Samoa Observer | Eliminating diaper waste

Share a tip or letter.

The “Greater Good”, a global effort aimed at eliminating plastic diaper waste through innovative technology and a community-based strategy, is being launched in Samoa by the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson. pull ups huggies

The concept is being introduced as world leaders convene for COP29 after being effectively presented to delegations during CHOGM. To assist in eliminating plastic diaper waste, The Greater Good is pleading with governments, development partners, and international organizations to collaborate with the effort. Before aiming to expand to other nations, the campaign will first concentrate on the most impacted populations in the Global South.

The Duchess of York started the project alongside Kim and Jason Graham-Nye, who have been leading the way in the development of compostable diapers for more than 20 years. The Apia Ocean Declaration, which world leaders recently signed at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to demonstrate their commitment to ocean protection in the face of climate change, has been successfully launched in Samoa. To solve their plastic trash problem, neighbouring nations like Tuvalu are considering launching in 2025. Along with campaign supporters and government representatives, the Duchess of York will visit the village of Poutasi and meet with local women involved in the project.

The project, which has been funded by the Samoan government, has demonstrated that 700 kg of plastic trash is removed weekly for every 100 babies who use compostable diapers. Before taking the idea worldwide, the Greater Good now intends to extend it to other small island nations in the South Pacific, where plastic diapers account for an alarming 27 per cent of household garbage 380,000 diapers are thrown away every minute worldwide, yet they take decades to break down.

The Greater Good has created a 100 per cent biodegradable diaper delivery and collection service to address this issue, converting diapers into nutrient-rich soil in as little as eight weeks.

The Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson stated, "It has been an honour to be in Samoa to commemorate the inauguration of The Greater Good, a project that is very dear to my heart. We must all work together to eliminate the massive amount of plastic garbage from diapers that are damaging our planet as I get ready to become a grandmother for the fifth time." Through the provision of a fully compostable diaper solution to Samoan families, this effort is already eliminating a sizable amount of plastic trash. In small island states, where disposable diapers make up around 30 per cent of all household waste, it is now expected to offer a workable option.

“Although this campaign may begin in a remote region of the South Pacific, governments, corporations, and societies worldwide will collaborate to reduce a significant amount of plastic waste by the conclusion of it. The prize is substantial if we can get this properly.

“Leading activities on the ground, women are at the centre of the program. 18 women in Samoa, many of whom had never had a paid position before, have been taught and employed by the project. They oversee the process of delivery, collection, and composting. “The goal of the Greater Good is in line with global initiatives to eliminate plastic waste, like the UN Plastics Treaty, which is expected to be ratified by the end of 2024.”

The Greater Good aims to roll out this project across the Global South where the problem is particularly acute, including to other nearby island nations like Vanuatu, Tuvalu, and Kiribati which have already passed legislation to ban disposable nappies, with a longer-term ambition to expand across the whole world.

"I applaud the Greater Good's community-based, women-led effort to develop compostable diapers," stated Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland. Their creative strategy can lessen the amount of plastic waste that Samoa and other Commonwealth Small States must deal with. "My husband and I have been fighting for more than 20 years, and we are thrilled that the Greater Good can develop one of the biggest and most economical plastic prevention programs on the planet," stated Kim Graham-Nye, co-founder of the Greater Good.

"We are calling on governments, development partners, and organizations to help us in the fight against plastic pollution by removing one of its biggest contributors as the momentum for CHOGM continues and COP29 gets underway. By collaborating with governments to promote significant, long-lasting change, we can together spread this answer throughout the world. The Samoan government has been incredibly helpful in demonstrating that this solution can have a significant and long-lasting impact, and we would want other governments to follow suit. The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, stated: "Building on the considerable amount of work our country has been doing to conserve the environment, I am incredibly pleased with the Greater Good's accomplishments in Samoa, which include safeguarding future generations against plastic waste.”

Pageant head judge stopped from leaving Solomon Islands

The head judge for Miss Pacific Islands 2025, lawyer Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt was ...

By Morn Flain Li - Ah Tong • 11 february 2025, 10:29 AM

A young woman shot in the head on Wednesday evening passed away at the hospital in...

By Shalveen Chand • 07 February 2025, 10:16PM

Treated like a criminal, pageant judge stopped at airport

An international row has been created after Miss Pacific Islands 2025 head judge a...

By Morn Flain Li-Ah Tong • 12 Fbrstary 2025, 8:30 am

Safata district fishing ban lifted

The fishing restriction placed on the villagers in the district of Safata for more...

Byanghae's 12 Sedal Tear held a 12th of Tampra's 22525 25:00MPSP

Please enable Javascript in current site to keep going.

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

Feel free to share a tip or letter.