When I talk about environmentally and socially responsible practices in child-rearing, most parents would think about reusable diapers.
Modern cloth nappies are cheap but not always a good option for a baby’s delicate skin. Plus, a study revealed that although disposable diapers produce more waste, and their production requires a large amount of wood pulp and bleach, the water and detergent needed to wash a cloth diaper also creates a huge environmental impact.
It is concluded that the carbon footprint we generate by washing the cloth diapers for a child over a period of 2.5 years is equal to driving a car between 2000 km and 3500 km.
Reusable and disposable nappies each leave their mark on the environment, just in different ways.
What is the solution then?
As parents we have a lot to consider and what we choose to use often comes down to very unique, personal circumstances. What works for one person, won’t always work for another.
Protecting your baby is just as important as preserving nature. Now you can fight against plastic pollution by buying disposable eco-friendly nappies for your baby, without having to use only reusable cloth nappies.
If reusable cloth diapers are not the best option for you, or you’re in an area where excessive water use is a problem, there are some great disposable eco-friendly nappies to choose from!
Conventional Disposable vs Biodegradable Disposable Nappies
When it comes to disposable nappies, the conventional kind have a huge environmental impact. The manufacturing process uses synthetic materials, harsh chemicals to create that super absorbent core and bleach, they’re lined with plastic and they’re used just once and then thrown away.
Soiled baby diapers go straight to landfill, where they do not break down or biodegrade for hundreds of years. Think about that for a second – every diaper, used on everyone you know, is still sitting in a landfill somewhere!
Conventional disposable nappies usually come packaged in plastic too, which adds to the burden on landfills if the plastic is not recyclable.
Luckily, there are now some great biodegradable disposable nappy brands making safer and more eco-friendly alternatives.
Biodegradable disposable nappies are made of natural, plant-based materials and plastic-alternatives that do break down naturally. Some brands are even home compostable!
They use natural materials like bamboo or organic cotton, paper pulp from sustainable sources and non-toxic alternatives to the ‘super absorbent core’ that conventional nappies use.
Eco-friendly nappies are also packaged more responsibly, with less plastic and more sustainable materials like compostable or recycled paper and cardboard.
Most eco-friendly nappy brands are also non-toxic and completely safe for use on your baby’s most sensitive skin.
Let’s take a look at some of the best biodegradable and eco-friendly nappies on the market:
The Best Eco-friendly and Biodegradable Nappy Brands for Babies
I’ve come up with a list of the best eco-friendly diaper brands for babies that are safe for them as well for the natural environment.
1. Happy Little Camper
The eco-friendly diaper brand Happy Little Campers, is a sister company of Veeda, which is popular for its feminine care line. According to their website, all of their nappies and baby wipes are made from 100% soothing, non-GMO, hypoallergenic cotton.
The nappies are super absorbent, with strong elastic tabs to prevent leakage and blowout. The addition of Aloe Vera and Vitamin E keep the baby’s skin free from irritation and allergies. Plus the absence of dyes and harsh chemicals like chlorine and parabens reduces the risk rashes.
Their eco-friendly nappies come in a very baby-friendly design, keeping them comfortable all day long. The chlorine free wood pulp and cotton are certified by FSC and Mother Nature and responsibly sourced from credible suppliers.
They are available in five different sizes newborn, infant, crawler, toddler, and walker.
Price: The price for a single newborn diaper pack (36) is $13.20 while for size 5 and 6 the prices are $26.80. If you want to be worry-free for the whole month, then you can pay $79.95 for a customized one month supply.
2. Coterie Eco-Friendly Diapers
Coterie nappies are some of the best eco-friendly nappies and a win for your baby and mother nature!
They have 16 certifications that make them a truly ‘upgraded diaper’ for babies. Their dermatologically tested nappies do not contain alcohol, dyes, latex, rubber, fragrance or parabens. And they’re not tested on animals!
The nappies claim to hold 70% more fluid than rival brands and wick moisture away from the skin in just 15 seconds (4 times faster than other nappies ). Now you can be worry-free, with no chance of leakage.
Unlike other nappies with cute little designs, Coterie has a simple, white, minimalist look designed for modern moms.
Price: The diapers are available at an exclusive price of $95 for six-packs which is equal for one month.
3. The Honest Company
By far, these nappies have the cutest and most adorable print designs! But there are other reasons to appreciate this nappy brand over conventional reusable nappies too.
The box contains super absorbent ultra-soft, gentle, and hypoallergenic disposable diapers with stretchy pants that fit babies of all sizes. The feather-like comfy liner provides the ultimate ease, keeping your baby dry and happy on every day adventures.
The Honest Company not only make eco-friendly nappies, but they also offer a wide range of products for babies and women, like baby personal care, baby clothing, home cleaning options and beauty products all in one place. The website also allows you to select your favorite print, from their super-sweet options.
The brand is very cautious when it comes to ingredient selection and only uses materials derived from plants. They are made without chlorine or fragrances, and their lotions are 100% organic.
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Price: These super stylish, affordable eco-friendly nappies are available online and in stores for only $10.95.
4. Pampers Pure Eco-friendly Nappies
A respected, “number one pediatrician recommended” baby care brand is Pampers Pure, a newly launched green line for diapering products.
According to a study by Assignment Assistance, Most infants wearing diapers 24/7 developed diaper rashes characterized by inflamed, red skin caused by many factors such as:
- Sleeping in wet diapers.
- Not changing the dirty diaper.
- Getting a bacterial or yeast infection.
- The skin rubs against the hard diaper lining.
This eco-friendly disposable nappy line is an all-in-one solution. It addresses these issues by providing the ultimate skin moisturization, protection, and comfort.
The Shea butter enriched liner leaves the baby’s skin silky smooth throughout the day and night, while fighting wetness.
Plus they are free from all the unwanted ingredients that can react with your baby’s sensitive skin. The big 0% sign on the box indicates that it has 0% chlorine bleaching, parabens, rubber, and latex.
Price: This trusted brand, with fresh-looking packaging, is widely available in your nearest supermarkets and pharmacy stores as well as on Amazon at a discounted price of $0.30 per count/ $59.99 for 198 counts.
5. Seventh Generation
Another brand of eco-friendly diapers on my list is Seventh Generation, a truly green nappy brand with USDA Certification – biobased 30%.
Not familiar with Seventh Generation eco friendly disposable nappies?
CEO Joey Bergstein believes in reducing the impact on upcoming generations by designing affordable eco nappies that are naturally skin-friendly. They are made from sustainably harvested plant pulp with 0% chemicals.
Their premium absorbing capacity prevents leaks gives you complete peace of mind no matter if you are at home or out and about.
You can find the nearest retailer around you through its easy-to-navigate website. The brand advocates for climate protection and regularly post blogs about its recent initiatives to encourage visitors to limit their footprint.
Price: It is a cheap diaper brand available for sizes 1 to 6 at a price of $25 for a single packet, but you can find various Amazon deals and buy according to your needs.
6. DYPER
In the US, almost 20 billion dirty diapers are tossed into the trash every year (Fast Company).
If you are an environmentally conscious mother, then Dyper’s Eco-friendly Diapers are a sustainable solution for your home and the environment. This brand claims to be 100% organic and made its diapers from viscose fibers derived from sustainably sourced bamboo.
The company has partnered with waste management company TerraCycle to design its ReDyper initiative, which aims to assist parents to self-compost the nappies at designated facilities.
How does the whole thing work?
You have to subscribe to the ReDyper program, which costs $39 per month. The parents will get bags and specially designed boxes that they can use to store soiled diapers until it gets full. The box will be moved to the composting facilities, where the materials will be turned to compost! The compost can be utilized for highway medians and organic gardening.
Price: If you sign up for a subscription you’ll get one month supply of diapers (depending on the baby size) for $68.
7. Babyganics Eco-Friendly Diapers
I love Babyganics for their skin-love diapers wrapped in clean, fresh, packaging.
What’s inside these safe baby nappies?
They’re made from materials derived from eco-sourced plants, layered with NeoNourish (a seed oil combination of sunflower, black cumin, and raspberry seed oils) for extra moisturization. With a new, improved fit, the diapers are 20% thinner, which means no more thick diaper bootie and more comfort!
The USA based eco-friendly diaper brand comes in six sizes and is totally skin-safe. They are formulated without perfumes, parabens, chlorine or latex.
Price: The starting price for size 1 (232 count) is $57.98 while prices depend on the count and usually increase with an increase in size. The biggest size 6 (116 count) is available for $60.30.
Conclusion
I personally suggest you shift to eco-friendly diapers because they are a much more sustainable option than other cheap, disposable, diapers brands.
The options that I have discussed above can make your search easier as all of them help parents create a surrounding where babies have the freedom to develop boldly.
About the Author:
Claudia Jeffrey is presently working as a Business Executive & Sr. Research Analyst at Dissertation Assistance, a trusted platform to get the best assignments written by professional writers. She often opens up about her efforts to protect the environment. Choosing environmentally–friendly diapers is a part of her movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I keep my baby from getting rashes?
Almost all mothers have to deal with diaper rash at some of the time. The first thing you should do is to invest in a good diaper brand. Some simple tips to avoid rashes include changing diapers frequently, wash the baby’s back with a chemical-free bottom wash, give them diaper-free time for a bit, and use a good rash cream.
How should I dispose of dirty diapers responsibly?
Dump the diaper’s waster into the toilet and use paper bags to fold the used diaper tightly. Store these wrappers into a separate hands-free bin until it gets full. Remove the garbage bag from the bin and transfer it to a public trash bin for pickup. If you are using compostable diapers, then you can send them back to the brand or composting facilities for composting process.
Do disposable diapers make it hard to potty-train toddlers?
Wearing diapers prevent wetness, but it doesn’t mean that you cant potty-train your baby. Observe signs of readiness as a starting point to train them. These include having regular bowel movements, staying dry for a longer time, and being uncomfortable with dirty diapers. Most parents understand their child’s need to pee or poop by his/her facial expression.
