Can plastic-eating funghi help clean up nappy waste?
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"I think the reality is that mums would like an eco option but they are so busy and it would have to be priced appropriately."
— Leila Green , Influencer
"We cannot give a timeline because all conditions are different and the fungi currently works in some conditions better than others."
— Miki Agrawa , Executive
"Progress in creating a more innovative and sustainable nappy remains slow and uneven due to several factors including high production costs and supply chain constraints."
— Sonali Jagadev , Academic
"Most biodegradable nappies still end up in landfill because industrial composting facilities are limited or unavailable in many regions."
— Sonali Jagadev , Academic
"If you use different plastics, it's extremely difficult to separate [when recycling]."
— Alby Roseveare , Executive
Key People
Co-founder and chief technology officer of Woosh, a start-up working on recyclable nappies.
A mother of triplets who runs an online community focused on motherhood.
Co-founder of Hiro Technologies, a company creating eco-friendly disposable diapers.
Senior research analyst at Euromonitor, focusing on sustainable product innovation.
Tags
All Coverage
Cost and convenience have made disposable nappies dominant - can start-ups compete?
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
Asbestos mystery leaves beloved beach closed
With Mount Batten Beach fenced off since July, residents and campaigners are demanding answers.
October 10, 2026 at 06:16 AMChemicals at former fuel depot 'have been removed'
Barrels of forever chemicals left at a development site have been removed, a developer has said.
October 10, 2026 at 06:13 AMTech Now
Shiona McCallum visits Cairngorms National Park to see tech monitor wildfire damage.
October 10, 2026 at 01:00 AM'People don't think recycling at work is part of their job description'
Unclear labelling as well as a lack of recycling facilities at work or in public-facing businesses is an issue.
October 9, 2026 at 07:11 PMBurnham promises to curb non-compete rules in job contracts
The prime minister says restrictions on what workers can do after leaving roles have "gone too far".
October 9, 2026 at 01:02 PMWhy is it so hard to put out Indonesian fires shrouding the region in toxic smog?
We explain why Indonesia’s peatland fires are so difficult to battle and produce so much haze.
October 9, 2026 at 09:37 AM