The Organic Diaper

Organic Disposable Diaper Facts

The makers of these new biodegradable disposable diapers are on the right track, but how much of an environmental impact can they actually make? Disposable diapers, no matter how organic they may be, still end up in landfills. Landfills don’t separate biodegradable waste from the rest, so they end up mixed up with everything else, filling the garbage dumps and not decomposing properly. Landfills are not compost facilities; to properly break down the diapers they need to be taken somewhere that would compost them effectively.

There are facilities that use vermicomposting, which is the consumption of organic materials by earthworms. Vermicomposting can be done at home although some companies don’t recommend it.

Environmental Diaper Choice

Are these diapers worth it? Biodegradable disposable diapers are more expensive than conventional disposables, so if looking to save money, cloth diapers would be a more viable option. For those looking for a fast, environmentally sound option, the new biodegradable diapers may be worth looking into.

By nature, disposable diapers are thrown away. Even using the biodegradable ones, more diapers ending up in the landfills is inevitable. To determine their real environmental impact, how they are manufactured has to be evaluated. Buying from companies making them from recycled or post-consumer materials is best. Looking at how they are made, knowing if they use less water and if they employ more energy efficient methods will help to make a more informed decision.

Even though the manufacturers of this new trend in diapering may not be all they claim to be, they are on the right track to creating environmentally sound disposable diapers. It’s a new option to keep in mind when making the diaper decision.