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Dec, 2020

The Reality of Disposable Diapers

It is no wonder that babies do a lot of pooping and the average baby goes through six to eight diapers a day. Diapers are soft, absorbent cloth that are folded and arranged between the legs and around the waist of the baby to absorb and contain excretions which is intended to be discarded and cleaned after a single use in full. Diapers can be categorized as disposable and washable types. However, the question is still left unanswered as to which is good for the environment. A baby uses between 6,500 to 10,000 diapers before they start their potty training at the age of 3 years old. According to a study, one-third of the US mothers are limiting to buy basic necessities so that they can be able to buy diapers for their children. Disposable diapers cost individual families and they cost even more to the environment.

With industrialization and modernization, the use of disposable diapers has increased enormously and it is continuing to be a productive market over the past decades. Disposable are more bought than washable ones as it is easy to use and most people find it convenient when it comes to doing the job quickly. Washable diapers are somehow perceived as an old product that are produced using the 70s technology. You may easily attract public attention if they know that your baby is using washable diapers. Well, the environmental impact is really present as the excessive usage of disposable diapers is affecting the environment.

According to a report by the Environment Agency, a reusable diaper is responsible for 560kg of greenhouse gas over the first two years of a baby’s life, whereas a disposable nappy is accountable for 630kg. Almost six million nappies a day or two billion a year end up in landfill where they emit methane, a greenhouse gas that is dangerous for the environment. The weight of disposable nappies is equivalent to 70, 000 double decker buses going to the landfill every year. Alarming, isn’t it! Well, in the UK alone, disposable diapers create more than 400,000 tonnes of waste each year, which is roughly the size of the city of Birmingham.

It is known that conventional diapers take hundred years to disintegrate, which means that the diapers you once wore as a kid is likely to be intact, sitting in a landfill. Out of all the non-durable goods, diapers were the second most generated waste by weight, which is more than clothes and shoes that are discarded. The company Eco Pea Company is changing the damage done by diapers before by creating diapers that use more natural materials that have an easier time in breaking down and be good to the environment.

The Debate: Reusable vs Disposable

According to the supporters of disposable diapers, they found out that reusable nappies are not exactly good for the climate, because of the energy that is put to keep them hygienically clean. This report was later called bogus for the research report being too confusing. However, there are many companies that have started producing biodegradable diapers, by using plant-based materials instead of polyacrylate stuffing, artificial dyes, toxic materials, and plastics. Nevertheless, the higher price for these diapers are due to the manufacturing costs that exist, there are people buying it as they know their child won’t be affected by any chemical content and also they are doing their part in helping the environment. If you can’t digest the high price for these biodegradable diapers, the reusable cloth diapers are the solution to disposable ones. Reusable cloth diapers came a long way since they were actually used earlier during our childhood days. The image of the cotton cloth sheet held on with safety pins is no longer there as they have updated it with contours, velcro or snaps and leak protection, all while having some pretty and stylish prints on it. These diapers are more breathable and do not require to be soaked before washing.

It is not wrong to agree that reusable cloth diapers came a long way since their creation and all you need to do now is to shake the solids from the diaper and throw them in the washing machine and after two wash, it is new as before.

So what’s your take? Reusable or disposable, let us know in the comment section!

All About Eco-Friendly Diapers

Degradable products have cornered the market for some years. We find more and more articles with this label, and the products in the children’s section are no exception. Let’s have a look at the different characteristics and main benefits of biodegradable ecological diapers.

 

Alarming Figures on Diapers and Contamination

Disposable diapers are made from materials that take years to decompose in nature. However, when mentioning “years,” you could think of two or three, but the truth is that it can take from 100 to 300 years to disappear completely. If the above figure seems alarming, think for a moment about the number of diapers that your baby uses daily. Now, multiply it by the number of children in your country.

Nine hundred thousand tons per year is the approximate quantity of diapers that reach a single country’s waste treatment plants. Of course, this amount varies according to the child’s age and the country, since there are territories where the birth rate is higher than in others. Due to the previous results, which have brought serious environmental problems to the nations, the companies belonging to the infantile sector have proposed to innovate in the market, achieving it with success and others with resounding failure.

 

Types of Diapers

Over the years, and the worsening of the environmental situation caused by the waste of these infant hygiene products, different types of diapers have been created, among which we find:

 

Disposable Diapers

They are the most popular diapers and, at the same time, the most polluting. The disposables are a great source of contamination, and the case of disposable diapers is no stranger. These infant hygiene items’ mass-production generates significant polluting gases that damage the environment since both natural and chemical agents are used during their production. Due to the above, the market for disposable diapers has expanded to creating ecological disposable diapers, which have in their composition elements extracted from nature, such as bamboo fibres, which reduces the damage to nature during their production.

 

Cloth Diapers

Among the cloth diapers’ opinions, there are a couple of variants. Some consider them an ecological alternative to the disposable diapers discussed above. They are considered the best solution for your baby, the environment and your pocket. However, some experts affirm that cloth diapers are also harmful to Mother Nature, according to the type of cloth they are made. Despite this, it must be borne in mind that they are reusable diapers, so they are considered ecological since they comply with the 5 R’s of ecology: reuse.

 

Biodegradable Ecological Diapers

Reusable ecological diapers, or recyclable diapers, are a type of diaper that could be placed within the category of cloth diapers. However, its differential factor is found in the fabric with which they are manufactured: the PUL. PUL fabric is a variant of polyester located in the diaper’s outer area to facilitate its impermeability and allow the baby’s skin to breathe normally. Also, it is characterized by being elastic, soft and very durable.

Unlike other ecological cloth diapers, biodegradable ones, as their name indicates, can disappear from nature in less time than other children’s products for this use. Biodegradable, eco-friendly diapers are believed to be able to disappear from Earth in at least four years. In short, biodegradable diapers have significant benefits that not only you or your baby can enjoy, but also nature. Let’s get to know them:

 

Advantages of Biodegradable Ecological Diapers

  • The fabric with which they make this type of eco-friendly diaper is easy to wash.
  • Biodegradable ecological diapers save money since they do not imply continuous purchases of the product.
  • They do not generate as much environmental pollution as they are reusable diapers.
  • Today there are countless designs, textures and colours to choose from.
  • The baby’s skin will remain soft, healthy and protected against possible diseases, such as diaper rash.

 

Do They Have Disadvantages?

Yes, according to reusable diapers opinions, these also have some disadvantages that you should know:

  • Continuous washing of these products (by hand or in the washing machine) can be tedious for some parents.
  • Due to the materials with which they are made, eco-friendly cloth diapers are expensive.

 

As you can see, the children’s products that we usually buy for our children can generate significant environmental impacts without us noticing. Therefore, it is best to inform us before making a purchase and select those that are made respecting the environment in the case of reusable ecological diapers. So, as parents, would you dare to buy an ecological diaper for your baby?