I am sure eco-ist parents are fighting over a very important questions as they prepare for their baby. Do I go cloth or disposable? Well, there is a third option that is neither cloth nor disposable and gaining a lot of popularity. Biodegradable or flushable diapers. Hmmm sounds good!
Cloth diapers are reusable but use loads of water, detergent and electricity that is not the most eco-friendly solutions. Also babies are prone to diaper rash and there is a greater risk of leakage and increase in laundry loads for households. So these are not excatly a win-win situation.
Disposable diapers are water, chemical and energy intensive and live on for ever!
10,036,000,000 disposable diapers are landfilled each year in the U.S. That is a huge number and we should be very concerned. Their lack of eco-friendliness is a no-brainer! But they are comfortable, convenient and cheap!
The biodegradable/compostable or flushable diapers seem like a great option. One brand is called "gDiapers". They are chlorine and dioxin free and consist of a "gpant" and liner. Best of all they are "flushable".
The website says the flushables are made of a water resistant, breathable outer material that keep bottoms dry and wetness away. It is made of all natural fiber and is 100% biodegradable. The interior uses elemental chlorine-free tree farmed fluff pulp and Super Absorbing Poly-acrylate to absorb wetness. These super absorbing materials hold up to 100 times their weight in liquid.
The ‘little g’ pants are made of a soft, breathable outer cotton/elastene fabric giving them a slight stretch that are washable and reusable.
The ‘little g’ pants are made of a soft, breathable outer cotton/elastene fabric giving them a slight stretch that are washable and reusable.
These diapers can be flushed, composted (only the wet ones) or tossed. The website claims that these will degrade in a landfill in 150 days compared to the 500 years a disposable diaper will take. I am not sure that anything biodegrades in a landfill, and there are conflicting answers on this depending on whom you ask.
On the whole, these seem to be a better option than either cloth or disposable diapers. So till a better product comes along, an eco-friendly way to diaper your bundle of joy!
