What’s Better for the Environment – Cloth Diapers, Disposables, or Neither?
October 22, 2008 · Print This Article
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]
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I have seen both sides of the argument as well. A few of the parents I know who use cloth diapers line or hang dry them – not pop them in the dryer. But even the ones who use dryers swear that it’s better than disposable diapers because as you pointed out, are usually piled up in the landfills. The other argument against disposable diapers has to do with how healthy they actually are (or not).
gDiapers cloth cover still has to be washed, just like a regular “nappie” does hence still needs to be dried. Most cloth companies encourage hang drying (including gDiapers) it keeps your diapers in the best condition possible and isn’t so strenous on the elastic. The flushing required to dispose of the gDiapers uses excessive water if you take into account you need to flush the diaper and then wash the cover as well.
Now- I love both, gDiapers for traveling and cloth diapers for home but I think this article falsely represents both. Disposables, there’s nothing good about those, from the landfills to the chemicals they have no biz on my baby’s bum.