Despatches from a mother who started late (and is running to catch up)

Biodegradable potties?

ecofriendlybiodegradablepottybecopotty1320pekm281x240ekm_Small.jpg A press release lands in my inbox, announcing the launch of what claims to be "the world's first biodegradable potty". Now, I am all in favour of doing my bit for the environment, but fear I may have to draw the line at the Becopotty. A glance at the potty's webpage reveals: "This potty is not only kind on your baby but also the environment."

Like toilet training a small child isn't hard enough at the best of times, do we need potty makers weighing in with this kind of shameless commercial guilt-tripping? Well, according to Becopotty's makers, yes, we do. They suggest the world is in dire danger from reckless parents buying and discarding potties. Apparently, an annual 17 million potties around the world are sent to a potty graveyard in the sky, in the form of landfill sites. Presumably hurried on their way by parents from every corner of the globe, united in pleasure at an end to toilet training their offspring. At last, an end to the constant refrain (albeit in Spanish, Arabic, Russian or Mandarin) to little Miguel, Issa, Ivan or Ying of "Now, are you sure you don't need a wee? Why don't you just try?"

Those of you who worried by the thought of all those poor plastic potties lying on landfills, stubbornly refusing to biodegrade and polluting the environment, might be interested to know how the Becopotty breaks down naturally. It is because the potty is made of an unusual, though natural substance. What unusual substance? It is made of, wait for it, rice husks. Yes, rice husks. Reading that made me imagine a potty made of rice cakes, stuck together like Lego bricks, (though not, obviously, made of anything as evil as plastic). But apparently the Becopotty is a great deal more water-resistant than a rice cake would be. Which can only be good news.

Posted 13 October 2009 18:19

Childcare Fun Home Kit

Comments

hjd said:

Does one throw it away after every use. Surely the number of rice husks used will be astronomical. Think of the prodigal son, though I'm not sure about the source of his husks.

Posted 13 October 2009 20:33

Zornhau said:

Argh!! Argh!!

Now a light weight pack of disposable potties you could keep in the car or take to the park...

Posted 14 October 2009 10:35

iota said:

I think it's a good idea, though - as you say - there are higher environmental priorities. I'd be worried that it would biodegrade too quickly, and leak, but the website (yes, I did click over) says they last a few years.

Posted 14 October 2009 16:45

Helen said:

HJD, no, throwing it away after each use would be wasteful and therefore contradict its eco-friendly credentials.

Zornhau, lightweight pack of disposable potties could make a lot of sense....

Iota, perhaps I was too quick to judge and these potties will do their own small bit to help us save what's left of planetary resource.

Posted 19 October 2009 12:21

iota said:

I speak as one whose potty days are over. Hurrah!

If I was in the throes of potty training, I can absolutely imagine that the destiny of the potty itself would be pretty low on the agenda.

And why aren't they using this sturdy biodegradable plastic for other purposes? We're talking one or two potties per family. There must be other things that clog up our landfill far more significantly.

Posted 19 October 2009 23:31