX Standard 100.
What is OEKO-TEX Standard 100?
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is a prestigious, independent stamp of approval, proving that every part of the nappy has been tested for harmful substances and is therefore harmless for human health.
It’s a very high bar, with limits on certain substances that are beyond what is required by UK and international law. Different types of products have different requirements, with products for babies (like ours!) needing to meet the strictest limits on harmful substances. OEKO-TEX has institutes globally, which stay up to date on scientific knowledge and update the requirements for the Standard on a regular basis.
While our previous range of nappies was safe and ethically produced, we wanted to make sure we’re going for the gold standard, and providing an extra stamp of approval to give you confidence in the nappies you’re buying.
What’s the difference between OEKO-TEX and organic?
You might be wondering whether this means that our nappies are organic, but OEKO-TEX certification is slightly different. When a product is organic, it usually refers to the raw materials and whether or not they have been grown without the use of chemical pesticides. OEKO-TEX goes beyond this and also looks at the dyes and finishes to ensure that every part of the product is free from harmful chemicals.
OEKO-TEX also encompasses synthetic parts of the product (such as plastic poppers or polyester linings). These can’t be organic since they’re man-made, but can still be checked to ensure they’re safe to be next to your baby’s skin.
Does the new factory produce ethically?
Yes - we’ve met the owners of the new factory and been assured of the ethical working environment there with all of the certificates they hold. It's impressive!
They hold certificates for Oeko-Tex Class 1, GOTS and Recycled 100 certificates for their organic fabrics and confection.
On top of this they also have certificates for Oeko-Tex Step , Oeko-Tex Class 1, ISO9001, ISO14001 and are SEDEX audited.
Are there any other changes?
Moving production from one factory to another inevitably means a few changes. You might notice that the waterproof outer on the nappies is slightly more matte than on nappies produced in the old factory. We’ve also taken the opportunity to make some small changes to the fit of the nappies, and in particular to make them slightly larger so that they aren’t outgrown by bigger babies.
Are your other products OEKO-TEX certified?
Yes! Our changing mats have carried the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 since we launched them. They have always been made ethically at a factory in Portugal and will continue to be made there.
You can shop the new OEKO-TEX certified nappies here.
Our plain colours and Halloween print Boo! are made in Turkey and any new prints going forward will be. We'll continue to sell our nappies made in China until they are sold out.
We hope you like the new products!
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