News - Nov 8, 2024 Addressing Waste Management through Reusable Nappies: A Behavioural Change Initiative in Vanuatu

Vanuatu is grappling with a significant waste management issue, that is disposable diapers which accounts for 26% of litter on its beaches, posing serious environmental and public health risks. Despite the presence of reusable nappies, the community is drawn to disposable diapers, viewing them as more modern and convenient, despite their higher long-term costs.

As part of the PacWastePlus initiative, ThinkPlace has been leading an innovative behaviour change initiative in Vanuatu that seeks to shift these behaviours by fostering a culture of reusable nappy use, addressing both practical barriers and social perceptions tied to disposable diaper usage.

Through research and in-person engagement with communities across both urban and rural areas in Vanuatu, key barriers to reusable nappy adoption were identified.

Some mothers, influenced by social norms, often view disposable diapers as a status symbols, while older generations are more inclined toward reusable nappies. The burden of washing reusable nappies and limited awareness of the environmental damage caused by disposables have further hindered uptake.

However, findings highlight significant opportunities to alter this trajectory by making reusable nappies more desirable and accessible through strategic interventions that leverage social influence and entrepreneurial innovation.

To achieve meaningful and sustained behaviour change, a three-part intervention strategy is now under way. The Taff Mamma social media campaign will target younger mothers, reshaping perceptions of reusable nappies by associating them with modern, aspirational lifestyles.

The Your Poo Our Problem (YPOP) initiative will foster local entrepreneurship by enabling community-based nappy cleaning services, reducing the perceived inconvenience of reusables.

Additionally, the Klin Laef campaign will engage communities through targeted communication to raise awareness of the environmental and health impacts of disposable diapers.

Together, these interventions are designed to build a sustainable, community-driven shift toward reusable nappies, positioning Vanuatu as a leader in waste reduction and environmental stewardship in the Pacific.