Environmental impact of nappies

When trying to find the intersection between giving our babies the best and caring for the planet environmentally, cloth diapers come across as the right solution. If you are not convinced it’s worth it, we’ve compiled some information here to help you better understand what disposable diapers do to our environment.


Natural resources
In some countries, more than 200,000 trees are lost each year for the manufacture of disposable baby diapers. In addition, 3.4 billion liters of fuel oil (petroleum-derived fuel) are needed each year to make diapers. Which is to say that disposable diapers use 20 times more raw materials, twice as much water and three times as much energy to make than cloth diapers. In addition to depleting natural resources, the manufacture of disposable diapers also uses non-renewable energy sources.

Landfills
Although disposable diapers must be exposed to oxygen and sunlight to decompose, they do not degrade well in a landfill. Plus, disposable diapers take around 500 years to decompose. The millions of tons of untreated waste added to landfills each year by layers of plastic can contaminate groundwater. Another concern is that viruses excreted in a baby’s feces could eventually find their way into local water supplies. Landfills are known to produce greenhouse gas emissions, which can contribute to climate change on the earth. Decaying layers release methane into the air. High concentrations of this gas can be explosive and flammable. Methane is also dangerous to breathe because it replaces oxygen.

Chemical products
The layers release volatile organic chemicals. Toxic chemicals such as toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene have been linked to adverse health effects in humans with long-term exposure. The absorbent inner layer of a disposable diaper is also treated with chemicals, which can trigger allergic reactions. Disposable diapers often contain dyes and dioxin, which is formed as a by-product of the chlorine bleaching process. Dioxin is a carcinogen, which means it can cause cancer. When released into the environment, the toxin can accumulate in humans and animals.

You would love to be eco-friendly but as a new mum, this is not really your main worry right now? If you are struggling with a new born baby or a child, reach out to one of our therapists.