Cloth
How they are made:
Cloth covers can be made with a variety of materials, some natural, but many are synthetic. 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, 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 problems associated with it and unbleached organic cotton diapers are by far preferable. Other materials grown without pesticides and fertilizers and are available unbleached, like hemp, are also 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. One of the main benefits 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 2 1/2 year period. Cloth diaper-wearing children tend to toilet train earlier, because the cloth retains moisture, 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 All that water for washing also needs to be heated to a minimum of 140°F (60°C) requiring energy for the heating as well as for running the washing machine.
Although the increased use of disposables has meant that many diaper service companies have gone out of business there are still many operating, so the personal time spent washing can be reduced if a diaper service is used. Using a laundry service can also reduce energy and water consumption, as efficiencies of industrial machines are generally better than those at home.
Using an energy efficient washing machine and hanging diapers to dry rather than using a dryer can minimize the environmental impact. Using eco-friendly laundry soap reduces the load on water treatment facilities. Finally if you have a choice about where your energy comes from choose renewable energy sources. Many utility companies offer a ‘green’ energy option.
How they are disposed:
Disposal of cloth diapers is less of an issue than other choices, as one baby only needs 30-70 in their diaper days, using only about 30 lbs of raw cotton. Often cloth diapers can be used for subsequent children, extending their useful lifespan. 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 similarly easy disposal. Those made of synthetic fabric will of course have a greater impact on the environment, taking far longer to break down.
