| More and more people everyday are attempting to go | | | | diapers like Pampers or Huggies are not very |
| green. Unfortunately a large hurdle to that movement | | | | eco-friendly. Their manufacturing process involves |
| for many parents is the diapers for their babies. | | | | chlorine which is a volatile organic compound or a |
| Eco-friendly diapers are hard to come by and there | | | | VOC. They also are made with a chemical gel that is |
| just aren't enough landfills to handle the large amount | | | | used to absorb a baby's urine. These gels are made |
| of disposable diapers out there. | | | | with sodium polycrylate which is known to cause |
| According to the EPA, infants and toddlers go through | | | | respiratory and skin irritation problems (although usually |
| approximately 5,000 diapers while potty training and | | | | only seen in much higher concentrations than those |
| they take up about 3.4 millions tons landfill space (That | | | | found in diapers). |
| is about 2% of the total waste amount for the US). To | | | | Then there are biodegradable diapers. But the reality is |
| make diapers eco-friendly, diapers will need to bypass | | | | that biodegradable diapers don't truly exist because of |
| landfills and the harsh chemicals they use. | | | | the shear amount of diapers versus the shortage of |
| An easy solution at first may be to decide to use cloth | | | | landfills. But many of these biodegradable diapers do |
| diapers instead of disposable. Unfortunately it isn't as | | | | contain gel that is nontoxic, non-carcinogenic and are |
| clear cut of a decision as that. There are a few things | | | | free of chemicals that irritate the skin. But there is |
| you will need before you make the move to cloth. | | | | limited research into the gels used. |
| A dedicated and reliable washing machine is high on | | | | Flushable diapers are also an option and provide the |
| the list as well as your time to wash the cloth diapers | | | | ability to be flushed down the toilet. This eliminates the |
| constantly. You'll need to pick an environmentally | | | | landfill problem. Many conventional diapers have a |
| friendly laundry detergent as well as a cloth diaper that | | | | landfill life of about 500 years. But again, the gel that |
| is comfortable for your child. | | | | these flushable diapers use have limited research into |
| This is definately one of the more preferable | | | | them despite being touted as eco-friendly. |
| eco-friendly methods to the diaper dilemma, but it may | | | | If one thing can be said about diapers, it is that they |
| not fit everyone's situation. City dwellers may have to | | | | are still a ways away from being truly eco-friendly. |
| use a diaper service, but many times eco-friendly | | | | Research still needs to be done on many of the gels |
| diapers are not available as part of that service. | | | | used in these new so called bio-degradable diapers. |
| Because of the heavy cleaning costs that include lots | | | | Future eco-friendly diapers will need to include the |
| of hot water and chlorine bleach to ensure that | | | | benefits of all the diapers of today. They'll need to be |
| bacteria is killed off, these services are certainly not | | | | flushable with no gel absorbents or harsh chemicals as |
| the greenest. | | | | well as be comfortable for your baby to wear. |
| So back to disposables for many. Typical disposable | | | | |