PhD Study : Considering cloth: analysing the motivations for cloth nappy use amongst parents in the UK and Ireland

Summary

Following the success of the BBC’s Blue Planet II in 2017, and the ongoing recent global climate strikes, people are becoming increasingly aware of the scourge of single use plastics in our day-to-day lives. Perhaps unsurprisingly cloth nappies are, therefore, enjoying something of a renaissance and becoming increasingly mainstream. Yet, an analysis of the motivations for choosing cloth nappies over the convenience of disposables remains absent. This is despite a flourishing literature on green and circular economies (c.f. Affolderbach and Kreuger 2017), and likewise on alternative lifestyles and living (Howell 2015), as well as some literatures on the environmental impact of disposable nappies and other single-use hygiene products (Willskytt and Tillman 2019; Mendoza et al 2019; Arena et al 2016; Cordella et al 2015).

Furthermore, whilst a calculation of the carbon footprint and Life Cycle Assessment of cloth vs. disposable nappies has been attempted before (EPA, 2008) it had limited information about the parents’ actual practices for disposing and laundering of nappies. At its heart, this project advocates for an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together environmental perspectives on reusable nappies with the social and cultural implications (and lived experiences) of their use.

It aims to:

1.identify the extent of cloth nappy use amongst parents in the UK and Ireland in comparison to alternatives (disposable nappies or ecological disposables);

2.compare the carbon footprint of cloth nappies to alternatives based on more recent data on waste management, energy production and consumption, manufacturing, materials, and consumers’ practices;

3.analyse the barriers to, and motivations for, cloth nappy use amongst parents;

4.investigate the financial benefits of cloth nappies over alternatives, both for consumers, but also for local and regional economies when considering the reduction in the costs of waste disposal.

This project would lend itself to a mixed methods approach given its interdisciplinary nature and the successful PhD researcher would have considerable control over the methods they chose. However, potential options would include social media analysis, interviews, focus groups, diaries, participant observation and surveys from a social science perspective and innovation in this area would be welcomed. From an environmental science perspective, this PhD project could use the new data on consumer practices collected as part of the project and up-to-date information on the carbon footprint of energy and material production and consumption, and waste management to re-assess the carbon footprint and life cycle inventories of both types of nappies.

Furthermore, the assessment could incorporate additional stressors on resources, such as water and energy, environmental quality (landfill vs. burning vs. sewage management) and estimates of population growth to project the environmental impact assessment into the future. This project is very much at the vanguard of work on sustainable parenting and so offers considerable scope for impact within the academy given the absence of current literature in the area. Taking on this project would represent an exciting opportunity for the postgraduate researcher to drive important agendas in this field, and to take an interdisciplinary approach which spans human geography and environmental sciences.

However, it also has considerable scope for wider impact. By building an understanding of uptake and associated costs it will be at the frontline of driving policy with the local and regional councils, or even involvement in wider governmental initiatives on the environment and sustainable living. The candidate would benefit from a range of experiences and expertise brought by the supervisory team which would make them ideally placed to offer key research contributions across a range of geographical and allied research areas, as well as policy debates.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• First Class Honours (1st) Degree
• Masters at 65%
• Research project completion within taught Masters degree or MRES
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project
• Experience of presentation of research findings
• A demonstrable interest in or experience of using open science methods

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living