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
Protein or pickled garlic? What's new in ice cream
There's a constant battle in ice cream to come up with new flavours and to keep costs down.
August 14, 2026 at 09:20 PMParents 'watering down baby milk' over high costs
Moorside Baby Bank say parents are turning to unsafe practices over the rising cost of essentials.
August 16, 2026 at 06:03 AMInside Health
Plus, how much do people really change their habits for a free coffee?
August 11, 2026 at 09:00 AMTech Life
For years, schools have posted photos of their pupils online. But could they be misused?
August 11, 2026 at 07:30 PMBBC Inside Science
How do you research the impacts of social media on young people?
June 18, 2026 at 04:00 PMDemand for school uniform bank 'has never been higher'
One mother said uniform costs had "really eaten" into her budget.
August 18, 2026 at 03:03 PM