Washable layers gain ground |Radio- Canada.ca
A text by Priscilla Plamondon-LalancetteClaboration: Isabelle St-Pierre Roy and Denis Castonguay Photos: Vicky Boutin
Parents are more and more numerous to take this green turn, but the majority of families still use disposable diapers.Consumers go according to their priorities: washable layers are more economical and ecological.Disposable diapers are more practical.
Gabrielle Boucher opted for reusable underside with her two children.She estimates to save nearly $ 3,000.The young mother also received a check for $ 100 from the Eureko organization, which manages the subsidy program for the city of Saguenay.
In Saguenay, 168 families have benefited from a subsidy since 2011.The program manager, Laïla Girard, believes that all cities have an interest in promoting the purchase of washable diapers."We know that a child, from birth to two years, will produce a ton of waste".
A boom market
Disposable layers make it possible to lighten the parents' burden, but modern reusable layers are increasingly easy to use.They have nothing to do with the swaddling clothes.The layers grow with the baby thanks to a system of press pimples or velcro which allows to adjust the height and the width.Much easier to maintain, the underside are made with high -tech waterproof tissue and go directly to washer.Biodegradable sheets also allow you to throw the stools with the toilet.
There are around thirty companies to make washable layers in Quebec, including that of Nancy Bouchard, mother of five, in Lac-Saint-Jean.Creation Cayalou sells its models around the province, and even in Europe, thanks to its online store.It manufactures layers for babies from 4.5 to 16 kg (10 to 35 lb).She finds that their popularity is growing.She sold more than 400 in 5 years.
Les couches lavables semblent toutefois encore loin de faire trembler l'industrie des couches jetables, un produit mis en marché en 1961 par la multinationale américaine Procter & Gamble.
