Since Proctor & Gamble first introduced
the Pampers disposable diapers to the
marketplace in 1961 the debate has raged
over which diapering choice is the most
earth-friendly. While cloth diapers can be
reused, they require hot water and
electricity to wash. Disposable diapers are
not recyclable and can sit in landfills for
years. And yet, when babies go, it's got to
go somewhere, right?
Most environmentalists agree that cloth
diapers are the most earth-friendly choice.
Conventional disposable diapers contain
fabric that has been bleached with chlorine,
a process which creates substances,
including dioxin, a carcinogen. Many studies
have linked dioxin to birth defects and
reproductive disorders. Additionally
conventional diapers contain fragrances that
can contain any number of chemicals
including the hormone-disrupting phthalates.
While cloth diapers do require more
electricity and water to launder, a 1991
study by an independent environmental agency
found that disposable diapers use 20 times
more raw materials, 3 times as much energy
and 2 times as much water as cloth, and they
obviously generate way more waste. While
these facts might make some diaper-changing
parents groan, it isn't as bad as you think.
Today there are some really hi-tech cloth
diapers that are practically as easy as
disposables. And there are some green-er
alternatives to traditional disposables. A
few companies have come out with
biodegradable or chlorine-free diapers, and
one company, G Diapers, has come out with a
flushable diaper that has a reusable cloth
outer and flushable chlorine-free inserts.
Note: Though much ado has been made about
the gel beads in diapers (Sodium
Polyacrylate) due to a flawed study which
implicated its use in tampons to toxic shock
syndrome, many, many studies have since
proven its safety.
