Mum’s mission to rid world of baby wipe waste

A Burnside mum realised the environmental impacts of disposable baby wipes, so she created her own sustainable version.

GREAT IDEA: Blaze Hollis uses one of her newly made sustainable baby wipes on Freya Hollis, 3 months. Photo: John McCutcheon / Sunshine Coast Daily

A BURNSIDE mother of two has made it her mission to rid the world of disposable baby wipes after realising the environmental, economic and health issues associated with disposable options.

Baby wipes maker Blaze Hollis uses 100 per cent recycled materials to make affordable and sustainable baby wipes for children that have their wellbeing in mind.

"The difference with my wipes is I'm making them from repurposed textiles … because textiles are almost as bad as plastics these days," she said.

"People just chuck out clothes and they really don't break down but the positive to that is the wipes last so long.

"They are all flannelette so that seems to be the softest on bubby's bits, I definitely found using the reusable wipes got rid of the rashes."

The environmentally conscious mother said having children made her realise the importance of being eco-friendly.

"The mother in me has brought it out seeing what we need to leave to our children and the change we need to instil in them earlier on," she said.

"When you make something the norm for your children, they will grow up thinking that it is the norm … so I'm hoping that my children will never buy disposal wipes because all they ever knew was reusable wipes and so they can pass that on to future generations."

Mrs Hollis, who has made 150 wipes in a week, said the stigma surrounding reusable wipes was incorrect.

"It's that stigma, it's the same with cloth nappies … but they are so much easier than disposable, and they are definitely way more hygienic," she said.

"Disposable wipes carry solids and then they get put in landfill, and we are not allowed to put any human waste into landfill, so it's actually recommended that it's rinsed off anyway.

"And I actually find that the reusable wipes are cleaner, the nature of the reusable fabric is absorbent so when you wipe, it will actually absorb it up.

"Then it's just a nice hot hand rinse under the tap and you pop them in the washing machine."

A 10 pack of wipes, which Mrs Hollis said would last until toilet training, is $15.

But Mrs Hollis said making money was "a bonus".

"I really love the fact that every time I sell a packet of wipes to people, they will no longer buy disposable wipes," she said.

"So, one person at a time I am stopping them from using those and that's my aim for my children because I want them to grow up in a world where it's not the norm."

Mrs Hollis is taking fabric donations.

For more information or to buy a pack of wipes visit https://bit.ly/35oJMq5.