Best eco-friendly diapers

The most common questions new parents ask themselves are “What are the best diapers?”; “are eco-friendly diapers really good for the environment? I have tried to answer these questions in this post, describing what is meant by eco-friendly and sustainable diapers and providing a list of the best currently eco-friendly diapers on the market. Many parents are aware that choosing the right eco-friendly diapers are not only important to keep the baby dry, but also to reduce the impact on the amount of waste produced. Yes, because according to the Telegraph in the UK only,

almost 2.5 billion diapers are landfilled every year

A devastating number!

Today, on the market we have seen the appearance of a large amount of biodegradable and eco-friendly diapers. But are they really?
I recently took an interest in the subject because I wanted to recommend the best diaper to my sister who recently gave birth to our first nephew. Of course, by definition the best diaper is the one that gives the best performance, it’s not so expensive and respects the environment. So, attracted by the slogan “eco-sustainable” printed on some diapers I did my research and what I discovered surprised me a lot.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. By clicking through them and making a purchase, I may receive a small commission WITHOUT any additional cost to you.

 

What does ‘biodegradable’ mean?

When we think of something biodegradable, we associate it with the ability to degrade faster without damaging the groundwater and soil. That’s true, but one detail is missing. It must not end up in landfills. According to The Guardian, a biodegradable diaper left in landfills could take up to 50 years to degrade. For the decomposition process, it is necessary to have an environment with sufficient oxygen and enough temperature, but above all with microorganisms. It is for these reasons that even if you are motivated by good reasons, such as the protection of the environment, if you buy biodegradable disposable diapers and throw them away in landfills, you will, in any case, contribute to the increase in waste.

Best eco-friendly diapers: reusable or disposable?

With this knowledge, it is easier to make conscious purchases.

Eco-friendly cloth diapers

Cloth nappies are the most eco-friendly solutions. If you want to reduce the number of disposed of diapers the most sustainable solution is to use cloth diapers that can be washed and reused. Obviously if on the one hand they are eco-friendly and help save money, on the other hand, they increase in the number of laundries that need to be done and consequently the increase in water and energy consumption.

Among the cloth diapers the recommended ones are:

Bumgenius

Grovia

Bambino Mio

Eco-friendly disposable diaper

Disposable diapers are naturally easier to use. Large retailers provide nappies made mostly from plastic and other chemicals that would help absorption while preventing unpleasant leaks. However, I noticed that there are not 100% biodegradable diapers. I remember that by biodegradable I mean a diaper that has had its feces removed and has been thrown into composting. Many diapers are in fact only 75% to 95% biodegradable. So, put aside the factor “biodegradable” because we have just seen that there are no such diapers currently on the market (if I’m wrong to write to me in the comments), let’s see what factors should be controlled to buy diapers with good performance and that respect the environment.

Best disposable diaper eco-friendly: which one to choose?

To be sustainable and eco-friendly we can buy products whose production tries to limit the environment and climate impact. This is an important factor in the concept of sustainability. In fact, we should consider the entire production process instead of just waste disposal. For example

• the use of sustainable raw materials,
• reducing emissions into the air, water, and soil and
• avoiding substances harmful to humans.

For this reason, I recommend just 2 disposable nappies that meet these parameters having obtained sustainability certifications such as Nordic Swan Eco Label or ECOCERT. (you can find more details about the latter in my previous post)

Bambo Nature

This diaper has been awarded the Nordic Ecolabel and FSC (Council for Forest Management) certification. FSC certification is only obtained if the products are made from raw materials from well-managed forests and responsible sources. In addition, Bambo Nature diapers do not contain harmful chemicals such as chlorine, used as a bleach to whiten diaper material.

Eco by Naty

This brand has received several awards including the FSC certification mentioned above. Eco by Naty has also obtained the ‘Biobased OK’ certification. It proves the ecological nature of diapers thanks to the use of renewable raw materials. It is also certified Vegan, Ecocert, and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard). The latter certification guarantees that textile products contain at least 70% organic fibers.

In conclusion, reusable diapers are in my opinion the greenest but I can understand that it could be complicated to use them when is traveling or when we are away from home. In this case, try to choose brands that take environmental protection seriously.

I hope this post has been useful to you 🙂

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Gabi