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Although parents are becoming more aware of toxins in children’s products, there are still some gray product areas that leave us with big questions. As we all know, companies are looking for the most cost-effective way to produce products that everyone needs, but they don’t always prioritize the health of our precious young people. Welcome to the diaper industry.
To manufacture diapers and other similar products, companies use a surprising number of chemicals and materials that have long-term effects on children, whose health is very vulnerable during the early stages of development. It would be hard for you and me to understand, let alone understand the impact. . The same goes for knowledge about how these chemicals break down and impact our environment.
The most important questions are: What products are the most absorbent and comfortable, yet also the safest and most sustainable? There are plenty of choices that seem reliable, at least on paper. So how can parents know how to choose diapers that won’t harm their baby or the environment? It’s tough.
We decided to take a deep dive into the diaper industry and find answers for parents. Here are some basic factors to check when choosing a diaper brand.
Natural material. Many diapers claim to be made with “natural materials,” but even the best brands contain small amounts of synthetic materials such as polyethylene, polyester, and adhesives, all of which occur in nature. Difficult to replicate using only one. These vary depending on where they are placed in the diaper and what function they perform. However, the absorbent filling should always contain anything you can imagine, such as tree fluff, pine, or unbleached cotton.
Biodegradable. Diapers are a major source of waste in households with young people. While there is no such thing as a completely 100% biodegradable disposable diaper, there are diaper brands that use the term a lot. The technology to produce 100% non-toxic, biodegradable materials for the mass production of diapers has not yet caught up. However, some brands offer sustainable composting or recycling programs that recover all the recyclable material in diapers.
toxicity. Volatile organic compounds, polyacrylates, and phthalates are all chemicals you don’t want in your baby’s diapers. Many of these types of chemicals are associated with long-term exposure to harmful development, changes in the immune system, and even future hormonal disorders. To find diapers that are free of these chemicals, look for certifications such as EWG Verification, TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) Seal, and Oeko-TEX Standard 100 Certification. These certifications were developed by non-profit organizations dedicated to ensuring that products are what they say they are.
Sustainable sourcing. If a diaper manufacturer made diapers from an endangered pine tree, would you still use them at home? Neither do we. That’s why it’s important to make sure you’re buying your diapers from brands that use ethical sourcing for their products, rather than further contributing to deforestation and biodiversity loss. A great way to find out if a company is responsible for its procurement is to look for its SFI certification. This means the company is participating in sustainable forestry initiatives.
Reusable diapers. Sustainable and Non-Toxic Some companies in the diaper industry are leveraging an even more sustainable option: reusable diapers. This is good news for those who want to avoid plastics and other manufacturing chemicals completely. Instead of buying diapers that are partially biodegradable and contain plastic, you can go completely plastic-free with organic and sustainable cloth diapers. Brands such as Dyper make reusable diapers alongside semi-compostable diapers.
Most of the brands on grocery store shelves that claim to be “natural,” “biodegradable,” or even “100% non-toxic” are probably using marketing loopholes to lie, right? Is it? Unfortunately, many “natural” supermarket brands still contain chlorine, phthalates, latex, parabens, and more. Bad news for those of us who grab anything on sale.
Luckily, there are some brands that are getting (most of) their advertising results without breaking the bank. Based on our research, here are some of the brands we trust the most.
Dyper’s website has a complete list of raw materials used to make its diapers. The brand makes its diapers from plant-based products like bamboo and is free of fragrance, chlorine, phthalates, latex, PVC, and TBT. Its diapers are Oeko-TEX 100 certified and 61% biodegradable (the highest level of biodegradability for diapers). You can also find information about carbon offsets and Dyper’s commitment to carbon neutrality.
Dyper offers subscription or one-time purchases in a variety of sizes, and offers bi-weekly pickup services for used diapers and wipes in some areas. Daiper representatives say the company partners with local composting facilities to compost materials that can decompose within 14 to 16 weeks, and the rest is removed from the compost and disposed of.
Healthy Baby offers EWG certified diapers made using organic cotton. Its diapers are free of parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, PEGs, propylene glycol, and sulfates. Notably, these diapers are made from wood pulp and organic cotton, but the leg cuffs still contain resilient polyurethane. Healthy Baby has a wide range of diapers for every stage of development, but we also carry non-toxic replacement products in refillable containers. This brand’s wipes come in biodegradable cardboard packaging and are ready to use once you add water.
He created the list using ingredients that you and I are familiar with: sugarcane and cornstarch. The diapers are Oeko-TEX 100 certified and made using certified organic cotton. The Kudos website details all the ingredients in the diapers, so you don’t have to worry if your child has allergies. Like other brands, Kudos diapers are free of fragrance, chlorine, and phthalates, but the brand does allow the use of polypropylene and polyester in the closure components, and Kudos uses both , says they plan to replace it with more sustainable, non-toxic technology as soon as it becomes available. Go to market.
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