One baby will use thousands of diapers in a single year. How to dispose of all that waste is a confusing decision for parents trying to live green. When I was changing my kids’ diapers, almost every mom I talked to felt guilty about adding to the landfill, but we threw up our collective hands—what to do? Cloth diapers just seemed so . . . messy.
Diaper manufacturers are responding to parents’ demands by developing diaper products that are greener and more convenient, though local retailers are slow to stock these new and better alternatives. There’s no “perfect” diaper. However, it’s possible to look beyond the inevitable “Pampers v. pins” dilemma and maybe even put the backyard compost pile to good use.
Cloth diapers. Cloth diapers are still the better choice for the environment, according to my research. They aren’t your mother’s cloth diapers anymore, though. Shop the Internet for the newest cloth diapering “technology.” Start with www.diaperjungle.com, which includes articles, forums, product reviews, and a very handy detergent rating chart that measures detergents’ ability to clean and their impact on the planet. Two other useful sites are www.fuzzibunzonline.com and www.greenmountain.com, which carry full lines of diapering supplies and apparel, including organic products. All of these sites give good advice on energy-saving ways to launder cloth diapers.
Unfortunately, most big-box stores don’t stock cloth diapers other than the standard Gerber brand—which, I’ll hasten to add, work just fine and are as affordable as ever. An exception to this is Target, which stocks a cloth diapering system called “Bumkins.” (Call to make sure your local Target stocks it, though). Consumers, do you want more green options available locally? Tell your favorite retailer!
Disposable diapers. Ninety-five percent of consumers choose disposables. Chlorine-free and biodegradable brands are available on the Internet and retailers such as Whole Foods. Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com) makes chlorine-free disposable diapers and wipes; and eliminating the chlorine bleaching process means less toxic materials emitted into the atmosphere during manufacturing. However, the company admits that their diapers are still made with the same wood pulp and petroleum-based plastics that conventional diapers use, which can take up to 500 years to break down in a landfill. (Remember: a landfill is air-tight, which means even biodegradable diapers will take a century or two to degrade).
A new disposable option. There’s no perfect diaper, but a new type of disposable nappie comes pretty close. A company called gDiapers has come up with a diaper that can actually be flushed down the toilet or composted (only the wet ones—poop should never be composted). The plastic-free diaper consists of an outer, washable pant and a flushable insert that’s safe for septic systems and, the company claims, breaks down in a compost pile in 50-150 days. A starter kit is available from their website at $26.99—this includes ten flushable inserts and two washable diaper covers (www.gdiapers.com).
Compostable diapers? Most people I know shudder to think of throwing wet diapers in the backyard. However, the website claims that in a healthy compost pile—one that is actively breaking down food and yard waste and that is turned frequently—wet diapers can be a source of nitrogen useful to plants.
Diapers are inevitable, but these days parents have more options—and less guilt.
