In Brussels alone, more than 100,000,000 nappies are thrown away every year, which is the equivalent of 14,000 tonnes of waste and 11,000 tonnes of CO2e.
To meet this challenge, Snappies offers a complete service for the supply and cleaning of top quality washable nappies. This service is aimed at day care centres that want to have a significant ecological impact and wish to offer a strong added value to parents who want to participate in this ecological transition. By targeting day care centres, Snappies allows a maximum number of people to make an ecological gesture. Indeed, the other offers on the market for washable nappies (mainly in B2B) are only accessible to the part of the population that has the most money.
In concrete terms, Snappies makes rounds in nurseries every 48 hours to collect used nappies and drop off clean ones. The trips are made by cargo bike when possible, and by van the rest of the time. The nappies are then washed in their workshop according to strict procedures, and are reconditioned by an adapted work company. They are then taken back to the nurseries.
Snappies’ reusable nappies are as effective as disposables in terms of the leakage barrier and are perfectly hygienic. Their washing protocol has been certified hygienic by an independent laboratory.
Today, Snappies has 2 years of experience and know-how. They have 14 nurseries and nearly 400 children and have already washed more than 160,000 nappies (20 tonnes of waste avoided). They are currently negotiating and writing several calls for tender and have both public and private clients. They also already have good contacts with the political world.
By 2024, Snappies would like to have 4,300 children wearing their nappies in Belgium, and to create cleaning hubs in all major cities. They will start their international development at that time.
Societal impact
Snappies’ activity contributes to goal 12 “Responsible consumption and production” (12.5) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Press review
https://www.rtbf.be/auvio/detail_quel-temps?id=2849778
Snappies propose des couches réutilisables aux crèches bruxelloises
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