“We were determined to use re-useble diapers” insists Coen Boogerd, a long-time personal and professional friend of EarthCollective and PRESENCE. “We wanted to keep our impact on the environment as low as reasonably achievable: collecting the re-usable diapers in a bin, soaking them in water for a while and putting them in the washing machine. But in practice it just would not turn out to be a practical solution for us at this point in time. So, as hard as it was, we had to go the ‘regular’ route…”
Coen’s dilemma is shared by many eco-minded first-time parents. They may be tiny, but it is well known that those cute and cuddly baby feet deliver a sizeable ecological footprint with the use of regular disposable diapers. The typical baby is estimated to use 6,000 disposable diapers before potty trained at an average age of 2.5 years – which is about two tonne of waste going into landfill or incineration for each baby (1) . This actually makes regular disposable diapers the third largest single consumer product in landfills –making up 30% of non-biodegradable waste. (2)
“We thought the best and most balanced alternative was compensating for the production of our ‘regular’ diapers.” says Coen. “Because we are familiar with the result-driven Elemental Equity programme, we were convinced that they could compensate for our extra CO2 when using ‘regular’ diapers. And we know that the initiative stimulates working opportunities for the financially challenged ones.”
“So we invited Living Lands to calculate for us a reasonable amount to compensate. In order to make sure we compensated enough we put in a little extra – just for our warm fuzzy feeling…” Coen and family’s donation to Elemental Equity will ensure half a hectare of spekboom be planted in the Goedehoop area of the Baviaanskloof.
So for anyone else looking to green their babies ecological footprint – and who cannot afford biodegradable diapers or is unable go the re-useable diaper route – then look to Elemental Equity. As a charitable landscape investment fund, Elemental Equity invests in community-driven projects around the Baviaanskloof which restore the elements: air, water, earth & fire.
In the 18 months since its launch, Elemental Equity has completed fifteen sizeable plantings – the most high-profile being that of the CO2 compensation for the Dutch football team during the 2010 World Cup on behalf of the Royal Embassy of The Netherlands.
Elemental Equity is facilitated by Living Lands and supports the PRESENCE network.
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