Maternity ward replaces disposable diapers and wet wipes for climate reasons

A maternity ward in North Jutland has replaced disposable diapers with reusable cloth diapers for newborns, part of an effort to reduce waste, according to Danish broadcaster DR.

At the maternity ward of North Jutland Regional Hospital in Hjørring, staff have switched to cloth diapers, washcloths instead of wet wipes, and cotton gowns instead of plastic for partners during C-sections. Microfiber cloths have replaced disposable cleaning wipes on the delivery rooms.

Jordemoder Anette Juel Storgaard said the ward wanted to avoid generating unnecessary waste when alternatives existed. The changes have cut at least 250 kilograms of waste annually, primarily from disposable cloths, sick bags, plastic gowns, and single-use instruments.

Jannie Jakobsen, the hospital’s climate project leader, said such reductions across departments could make a meaningful difference. The ward has not calculated the exact waste savings from the cloth diaper switch.

Danske Regioner aims to halve hospital CO2 emissions by 2035. Majbritt Birkholm (DF), chair of the Committee for Environment, Mobility, and Youth Education, said the committee will now hold meetings at departments working on sustainability to share best practices nationwide.

“These are only good initiatives if the ideas from Hjørring spread to other hospitals and vice versa. We need to disseminate good ideas to have an impact across Denmark,” Birkholm said.