Cloth Diapers

It seems that the majority of new parents these days don't even consider cloth diapers. Although almost every product we purchase has some environmental impact, it is up to us as consumers to research and make the product choices that are less harmful. I only wish more people would do so.

"cloth is the way to go"

According to Environment Canada, in the first two years of life the average baby will require between 5000 to 7000 diaper changes. The thought of that many diapers going into a landfill and taking approximately 500 years to decompose...is frightening. Did you know that disposable diapers take 100,000 times longer to decompose than cloth diapers? (500 years for disposable, versus six months for cloth).

Environmental Impact Debate

Disposable Diapers

According to Environment Canada:

• Over 4,000,000 disposable diapers are discarded per day in Canada.
• Disposable diapers represent approximately 3 percent of the total quantity of residential waste for disposal in Canada.

Also, no one thinks about all of the trees that are chopped down and the amount of non-renewable gas that is used to make the plastic and packaging material. 

Cloth Diapers

There is also environmental concern with cloth diapers. The amount of water, energy, and detergent used when machine washing and drying cloth diapers contributes to water and air pollution. However, you can reduce your energy consumption by washing in cold water, line drying diapers, and washing diapers less frequently (every four days instead of every other day).

Founder of Cheeky Monkey, Krista Williamson says the cost to diaper an average baby with disposables is roughly $1,200 to $2,000 a year. The cost for cloth, during the same time period, is $720 to $1,200 if you wash your own diapers. (Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2008/05/16/f-consumer-disposablediapers.html)

Diaper Services

There is the issue of air pollution from washing machines and vehicles used to transport the diapers. However, there are environmental benefits. Diaper services generally consume less washing energy because they operate in bulk.

Cheerful Cheeks is a diaper service in London. It sounds as though they are committed to making a difference! Check out this information and other disposable diaper facts on their website - http://www.cheerfulcheeks.com/Earth

Cloth is the way to go. I will most likely start off with a diaper service and then move to washing my own cloth diapers, depending on how things go!