What’s Better for the Environment – Cloth Diapers, Disposables, or Neither?

The long-standing question of whether cloth diapers or disposable diapers are better for the environment hasn’t been answered definitively, despite studies from both sides purporting to end the debate. Fans of cloth diapers cite the pollution-laden production process of disposables as well as the fact that disposables pile up in landfills.  Others argue that washing cloth diapers uses too much water and energy.

A recent government study in Britain concluded that cloth diapers (referred to by Brits as ‘washable nappies’) have a higher carbon footprint than disposables because they have to be washed often and tumble dryers consume massive amounts of energy.  From the Times Online:

The report found that using washable nappies, hailed by councils throughout Britain as a key way of saving the planet, have a higher carbon footprint than their disposable equivalents unless parents adopt an extreme approach to laundering them.

To reduce the impact of cloth nappies on climate change parents would have to hang wet nappies out to dry all year round, keep them for years for use on younger children, and make sure the water in their washing machines does not exceed 60C.

Of course, numerous other studies have found opposite results. Digging deeper into the facts just makes things even murkier.  For convenience and eco-friendliness, we say just go with gDiapers, the ‘hybrid’ diaper that has a cloth cover and a flushable insert. You get the breathability of cloth diapers, which is better for your baby’s skin, plus the waste is dealt with in a more environmentally friendly way than regular disposables.  Unsoiled (read: #1 only) inserts can be composted, too. Check out the site gDiapers.com for more info!

Of course, there’s also ‘elimination communication’.  That’s a fancy term for letting baby go diaperless and squatting them over the toilet regularly.  It sounds crazy, but thousands of parents say it works.  Read all about it at DiaperFreeBaby.org.  Learn something new every day, eh?

Link [Times Online] + [gDiapers] + [Diaper Free Baby]

Who’s Who in Green: Jason Graham-Nye

Disposable diapers are a huge tax on the environment. They’re the third-largest contributor to landfills in the world, yet only 5% of the world’s population actually uses them. Just one disposable diaper takes up to 500 years to decompose. Learning these facts was what led Jason Graham-Nye, who was expecting a baby with his wife at the time, to research alternatives. The Graham-Nyes did the math: they’d be using around 60 diapers a week until toilet-training age, per child. It seemed outrageous, and they thought for sure there was a better way.

Living in drought-plagued Australia, the Graham-Nyes didn’t want to go the cloth route, since washing them uses so much water, so they came up with a compromise: flushable diapers. A company in nearby Tasmania was making them, so they ordered some and loved them. They decided to share their discovery with customers in the U.S., buying the worldwide rights, and gDiapers was born.

gDiapers are easy to use and good for the environment. They consist of a washable cotton outer ‘little g’ pant and a plastic-free flushable diaper refill. The breathable material keeps baby dry and leads to fewer diaper rashes. Wet diapers can be composted – they break down in 50-150 days. A starter gDiapers kit retails for $24.99 and includes two washable fabric pants, 20 flushable inserts, two liners and a swish stick to aid with flushing.

gDiapers even has a YouTube channel, filled with convenient videos like flushing tips, fit tips and even a slideshow of photos showing an actual soil breakdown trial of gDiapers versus disposables. View that one below:

This revolution in baby diapering has caught on fast, becoming a big hit with eco-conscious parents who also want to reduce the exposure their babies get to the kinds of harsh chemicals used in conventional disposable diapers. They’re an especially convenient choice for people who don’t have easy access to washers and dryers for cloth diapering, but still want to stay away from disposables.

gDiapers’ U.S. launch was held in the Graham-Nyes’ new home of Portland, Oregon. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, and gDiapers will undoubtedly only grow more popular as millions of people across the world begin to understand the benefits of ‘going green’. We wish Jason and Kimberley much luck and success in the future!

Check out Jason’s thoughts on everything from politics and yoga to childrearing and his business at his blog, gDiapers.typepad.com.

Jason Graham-Nye’s Green Score: 21,872

Eco Celebrity Babies: Setting a Good Example with Earth-Friendly Choices

Okay, so the celebrity baby stalking trend is kind of disturbing. Following what adult celebrities do is one thing – it’s human nature, I guess, to follow the example of people in the spotlight, especially those revered as being prettier, richer and more talented than the rest of us. However, their children didn’t ask to be in the public eye and the focus on them, particularly by people who are a little obsessive about it, is just plain creepy.

It’s not all bad, though. Celebs that live a green lifestyle and advocate eco-friendly products and practices in rearing their children set a good example for gossip hounds. Since so many people want to do what they do, seeing them take part in things that are good for the earth is refreshing and positive.

Celebrity gossip sites like Ecorazzi and Celebrity Baby Blog have been highlighting some of the things famous parents are doing to make their children’s lives more earth-friendly. Some of them include a huge increase in the endorsement (or at least acknowledgment) of breastfeeding, babywearing, organic food, cloth diapering, natural toys and choosing organic clothing. Many green baby boutiques have recently gotten a boost from photos taken of celebrities using their goods. It can only be a good thing for the world, as parents mimic the choices of their rich and famous counterparts.

Link [Ecorazzi] + [CBB]

Photo credit: The Little Seed