Seeking Information About Environmental Impact of Cloth Vs. Disposable Diapers

Hey S.,

To be totally honest I believe that disposable diapers have their place occasionally. We use cloth diapers most of the time, but have found that the occasional disposable can be handy (when traveling, or at nighttime - because my son wets and soaks his diaper to max capacity!)Ok that said, I feel much better about using cloth diapers because of the waste issue. I believe that it is a "no-brainer" that cloth is a more environmentally friendly option mostly because of its re-use. Say you buy 3 dozen cloth diapers with covers. You're set for years with this. And they are quite easy to wash. It's interesting how everyone has their own method for doing this! I used to soak mine in a pail of cold water, but now just put them into the same pail without water. I sometimes do a soak first in the washing machine, but generally just do a hot wash/cold rinse with a little vinegar, then one more cold rinse without vinegar. No problems. Another thing I have noticed is that washing diapers a couple times a week has not affected our water bill whatsoever. I also like the idea that these diapers can be used over and over with multiple children and then even passed on from there. And then when they are really worn they apparently make great dusting/cleaning rags!

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Yea... if you are woman enough to do cloth diapers, be woman enough to wash them yourself. There's nothing environmentally friendly about a company making profit off your child's dirty diapers. I doubt they take into account how much water or product they have to go through, they are thinking PROFIT regardless of what they might say in order to entice you into using their services.

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So many wonderful responses!

I just wanted to add that home laundering of cloth diapers does use less water, since diaper services must meet health codes and they must wash their diapers in hotter water and more times than you would at home. They also tend to throw away/get rid of their cloth diapers and wraps at a faster rate, since they want their product to look perfect. They might toss a diaper that is slightly worn, but perfectly functional (and even softer and more absorbent with age)!

Also, if you take into account the gasoline burned to pick up/deliver the diapers, home laundering comes out even better on the carbon footprint scale. We love our cloth dipes and have been home laundering since my first son was 3 weeks old!

I can't even fathom how much money we've saved by not buying disposables. I believe that if more people knew how cute, comfortable, simple, mess-free, and great for the environment cloth diapers were, we'd be put Proctor&Gamble and Kimberly-Clark out of business. ;-)

Peace,
J.
mama to 2 cloth diapered boys

ETA: One more environmental issue is human waste going into landfills. (Which, by the way, is illegal but not enforced!?) With cloth diapering, human waste goes to the water treatment plant---where it belongs! Human waste is nasty stuff and can cause disease. If a child has been vaccinated against polio, for example, that child's excrement will always contain poliovirus. If the poop from a disposable is sent to a landfill, there is likely a big problem with ground water quality, especially since disposables are the third largest component of landfills. YUCK!

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I used cloth diapers with both of my kids. If you have the time and the desire to do it then i say go for it but its a personal choice just like nursing and whether you do one or the other does not make you any less of a parent.

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I can't say much about the chems used by diaper services, but we are on our second in cloth (2 yr old is potty training - yeah - and have a 1 yr old). We use old-school pre-folds and covers. I wash them myself with an environmentally- and baby-friendly powder. In the S. we hang them out in the sun as much as possible. Once you are in the swing of things, washing yourself becomes habit and not too bad to fit in during the evenings or early morn (I am a full-time grad student and my husband works full-time).
We use cloth to save money, especially since our boys are so close in age. But, I have to say I feel so good about not having a garbage bin full of diapers each week. My house smells less of diapers than any of my friends who use disposibles and the boys don't have that icky chemically smell when they are wet or dirty. For us it has been the best choice. Will do it again next time.

Someone earlier mention gdiapers, and I just wanted to agree. I love gdiapers. Check out their website: www.gdiapers.com, they have information on the enviromental impact of both cloth and disposable.

S.,
I use cloth. And I am such a big advocate for them. For one, did you know that one diaper takes 100 years to decompose and it doesn't even decompose to the point of there being no waste. That sent me into a panic for our kids and their earth they have to live in. The diaper service we use is great. Some people might think it is a wash between the two. I disagree. This is what we have water purification plants for (my dad was a designer for them). They may cost a lot, but no mater what the water situation is in a 100 years, they can purify the water. Now, as far as the ozone disapearing and causing global warming (no glaciers) that takes everyones part to help the earth and be more eco friendly. I bet if you ask the diaper service that is in your area how many gallons of water they use and what kind of detergent they use (if eco friendly)-I would guarentee that they are being eco friendly. Now, if you would wash your own. Get a washer that is energy efficient (energy star rated).I feel better that I use cloth diapers. Better for the earth, and my childrens future. Plus my daughters have such sensitive skin-they cannot use disposables. All the chemicals in the diapers to make them all absorbant irritate their skin. which made me think what I was putting on my childs bottom was even more important. Also, I was part of a study at Froedtert. At the outpost there are eco friendly disposable diapers that break down (they are not very attractive looking-brown)this would be another option.

Hope this helps,
K.

S.,

I washed cloth diapers at home. You put the "wet" ones in a diaper pail, and the "messy" ones in a large bucket of water to soak. Wash when you have a good-sized load, and remember to pour off the soaking water. We were able to use these diapers for two kids. And, remember, if you're going to use a diaper service and have day care, they're just going to bag up the diapers for you to take home. What do they care if you are using your own diapers and taking them home and washing them yourself? You can use an earth friendly laundry soap to minimize the impact even more

Jenny

We've used cloth diapers for both our children. The water usage to wash cloth diapers 2-3 times a week is less than what a person using the bathroom full time uses.

We however never used diaper cleaning services. I used pocket diapers (Fuzzi Bunz, Happy heiny's) and prefolds with covers (Bummis Super Whisper Wraps). I would wash ever 3 days, warm rinse, hot wash, warm rinse, then hang everythign PUL to dry, and put prefolds and stuffers into the dryer. There is no soaking or dunking. I would shake excess poop off into the toilet, then rinse or put into a dry pail until wash day.

Disposable diapers contain dioxins, and are harmful not only to skin, but to the environment. IT takes a long time for them to dispose in a landfill, and the average child will use 1-3tons of diapers over the course of thier diapering years, all that which sits in a landfill for years and years. Also, children who are vaccinated, thier feces contain traces of those vax's, like polio.

It is absolutely NOT a 'wash'. DIsposable diapers release chemicals into the air when being made, and they sit in landfills for years. Cloth diapers can be reused for many children, and then sold/given to another family to use, and so on. They don't contain chemicals, nor are chemicals released when they are being made,a nd they don't sit in landfills. The poop from cloth diapers is flushed into the sewer/septic, not sent to a landfill with the diaper, a health hazard.

And again, the water used to wash cloth diapers is less than that of a person who uses the bathroom full time.

Here is a 'cost of utilities' for the diaper pin website owners. (www.diaperpin.com) but I would urge you to do some research. most people who scoff at cloth diapers are the ones that know nothing about 'modern' cloth diapering. http://www.diaperpin.com/calculator/costofutilities.asp

S.,
Everyone has posted wonderful responses so far. My two cents is this: when you realize just how many diapers your baby goes through in one day (especially a newborn) you realize the environmental impact that using cloth actually will have. I could not believe the amount of diaper waste we would have when we travelled and did not use cloth! All of those diapers end up in a landfill, most likely filled with raw sewage! Considering that a newborn can go through 15 or so diapers a day, and a one year old can go through up to 10 sometimes, I think the environmental impact of so much less landfill waste speaks for itself.

Seems like you have had quite a few great responses. I just figured I would share another website, mom-owned by a lady I knew in Gainesville, FL. http://www.sunshinediapers.com/cloth-diaper-university/wh... She does a great job of explaining why to choose cloth over disposables. I too cloth diaper my son and wash my diapers at home. We also use one disposable overnight like another of the moms said because we had problems with him being a "super-soaker." We love our BumGenius diapers. If you need any more info, you can surely message me if you would like!
A.

Ditto what Becky W. said.

I am cloth diaper user for my second child; I didn't do cloth for my first. Like you, I was confused about the actual environmental impact of cloth vs. disposables, and so I didn't initially use cloth. However, now with a bit more research in my head, and also with the experience of using cloth for 6 months and realizing how easy and fabulous cloth diapering is, I am a convert.

There was a particular article I read that really got me thinking, and it was from "Mothering" magazine. The September/October 2006 issue has a wonderful article written by Peggy O'Mara, titled, "A Tale of Two Diapers." If you could read this article, it might be a helpful place to start...it was for me.

After my second child was born, my husband and I knew that we wanted to cloth diaper, but we were overwhelmed at the prospect. Where do we start? My husband did lots of research online (assisted by an open Mothering magazine next to him) and got a firm understanding of the different types of cd's. Then I reached out to a local mama who used cd's and simply asked her to share her experience with me. She was happy to have me come over to her house and showed me her "stash" of diapers; it was wonderful for me to actually touch and feel different types of cd's. I think you will find that people who cd are happy to share their experiences. After seeing that mama's system, I basically just ordered much of what she had and did what she does. Not only am I really happy with our diapering system, but I also made a really great friend. (that sounds so silly, I know, but it's true.)

I feel really good about cloth diapering and wish that the general understanding of cloth diapers was not so convoluted, because they are not only better for the environment, but they are also cheaper and more convenient!

Ann W.--

Thought you would be interested to know:
The ILEA website mentioned in that link that makes the claim about disposables vs. cloth being a "wash" is sketchy. It's been shut down; you can't contact anyone involved in the website; you can't tell who funded the study or what their methods were, and the study they cite about diapers is from 1992.

Using their logic, anyone who lives in an arid area should only use disposable plates, plastic silverware, and never wash their clothes. Silly. Adding a couple of loads per week of laundry is NOTHING compared to the environmental disaster of throwaway diapers (3rd largest component of landfills).

And, if you want to avoid pesticides in your diapers, use organic hemp or cotton. A little more pricey on the start-up but worth it!

Basically, it's a bad source. =) But the WorldWomenWant website is cool! Too bad they used that website as a resource, and too bad that other people will see it, trust it, and believe that cloth and disposables can be equal.

Email me offlist if you want more!

L.

I am mother of Three and used cloth exclusivly for first two. the only reason not for the third i needed new cloth diapers and wasn't happy with what was available in my area, no internet at the time. Now the little monster wants to use the potty. I liked the cloth. They knew when they were wet. The potty training was easier. Their skin seemed healthier. and sorry but i washed my own. With new born baby poop just throw in a mop bucket with a little soap, i used dawn dish soap. swish until the sold can out, ring it out and throw all in the washer at end of day. When they get old the poop gets bigger, you just wipe it out with your toilet paper then flush and then either let swish or let sit for a little soak.

There are great webstores to get quality cloth diapers from. some seem expeincive but considering you'll get 50-100 uses out of 1 $10 diaper to 80 uses out of 1 $21 dollar box. it evens out. And besides you can always fing good well taken care of used diapies on ebay.

the problem with the cheep gerber diapers is taht they fall apart after 6-10 uses. but they are good to just have on hand for emergancies. everyone should have cloth diepies as an emergance fix it.

Here's a great FAQ list, I found helpful when I began using cloth diapers. http://www.verybaby.com/ccp0-display/faq.html

I highly recommend a mini-sprayer for your toilet.

**Upcoming "Choices in Diapering" Workshop**

Amma Maternity (my company), which in addition to providing support and education to expecting and new families in the Twin Cities, sponsors a rotating series of FREE workshops to parents every year.

The last workshop was all about baby slings and carriers, and the next one will be on all the choices of diapers (cloth, disposable, flushable, biodegradable, and traditional). It will be held Sunday, April 20th from 2:00-4:00 at the Southdale Library in Edina.

Economics, environmental impact, logistics, and laundering will all be covered, and we'll have samples there you can check out. We are not a retailer and won't be selling anything, but a list of local and Internet resources will be provided.

If you'd like to be added to our private mailing list to get news of this and other upcoming workshops, e-mail me with your contact info and I'll add you to our database! An electronic flyer will be sent out soon.

Stay warm today everyone- brr!

S. Pearce RN CNM
Amma Maternity
www.ammamaternity.com

I would seriously suspect that in the long run a) not fueling the petro-chemical industry by avoiding plastic diapers in the first place and b) not adding to the mountains of non-bio-degradable waste produced by our country every year (http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/the-worlds-rubbi... do less harm to the environment than washing cloth diapers. I would also remind you that you can wash cloth diapers at home (by hand or in a machine) to ensure that environmentally friendly products (like Seventh Generation, Ecover, or Ecos, etc) - this would keep scary chemicals out of our shared environment and away from your child's skin.

Hi S., cloth diapers do not end up in the landfill but the laundering of them does have an environmental impact. Is it as significant as disposable is where the debate continues. Whether one chooses disposable, cloth or a mix is a personal choice. This is where it is important to know our options. If you choose to go cloth for health reasons cloth(organic cotton) wins hands down. A third option in the market is flushable diapers or liners. This allows us to put the waste where waste belongs-in the toilet. These diapers contain no chlorine and no fragrance, and are clearly a healthier choice for the environment. Another healthy option is using organic cotton in the first three months and then switching to a gel-free disposable diaper later on or mixing it up. Here are a few sites that may give you some ideas www.gdiapers.com-www.borntolove.com-www.punkinbutt.com-ww.... Choosing cloth diapers may be one of the hardest jobs of parenting but you will be glad you did in the end. Good Luck. AnitaJ~Natural Options~

Hi S., you probably didn't expect to get quite this much response! I read through the posts and didn't see this article mentioned. I'm copying it here, but you should be able to gather more info from their website (www.theworldwomenwant.com).

Paper or Plastic?
13 Nagging Environmental Questions …
Finally Answered!
By Diane MacEachern
www.theworldwomenwant.com

2.Use disposable or cloth diapers? It depends on where you live. According to the Institute for Lifecycle Analysis, disposable diapers produce substantially more solid waste. Cloth diapers produce half as much solid waste but use more water and produce more waterborne waste. If your community (like many of those in the West) is concerned about water shortages, it’s best to use disposable diapers. If your area faces landfill shortages (like some of those in the East), it’s best to use cloth.

Many parents wonder what health issues diapers raise. There is no clear-cut winner between disposables and cloth. Bleaching the paper for most disposable diapers creates dioxin, a toxin that can persist in the environment and cause cancer and other health problems. But according to the Pesticide Action Network, cotton is the most insecticide-intensive crop in the world. Thus, using cloth diapers made from conventionally grown cotton contributes to global pesticide use. Organic cotton diapers and alternatively bleached disposable diapers are available in the marketplace, but both are quite expensive. Because disposable diapers are superabsorbent, they keep babies drier longer. However, this phenomenon has a tendency to postpone babies’ tendency to potty train by around a year. You may change more diapers in the short term if your babies wear cloth diapers, but babies may transition out of diapers sooner, too. Some parents worry that the plastic and fragrances in disposable diapers could cause asthma or other illnesses in their children. To date, no diseases have been linked to the use of disposable diapers. You can wash cloth diapers in fragrance-free detergents and softeners if that is a concern. Bottom Line: Choose cloth if you want to minimize the amount of trash you create and prefer to wrap your kids in cotton rather than plastic. Choose disposables if you want to save water.
NOTE: If you choose cloth, you may opt to launder the diapers at home, or use a service. When the study was originally done in 1992, commercial laundry services were found to be more water- and energy- efficient than washing diapers at home. Today’s new efficient appliances may make washing diapers at home just as energy- and water-saving.

I don't know which is best, but I do have a suggestion for dealing with cloth diapers if that's the route you choose. I learned this from another mom when my now-30-year-old daughter was a baby.
Rinse out each diaper immediately with hot tap water and hang it up to dry. (When there's poop, dump it into the toilet first.) Then when it's laundry time you only have dry diapers, not heavy wet ones, to carry to the washing machine. Wash and dry like any laundry. (I would recommend a hypoallergenic, unscented detergent.) I remember a woman at the laundromat asking me how I did the diapers, because my dirty ones looked better than her clean ones.

I could never figure out true environmental benefits of cloth over disposable either, but I've used both. My daughter had diaper rash that would go away and come back so I tried using cloth diapers and wipes and that solved the problem. Also, cloth are VERY easy to wash at home. It could save you a lot of money. We saved about $800 the first year. That's money we put towards her college! Good luck.

Yes, don't use a diaper service! Do them yourself. I am a working mom and wondered about the same things (because they are 'communal' they have to use things you wouldn't to ensure nothing is transferred....but YOU don't. A friend of mine washed her own (hey, it's been done for centuries) and said it was really easy. Frankly, it was! You just get a good diaper pail and put a cup or so of white vinegar and baking soda in it with water - throw the pee ones right in and rinse the poo ones in the toilet before you throw them in. Do diapers the way you would laundry but in hot and some white vinegar in the rinse cycle. If you do laundry every other day you are fine. It is WAY easier than it sounds.

D.-in-Madison

Depends on what you mean by 'wash'. If you use a service, they definatlely use more and hotter H2O than you'd use at home. And, a service ends up costing you nearly as much money as disposables would. BUT, the resources (oil) used to make disposables plus the fact that you're putting EVERY diaper into a landfill makes them so much less environmentally sound. Check out who puts out those 'studies' on cloth vs. disposables.

When you take into effect how long it takes a disposable diaper to decompose, I believe that is a large environmental factor. I used cloth diapers with all three of my children. it was 1-2 extra loads of wash per week. A diaper service is okay, but it is just as expensive to use diaper service as it is to use disposable diapers. I also do not know what a diaper service uses to clean their diapers so if you want to know more about that call one of your local diaper services to see what products they use to clean/sanitize their diapers, probably much different than you would use at home. If you would like anymore information please feel free to email me.

An option to look at: g diapers. They are a cross between disposable and cloth. There is a biodegradable liner that is flushable that attaches into a cloth liner system. And if you don't want to flush the liner, I want to say it only takes a year for it to biodegrade. If you go to the website, they have online videos you can watch to see how it works and how to use them. And it gives a list of stores you can buy them at or you can buy them online. Now, having said all of that, the biggest downside I see- and it happens to be the reason I don't currently use them and I'm still trying to find a way to make it work, is that they are pricey- In addition to the start up costs (aka- the non-disposable parts) a case of 128 size med/large flushable refills is $52- plus shipping if you don't have a store in your area and have to buy online. But even if the money is an issue for you- I would go to the website and check it out- it is a very cool product.

Everyone has given you great advice. If you are interested in the gdiapers, I am selling them on craigslist so let me know if you want them because it is going to be a better deal than buying them new. They were hardly used because my baby must pee too much, it would leak into his clothes and I got sick of washing them.