Rebecca Pow MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Nature), recently visited Tops at a local setting to participate in the creation of environmentally friendly wipes, showcasing her strong support and partnership in advocating for the ban of traditional baby wipes.
Tops Day Nurseries, a day nursery chain with 12 nurseries in Dorset, and a leading provider of eco-sustainable childcare with a strong commitment to environmental leadership, enthusiastically welcomes the UK government’s decision to implement a ban on plastic wet wipes. The ban comes as a significant victory following years of campaigning by Tops Day Nurseries, who recently received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Sustainable Development.
For years, Tops Day Nurseries has been at the forefront of promoting sustainability in childcare. Recognising the environmental impact of traditional baby wipes, often containing one-use plastic, Tops took proactive measures by producing their own environmentally friendly wipes. Additionally, Tops has embraced the use of reusable nappies, facilitated by purpose-built Nappy Hubs across their locations.
Cheryl Hadland, Founder and Chairwomen of Tops Day Nurseries said: “Our whole ethos at Tops is to be sustainable and we are always looking for ways to improve our practice in an environmentally friendly way. After introducing the glitter ban in 2017, stopping all one-use plastics that we could, throughout our nurseries, becoming the first chain of day nurseries to achieve B Corp Accreditation in the UK and receiving a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development’, we are thrilled to see the government taking more action towards saving our planet by introducing a new world-leading legislation to ban wet wipes containing plastic”.
One of the primary motivations behind Tops’ shift away from conventional baby wipes was the alarming pollution caused by such products. According to research, approximately 93% of sewer pipe blockages in the UK are due to baby wipes, posing a significant environmental hazard. Additionally, commercially bought baby wipes often contain irritants and chemicals that can harm delicate skin.
Tops Day Nurseries applauds the UK government’s proactive approach to environmental protection and looks forward to continued support towards a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.
Tops Day Nurseries provides eco-sustainable Early Education and Care for children aged 3 months to school age. They have over 30-day nurseries across the South and Southwest, with 12 nurseries across Dorset including Tops Poole, Tops Christchurch, Tops Bournemouth, Tops Pokesdown, Tops Corfe Mullen, Tops Wimborne, Tops Charminster, Tops Bearwood, Tops Gillingham, Topsie Gillingham, Tops Parkstone and Tops Wareham. Tops also offer before, after-school and Hi5 holiday clubs for children up to the age of 11.