Review of Baby Wipe Compliance with The Inda/Edana 2017 2nd Edition Labeling Code Of Practice
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CWWA has posted on our website an updated review of baby wipe compliance with the INDA ((Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry) /EDANA (European Disposables and Nonwovens Association )labeling code of practice. The code of practice was developed by the industry in response to growing pressure to regulate products and enforce labeling standards that would avoid these products being flushed and provide transparency on the plastic/synthetic nature of these products.
After examining 120 individual packages of wipes, it is clear that manufacturer’s compliance with the INDA/EDANA (The European Disposables and Nonwovens Association) 2017/2nd Edition Labeling Code of Practice (CoP) could easily be categorized as abysmal. More than 2½ years after the manufacturers agreed to the CoP, and close to a year after it was implemented, only 10% can be considered in compliance with the placement, size, and contrast requirements for the DNF Symbol, and almost 40% of the products still do not carry any DNF symbol at all, on either the top or front panel, as required by the CoP. Although the other 60% of the packages showed some sort of compliance with the CoP, typically having a DNF symbol on the top panel, very few also comply with the CoP requirements regarding DNF symbol size and contrast. And none carry the optional, detailed disposal language allowed by the CoP. In response to the growing problem of plastics in the marine environment, the European Union (EU) issued a Single Use Plastics Directive in 2018 and confirmed it in 2019. (3) In the directive, personal use disposable wipes, such as baby wipes and flushable wipes, were categorized as single use plastics.
The report goes on to examine the issue in more detail and make recommendations – primarily that a mandatory labeling system is needed to enforce compliance, and ultimately divert these products from the wastewater collection system.
Full report available at:
https://cwwa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/COP-Compliance-Full-Report-FINAL.pdf
