Environmentally Friendly Diapers
Flushable and Compostable Alternatives to Cloth and Disposable
Nov 18, 2008
Parents have had to choose between cloth and disposable diapers since the creation of the disposable diaper in the 1950s. There are pros and cons to both methods, but not everyone has the option of using cloth. No access to a washer, a baby with sensitive skin, or no time to do extra laundry are some reasons why parents choose not to use cloth diapers. However, now there are several brands of environmentally-friendly disposable diapers so parents aren't stuck with the same old options.
Brands of Green Diapers
- gDiapers are a hybrid of cloth and disposable diapers. Baby wears a reusable cloth cover, while using disposable pads inside. These pads can be flushed, composted, or tossed in the trash. Since the cover is reused, less waste is created. gDiapers recommends tossing or composting the paper liners if you have a septic system. Since the inserts contain no plastic, only paper, they biodegrade within 150 days. Composting allows gardeners to utilize certain nutrients found in human urine, and prevents additional waste being sent to landfills.
- For people with not even enough time to separate a liner from a cover to flush it, there are several brands of green diapers that are almost identical in use to regular, mainstream disposable diapers. Seventh Generation is one of the better known environmentally-friendly manufacturers for household cleaning products. Their brand of diapers does not use chlorine to bleach the fibers, resulting in the diapers' unusual light brown color.
- Nature Babycare (also sold as Nature Boy and Girl in some markets) diapers are also chlorine-free. The company harvests its paper fibers from sustainable forests, and the diapers are 60% biodegradable. By allowing a thinner product without sacrificing absorbency, these diapers use less absorbent material. Nature Babycare diapers also use a corn-based plastic outer layer, instead of oil-based plastic, so that they remain waterproof.
- Most diapers use gels in the core to absorb moisture, but Tushies brand diapers claim they are the only gel-free disposable diapers, as well as the only ones with cotton. While this means they are not as absorbent as other disposable diapers, they are gentler to baby's delicate skin. Tushies recommends changing your baby more often to make sure there are no leaks. For parents of babies with certain skin conditions, gel-free diapers might be the best solution.
Effects of Eco-Friendly Diapers
Parents can still be eco-friendly without committing to using cloth diapers. Brands such as Tushies, Seventh Generation, gDiapers, and Nature Babycare are leading the way in developing green alternatives to the standard plastic, scented, chemical-laden disposable diapers. Fewer diapers will be taking up space in landfills, and fewer chemicals will be released into the environment. Fewer resources will be used in manufacturing regular disposable diapers. Using any of the diapers above, even if not exclusively, will make a big difference to the planet and children's futures.
