Sustainable and social impact

Children are becoming potty trained later and later

In the Netherlands, children are becoming potty trained later, on average only at 3.5 years old. But it's possible from 1.5 years old!

Timely potty training means that parents start when their child is between 1.5 and 2 years old. Most children are then potty trained within half a year. Is a child potty trained 1 year earlier? Then parents save more than 1800 diapers per year. And that saves a lot of costs for families and municipalities. The municipality saves costs on time, residual waste streams and emissions.

Potty trained early? Many advantages!

In addition, an early start reduces stress in parenting and prevents developmental and health problems in the child. Is a child potty trained well before the age of 4? Then they can start school on time and do not suffer any unnecessary delays. It also helps teachers if toddlers are (again) potty trained in time.

The background of our mission for less diaper waste

In 2021, we, Guus and Nathan, started a mission-driven enterprise to reduce diaper waste. We both earned master's degrees in Delft and value scientific evidence. Under the umbrella of the Future Diaper Project, we conducted several studies to map the impact of disposable diapers and sustainable alternatives, such as washable diapers and (timely) potty training. We will continue to publish and draw attention to both the problem and the solutions!

Publications

An overview of our publications:

Future Diaper Project (2022). Children are potty trained later than before. In Vermandel (Ed.). Handbook Potty Training, [pp. 81-86]. Uitgeverij Acco.
Future Diaper Project (2022). Children are potty trained later than before. In Vermandel (Ed.). Handbook Potty Training, [pp. 81-86]. Uitgeverij Acco.
Future Diaper Project et al. (2022). Late potty training also demonstrated in Leiden. link to the document‍
True Price. (2022). The true price of diaper systems. Final report. Commissioned by Future Diaper Project. link to the document‍
Deuring, E.K. (2022). Creating a more sustainable disposable diaper without compromising on user experience. [Master thesis, Delft University]: link to the document. Concerns research together with the Future Diaper Project into a more sustainable disposable diaper.

Our presentations in the media and other publications:

Werner, C., Meijer, G., & Volkers, N. (2024, autumn) Getting out of diapers earlier helps the child and the environment. Vakblad VROEG, 41 (3), 38-40. [pdf on request, link to follow]
Omroep HUMAN (June 12, 2024). What's stopping us? Out of Diapers. [min 17.07 -19.50] link to the program
Scherders, V. (2024, March). A fresh look at less diaper waste: timely potty training. GRAM Magazine NVRD (1), 21. link to GRAM archive - in March 2024 edition
Support residents in timely potty training of their child, NVRD on Toddy's Ready for Potty Rotterdam: link to online article‍
Website Kinderopvang Totaal on Ready for Potty pilot at national child care organization BLOS: link to online article‍
Leiden Municipality website, sustainability website Gagoed on toilet training Ready for Potty: link to online article‍
VANG-Household Waste website, joint website of NVRD, VNG and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Rijkswaterstaat about timely potty training: link to the online article‍
Disposable diapers should be 1.5 times more expensive in the store. Municipality of Amsterdam website, New Amsterdam Climate sustainability website about True Price research: link to the online article‍
Disposable diapers are way too cheap and should be 1.5 times more expensive. Change.Inc about True price research: link to the online article