Why Switch To Biodegradable Diapers?

If you are a new parent that values the state of our environment, you will want to seriously consider using biodegradable diapers in place of the typical disposable ones. While not a magical solution to all world environmental issues, biodegradable diapers can help significantly reduce the impact that each baby’s bottom has on landfill sites.

Did you know that the average baby and toddler will use approximately 5000 diapers before they are fully potty trained? When you combine this staggering statistic with the fact that most popular brand name diapers take an estimated 300 years to fully decompose within a landfill, you can better understand the urgent need for change.

Disposable Vs Biodegradable Diapers

Here are some interesting, and alarming facts and statistics about disposable diapers. These may very well help you decide if switching to biodegradable diapers is right for you.

• Each baby uses 5000 diapers during their lifetime
• Disposable diapers take an estimated 300 years to decompose
• Approximately 2% of all landfill content within North America is disposable diapers
• Over 82,000 tons of plastic is required each year to manufacture disposable diapers
• Biodegradable diapers use a cornstarch based compound in place of plastic and latex
• Countless trees are clear cut each year to manufacture disposable diapers
• Biodegradable diapers take less time to decompose completely

There is much debate in the “eco-friendly” world about how effective biodegradable diapers really are. While there is no doubt that they are more eco-friendly than disposable, many environmentalists are pushing towards the use of cotton cloth diapers. This original way of diapering our babies sends absolutely zero waste to our landfill sites and eliminates the risk of sensitivity issues many babies experience when using a latex product.

Cloth diapers are assumed to be not only the most eco-friendly solution when compared to disposable or biodegradable diapers, but also the most cost efficient solution. This assumption is not necessarily true. Cloth diapering your baby does have many additional hidden costs that most parents do not take into consideration prior to making their diapering decision.

For example, cloth diapers need to be washed, requiring detergent, water and electricity. One could also argue the sheer amount of time required to wash almost daily as well! For those parents who opt to use a diaper service, it may save you time, but your diapering expenses just tripled weekly, and you still need to pre-rinse those diapers first. Have you ever had to plunge a cloth diaper repeatedly in the toilet to remove soils? Trust me, it’s not pleasant!

One of the most eco-friendly and affordable alternatives I have found for the switch from disposable diapers are flushable biodegradable diapers. These diapers are actually a lining placed inside cotton pants. These breathable and absorbent linings not only prevent diaper rash, but are simply removed and flushed dwon your toilet once soiled.

An additional benefit to using this form of biodegradable diapers is that they can even be composted. It is not recommended that you compost a soiled liner, as human waste is hazardous to many plants, but those liners that contain only urine are actually beneficial to soil and compost very efficiently.

If you are interested in learning more about this form of biodegradable diapers, including their affordability, please be sure to visit gDiaper.