The Daily Diaper
The Cloth -v- Disposable Dilemma isn’t much of a dilemma really.
In her article, Cloth vs. disposable: The Diaper Dilemma, Rebecca Vidra asserts that using cloth diapers, instead of disposable diapers, is not the greener choice.
She writes, “The bottom line, environmentally, is that there is no significant difference between cloth and disposable diapers. When you consider the materials, water, energy, and transportation costs to produce and maintain the diapers, it’s a wash.”
Though hers is an article and not a research paper, it seems she would have included a link or citation of the “life-cycle analysis of diapers done by independent parties” on which she bases her claim that switching from disposable diapers for the remaining 12 months of her child’s life “wouldn’t have a significantly smaller environmental impact.”
There are many studies and a few LCAs (Life Cycle Analysis) now being used regarding the disposable and cloth diaper argument. To get a full story of the disposable diaper industry’s deep desire to undermine the cloth diapering industry, check out The Politics of Diapers: A Timeline of Recovered History, which covers the history from 1961-2000, and shows many of these studies.
The disposable diaper industry likes to encourage the statistics found in their own studies, funded out of their own pockets, but it is my opinion to get a truly independent study, one can’t commission it and finance it. A non-biased party must initiate the study so the findings can be separate from the paycheck.
Just seems reasonable, don’t you think?
However, Procter & Gamble, have paid for “independent analysis” - once with Arthur D. Little, Inc. who took on the job to analyze the LCA for both disposable diapers and cloth diapers (reusable diapers). What do you bet he came up short on any actual difference about disposables being more sustainable?
Yep, you guessed it.
In 1991, Carl Lehrburger undertook a life-cycle analysis of diapers, his second study for NADS (National Association of Diaper Services). Even though it was recognized as the most detailed study, up ’til that date, of the environmental impact of single-use diapers, I still recognize that it was done FOR NADS, and so again, though I believe the statistics should be considered, they should also be closely scrutinized.
Lehrburger found that, compared to reusable diapers, throwaways generate seven times more solid waste when discarded and three times more waste in the manufacturing process.
Source: A Tale of Two Diapers. Mothering Magazine, Issue 138. Peggy O’Mara.
http://www.mothering.com/guest_editors/quiet_place/138.html
In 1992, Procter and Gamble hires Franklin Associates, Ltd. and wouldn’t you know, “disposable diapers are preferred”. The research does recognize disposables produce more solid waste, but says cloth diapers produce more waterborne waste. You can read more of the findings here.
The fact is a truly INDEPENDENT study was needed, and in May 2005, we thought we’d get it from the British Goverment, or rather The Environment Agency of the UK. Their 4 year study, “Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK”, concluded…
“For the three nappy systems studied (disposables, home laundered and commercially laundered), there was no significant difference between any of the environmental impacts – that is, overall no system clearly had a better or worse environmental performance, although the life cycle stages that are the main source for these impacts are different for each system.”
The report was reviewed and described as a wasted opportunity by The Women’s Environmental Network. The review turned up more than a few inconsistencies in how the findings were gathered. For instance,
“Over 2,000 parents using disposable nappies were surveyed. By contrast, most of the survey results for reusable nappies were drawn from a sample of 117 parents, further reduced to 32 because users of terry towelling nappies were relied on for most assumptions. This resulted in as few as two respondents being used for certain key assumptions.” Read the full response from WEN.
How can 2,000 disposable nappy using parents compare to 117 cloth diaper using parents? And then, to know that number was reduced to 32? Something was amiss.
The Real Diaper Association also responded to the British Report in their members’ newsletter.
“Study shows careful laundering can reduce environmental impact. Even using the study’s self-acknowledged weak assumptions, the conclusion does not reflect the significant reduction of environmental impact resulting from use of energy-efficient washing, as shown within the body of the report. The report shows that users of home-laundered cloth diapers can reduce environmental impact up to 38% through their laundering choices. Energy rating, washing temperature, and number of diapers laundered have a significant impact on the numbers.”
And the debate goes on.
And the answers are as muddied as they were a decade ago.
The landfills are more full and the water is more polluted.
Yet still, whether or not Vidra’s baby is diapered in disposables made from chlorine-free bleach and whether or not the pulp was taken from “sustainably harvested forests”, the fact remains:
- A single use item, disposables are THROWN AWAY after each use.
- Sustainably harvested forests are STILL HARVESTED after all. The forests simply don’t grow back overnight.
- The landfills ARE full.
And for Vidra, who has vowed not to purchase anything NEW? It seems cloth diapers would keep her aligned with that goal, whereas “environmentally less harsh” disposable, throwaway diapers do not.
Discussion
16 comments for “The Cloth -v- Disposable Dilemma isn’t much of a dilemma really.”
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I am so impressed with your analysis! I have long felt irritated with the faulty logic of washing diapers as being as harmful to the environment as manufacturing disposables.
Thanks for a great article!
I keep waiting to hear how High Effency washers and driers fit into the equation. I use an HE washer and line dry, I know I use less energy just by not having to drive to the store and buy diapers all the time! Also water is a renewable resourse, if only I used wind generated electricity, then I would really be making a smaller footprint.
I think its more of a debate for the sake of a debate. Any invention is done for our comfort, usability and convenience.If for some people cloth diapers suit them so does disposable diaper to the other gang. As far as the environment is concerned, all of us need to be responsible for our acts and act more responsible and contribute to protecting the earth. As I mentioned earlier, with new inventions there is no escape to using things that are so convenient to us.
Excellent Article!
I’m so tired of hearing so-called “research” into why it’s somehow okay to wrap our babies’ bottoms in chemically treated paper, wrapped in plastic, have them pee in it, and then toss it into a landfill.
Yes, laundering diapers uses water, but water is a very renewable resource. By these’s peoples’ logic, we all ought be wearing disposable clothes, and eating off of paper plates with plastic forks!
I’m doing a study on what kinds of diapers people use and why. I would love to hear your opinions. You can take my survey by following this link:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=cjVCME83a3hKZ1Vzb0t0VENSQVRjLUE6MA..
It never fails to amaze me that people actually argue the benefits of a disposable diaper. Seriously?! Sure laundry uses water and energy but think clearly here. As an adult would you walk around w/ underwear full of chemicals? I don’t think so. I cloth diaper for environmental reasons too but it would hurt me to put one of those things on my baby.
Though I haven’t done the reseach, I have a hard time believing that generating cloth diapers vs disposable uses the same amount of renewable resources. Especially since I bet you disposables are made over-seas! Let’s also just think about how many disposable diapers 1 child would place in a land fill versus how many cloth diapers if they were pitched at the end of that childs diapering stage. Even if you didn’t use One-Size it doesn’t even come close.
This is making me think of the new campaign against reusable shopping bags. Sigh…
As a cloth diapering momma of two I am very sad that the media uses “research” to “prove” that disposable diapering is environmentally equal to cloth diapering. Let’s all support each others decisions in what is best for our families and the environment. Shame on the media for trivializing the diapering decision.
Oh and one more thing to add, I may use a bit more water by washing a load of diapers every 5 days, BUT since having kids my time to shower has been significantly reduced. My meaning being there are lots of ways to cut down on water/electrical usage, but a diaper in the landfill is forever (or around 500 years I hear). It seems like the families using the cloth diapers are already conscious of their other environmental impacts and in the end could be using LESS resources even with the diaper laundering.
Keep up the Cloth diapering ladies, we can change the world!!
And on what we shall stop?
I have used cloth diapers part time with my first two children.
When we wash our diapers we use a small load setting in an HE washer and cold water. We line dry half the year. I feel much better when my children are running around in their cloth. I haven’t done any studies but I believe we are treating the earth better when we use the cloth. Our energy bill hasn’t gone up. Neither has our water bill. That makes me think we are not using any extra resources. I was already washing my luna pads, now we just add the diapers and cloth wipes.
Now we have new baby boy twins. We have been using disposable for the first week of their life. The amount of money we have spent so far is outrageous. Now my husband is on board with cloth diapers. We are buying some one sized AIO diapers, and I finally get my toilet sprayer wand and diaper pail. So as soon as the diapers are here we will have three kids in cloth full time. Our bills may go up a bit but I still think our decision will be better for the earth and our pocketbooks. I give thanks to all who use cloth diapers, even if just part time. I truly believe we can make a difference.
I have to add that there is a great alternative to to either diaper, which is called elimination communication. EC is an ancitent tradition of responding to an infant’s elimination needs, using a tiolet or other receptacle to catch the waste. Babies use less diapers, and are out of them entirely far earlier than conventionally trained children. This method is gentle respectful and intuitive, and not any more work than dealing with elimination by forcing a child to use his underclothes as a toilet
I am so proud to cloth diaper my child. I can’t stand the thought of putting disposable, chemical paper on my childs rear-end. I know I have to use more water, but at least in 500 years my childs crap won’t be sitting around in a landfill.
People just spout off about anything w/out being fully informed. You did a great job disputing it & ARE obviously fully informed…LOL… GREAT JOB!!!!
Thank you for your clear and reasoned discussion. I truly hope that we can get some good research soon. Using cloth diapers has not raised our utility bills significantly and we save money every week. We are not enshrining our baby’s poop in a landfill for 500 years (maybe longer, here in the desert things take forever to decompose!). Cloth is also easier for us- we have fewer leaks and we never run out of diapers. I would still cloth diaper even if it were equal to the environmental impact of disposables (which still seems inherently illogical to me). People who say they don’t use cloth because they don’t want to touch poop have obviously never had a disposable diaper blowout all the way up a babies back. I was a nanny for years and I saw that happen MANY times. We have never, ever had a blowout with cloth.
Frankly, I think that we all should mostly *think carefully* about what we do. Having lived in the desert, during the hottest part of the year at 123 degrees, with water rationing — chlorine free disposables are the way to go to be environmentally sound, due to water being such a scarce resource (on a super low flow toilet you can’t use the flushables. If you have good access you may be able to use biodegradable ones — however those are expensive). When its not as hot, or you are in an area less affected by water rationing, then cloth diapers, an HE washer, and line drying are definitely the most sound choices — in a dry climate most diapers will dry outside in the same amount of time as it would take in your dryer!
No one is mentioning the vast amounts of untreated sewage waste that goes into the landfill, and eventually the groundwater, with disposables. With cloth, the waste goes through the toilet and gets treated. This is HUGE!! People are *supposed* to put the waste from disposables in the toilet, but come on…how many just wrap it up and dump it in the diaper genie?
water usage (which is renewable) just can’t compare with tons and tons of waste landfilled every year!
plus, while both disposable and cloth consume energy and resources in production and transportation, with cloth, it’s a once a for all occurance, compared with constant trees destroyed, plastics made, chemicals released, and petroleum used in the creation, packaging, and transport of disposable diapers.
and the above poster is totally right to bring up the untreated human waste that gets landfilled instead of flushed–hello health hazard!
one can’t logically argue against cloth from a green perspective.