The Great Diaper Debate: Diapers and the Environment

In part one let's consider some important facts regarding cloth and disposable diapers.

Finally or for some, surprisingly you are expecting. There are so many choices and decisions to make from doctors and hospitals to nursing and diapers. As delivery day approaches and baby shower gifts arrive, the great diaper debate becomes more intense - which will it be cloth or disposable. What are the advantages to each? But more importantly what are the disadvantages? And, as many of us are becoming more "green" or environmentally aware what choices can be make in diapers that will be economical, convenient, environmentally sound as well as keep or little ones - or even big ones dry.

Fast Facts about Cloth and Disposable Diapers

-According to Consumer Reports, "You can expect to spend $1,500 to $2,000 or more on disposables by the time your baby is out of them." (April 2007)

- Cloth Diapers are less expensive - especially if you do not use a service to clean them. However even services are less expensive than disposable diapers - by almost half.

-Most services and even homes, are using environmentally friendly washing techniques for cloth diapers including biodegradable detergents. An average diaper service puts its diapers through an average of 13 water changes, but uses less water and energy per diaper than one laundry load at home. Source: Carl Lehrburger, Jocelyn Mullen, and C. V. Jones, "Diapers: Environmental Impacts and Lifecycle Analysis," January 1991

-All in one cloth diaper systems are almost as easy as disposable diapers to use. They have snaps or Velcro to close them so no pins to worry about.

- 27.4 billion disposable diapers are used each year in the US, resulting in a possible 3.4 million tons of used diapers adding to landfills each year taking as many as 500 years to decompose. Source: Time Magazine, 12 January 2008

- Disposable diapers make up the third largest source of solid waste in landfills.

- It takes upwards of 82,000 tons of plastic and 1.3 million tons of wood pulp, or a quarter-million trees, to manufacture the disposable diapers that cover the bottoms of 90 percent of the babies born in the US. Rhode Island Solid Waste Management Corporation.

- The toxic chemicals Dioxin, present in many disposable diapers, in various forms, has been shown to cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and skin diseases, is a by-product of the paper-bleaching process used in manufacturing disposable diapers, and trace quantities may exist in the diapers themselves. EPA, "Integrated Risk Assessment for Dioxins and Furans from Chlorine Bleaching in Pulp and Paper Mills."

Cloth Diapers: Cloth diapers have come a long way - baby. Now there are cloth diapering system. Cloth diapers are made of a variety of materials including cotton, gauze and flannel. Some are made as an all in one unit, where the cloth diaper and protective outer layer are combined or in diapering systems, which includes a moisture resistant cover, or outer layer into which you insert the cloth diaper. Brands available include: Bum Genius, Bumkins, Dundee, Fuzzi Bunz, Gerber, Kushies and Swaddlebees.

Advantages: No landfill, no smelly trash, no animals getting into the trash in the home or out. Reduction of environmental impacts by:
-Line drying outside whenever possible.
-Tumble drying as little as possible.
-When replacing appliances, choosing more energy efficient appliances
-Not washing above 60°C [140°F].
-Washing fuller loads.
-Reusing diapers on other children
Source: The UK Environment Agency / DEFRA study

Disadvantages: Many parents end up using disposable anyway when they go somewhere, more laundry, which also means using more water, energy for the washer and dryer as well as whatever toxins may be released from the detergents, if you are not using eco-friendly laundering techniques and detergents.

Readers, what say you? What are some of the advantages of cloth diapers, and what have you used? A service or your own laundry? Did it save you money? Time? Did you use cloth because you thought it good for the environment or good for your baby. Share your experiences and be sure to read our next installment in the great diaper debate-- disposable and biodegradable diapers.