Diapers seem to be the one product that ‘eco-friendly’ just does not come to mind when thinking about it. On average, Americans use about 3.5 millions ton of disposable diapers per year! That is an enormous number that has an even bigger environmental impact since about 250 thousand trees are cut each year to accommodate the need for the diaper production, not to mention all the toxins released during manufacturing process and after they have been disposed of, ending up in the landfills. The most dangerous of the toxic chemicals released into the air is dioxin, a byproduct of bleaching paper and pulp.
Moreover, alongside the disposable diapers millions of untreated sewage ends up in landfills, which in turn may cause groundwater contamination. Additionally, if the fecal matter gathered in landfills were to escape through leaks, insects or pests, it would spread various parasites, viruses and bacteria-a reality to possible for comfort…
And then there is the baby’s health to be concerned as well. Not many people realize that diapers contain polyacrylate crystals (also called “super absorbent polymer” or “SAP,”), which are designed to keep the baby dry by turning to gel and absorbing up to eight hundred times their weight. Should the diaper break, however, (which may happen when the diaper is very wet), the chemical may get on the baby’s skin or even in their mouth, causing skin and gastrointestinal irritations.
Furthermore, studies have shown that the emissions from plastics and fragrances used in disposable diapers cause various respiratory problems, e.g. asthma. What is even more frightening, is the fact that despite detecting the biocide tributyltin (can be absorbed through skin and cause immune system damage as well as hormone disruptions) in a number of diaper brands in 2000, disposable diapers are not tested for the presence of the chemical.
The debate whether disposable or cloth diapers are more eco-friendly has been a long one and it is ultimately a parent’s choice, however studies have shown that babies with cloth diapers have been potty-trained a lot faster than the ones with the disposable ones. One reason for it maybe that the disposable diapers have been designed to keep the babies dry, therefore not allowing them to know the feeling of having a wet diaper, which in turn leads to later need for potty training.
If you’re interested in finding out more about eco-friendly diapers, stay tuned to our next article, which will be devoted to the subject.
