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?