Cloth.
How are they made? Cloth covers can be made with a variety of materials, some natural like wool or hemp, but most are synthetic, like PVC. A baby will probably need about 25-30 covers over the course of their diapering period, some of which can be used on subsequent children. In addition to the covers, most parents will own between 30-70 actual cloth diapers. The environmental cost of producing these diapers and covers depends on the materials and production methods used.
The cloth diapers themselves are most commonly made of industrial cotton, the most heavily subsidized crop in the world, which is grown in conjunction with the heavy use of artificial fertilizers and pesticides. In fact cotton production is responsible for 10% of pesticides (25% in the US) and 25% of herbicides used worldwide.1 There is also increased use of genetically modified cotton.2 Cotton is a thirsty crop and requires large amounts of water compared to other crops. All of this is bad news in terms of environmental burden.
Cotton is also usually bleached white. Bleaching has many environmental and health problems associated with it so thankfully unbleached organic cotton cloth diapers are becoming more available. Other unbleached materials grown without artificial pesticides and fertilizers, like hemp, are also becoming more readily available but, like organically grown cotton, are considerably more expensive.
How they are used.
Cloth diaper-wearing babies go through about 6,000 diaper changes. Perhaps the biggest perk of cloth diapers is that they are washable and fully reusable, so to fulfill 6,000 changes requires only 30-70 diapers over an average 2½ year period. Plus, cloth diaper-wearing children tend to toilet train earlier, because the moisture isn’t as quickly drawn away as disposables, which may annoy the child or at least provide a reminder of bodily functions.
Washing requires water, energy, laundry detergent and time. Top-loading washers may use 20,000 gallons of water in the diapering period, while front-loading machines will use considerably less at around 10,000 gallons.3 And then there’s the heat. Cloth diapers should be washed on hot (a minimum of 140°F/60°C), so that adds to the required energy needed.
Sadly, the increased use of disposables has meant that many diaper services have gone out of business, so most parents launder their cloth at home. But there are still some services operating, and some new more eco-friendly services on the rise. In addition to reducing personal time spent on laundry, a service can also reduce energy and water consumption, as efficiencies of industrial machines are generally better than those at home.
A lot of the environmental benefits of cloth come down to personal considerations. Parents can choose to pre-soak their soiled cloth or use a dry pail instead, affecting water usage. Using an energy efficient washing machine and hanging diapers to dry rather than using a dryer can minimize the environmental impact. And eco-friendly detergents reduce the load on water treatment facilities. Finally many utility companies now let you opt for renewable energy sources. An option we applaud whole-heartedly.
How they are disposed.
Disposal of cloth diapers is far less of an issue than other choices, as one baby only needs 30-70 in their diaper days, which typically uses only about 30 lbs of raw cotton. And since cloth diapers can be re-used on subsequent children parents and the earth reap the benefit of extended usage. When they do eventually reach the end of their diaper life cloth diapers are frequently used as rags. And after that they can be cut up and added to compost piles or thrown out, ending up in a landfill, and decomposing as much as the elements allow.
The 25-30 covers, if made from cotton or other natural fabrics will have a similar long lifespan and ease of disposal. Those made of synthetic fabric, like PVC, will of course have a greater impact on the environment, taking far longer to break down.
