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How do you know if you are using
Green Diapers?
That
is an excellent question! There are numerous products which tout a
"green" or "eco friendly" label. We will try and give you sound,
balanced information on what makes a diaper eco friendly.
According to Wikipedia:
"Green"
brands are those brands that consumers associate with environmental conservation
and sustainable business practices.
Such
brands appeal to consumers who are becoming more aware of the need to
protect the environment. A green brand can add
a unique selling point to a product and can
boost corporate
image.
However, if a company is
found or perceived to overstate its green practices its green brand may
be criticised as greenwash.
How
do diapers claim a "green" label?
When
it comes to eco friendly disposable
diapers;
these have parts of the diaper constructed from biodegradable
materials. These will take less time to decompose in a landfill.
Although they may still contain some plastics which are not "green",
they will decompose more rapidly and have less of an environmental
impact than standard disposable diapers.
With
regards to flushable diapers; they have an
absorbent liner which you can flush down your toilet or throw away in
the garbage. This liner is completely biodegradable and the wet ones
can be composted. A reusable outer shell, made of cotton, wool or
bamboo, comfortably holds the liner in place.
There
is much debate about whether reusable diapers are better for the
environment than disposables. Although reusable diapers require a lot
of water, detergents and power for cleaning they do not sit in
landfills for 400 years emitting methane gases. If your local community
has good water supply and water use is (fortunately) less of a concern,
we highly recommend reusable diapers. If you live in an area which is a
little "parched" or arid, extra water use may be something you want to
avoid.
For more information
on the debate regarding disposable and reusable diapers, please see
these links:
http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Diaper-Not-Clear.htm
http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/49/1/
Carbon-balanced-baby.org
believes mothers should balance their baby's diaper use by using a
combination of eco friendly disposable, flushable and reusable diapers
to balance their impact on the environment. Local and
seasonal
considerations should also be made with regards to water supply and
local landfill technology.
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