Environmentally-friendly Nappy: Cloth Diaper Or Disposable Diaper

Since time immemorial, parents have only two choices on diapers. These are disposable diapers and cloth diapers. From the development of disposable diapers in 1970s, disposable diapers overtook cloth diapers accounting 90% of the diaper market.

In view of this, our landfills have been congested with these diapers; thus, constituting a negative impact to the environment as well as the ecosystem. Approximately 3 to 4 million tons of diaper wastes are generated each year. At present, few of diaper manufacturers have been marketing environmentally-friendly nappies in the form of hybrid diapers.

This is an amalgam of cloth diaper and disposable diaper. Meanwhile, let us weigh disposable diapers and cloth diapers in as much as health and environment are concerns. Disposable Diapers The debate still continues on which between cloth and disposable diapers is an environmentally-friendly nappy. Disposable diaper is far from being environmentally-friendly nappy as this type of diaper is disposable, and therefore, to be thrown away after a single use. However, parents can lessen the blow of disposable diapers to the environment by knowing how to deal them properly.

To dispose these diapers, scrape the matter (feces, dried urine) into the toilet and throw the diaper in the trash. Most of the parents do not know this; to a degree, disposable diapers end up in our landfills, contaminating our water as they leach in the ground. Cloth Diapers Cloth diapers have improved significantly through years. From using pins and clips, now, they make use of Velcro straps.

Unknowingly, cloth diapers too have an environmental impact. Most cloth diapers are made of industrial cotton. Besides diapers, industrialized cotton has been widely utilized in many products. Industrialized cotton is a processed material. They have been treated with pesticides and other artificial chemicals. Nonetheless, cloth diapers are definitely washable and reusable. The only downside of cloth diapers, relating to its impact to the environment is the frequent washing that wastes the water supply.

Conclusion An environmentally-friendly nappy is the one that is made up from hems and bamboo fibers. However, diapers made from these materials are highly-priced. Diapers made from hemp and bamboo material are claimed to be healthy and breathable to the babys skin. They have better absorption capacity and antibacterial properties. From the above discussion, both cloth and disposable diapers bring detrimental effects to the environment and ecosystem; although, it shows that cloth diapers contribute lesser problem.

If you are a green parent and concerns about the effects of diaper wastes that engender human and the environment, you may consider buying a bamboo or hemp fiber-made diapers. At any rate, money can be gained back but the damage to the environment is barely irreversible.