The Top 7 Best Biodegradable Diapers Reviewed in 2020

Are Diapers Biodegradable? Here Are the Most Sustainable Diaper Options

If you are the parent of a child then, you probably have a lot on your mind. One of these things is probably changing the doctors and the other is probably spending the money on them, and as a result, the amount of deputy he sends to earth. (And also sleep, remember to sleep).

Most babies wear between 2,500 and 3,000 disposable diapers in their first year of life, and continue to require diapers until they are trained to go to the bathroom, at a total cost of between $ 1,500 to $ 2,000 per diaper for a baby, in average. Not to mention that disposable diapers account for 2 percent of waste from US landfills. USA That is a lot of cash and garbage.

For these reasons, many modern parents wonder if single-use diapers are biodegradable and what are the most sustainable options for changing a baby’s diaper. Read on for all you need to know about how diapers should be thrown away, what biodegradable diapers alternatives exist, and more.

Are Diapers Biodegradable?

Unfortunately, conventional single-use diapers are not biodegradable. When something is biodegradable, that means it is made from nature and is capable of naturally decomposing and turning back to earth. Single-use diapers are generally made from a variety of plastic-based ingredients, and the plastic is not biodegradable. AAccording to the official SmartLabel for Pampers Swaddlers, Newborn Diapers are components of popular diapers: polypropylene / polyethylene, polyacrylate polymer, feather pulp (derived from wood), polyester, thermoplastic polymers, petrolatum, stearyl alcohol, leaf extract. aloe barbadensis and fragrance – and many of those ingredients are derived from petroleum.

How Long Do Diapers Take to Decompose?

Disposable diapers take an estimated 500 years to decompose in a landfill. And considering the fact that disposable diapers only hit the mass market in 1948, according to Mother Jones, not enough time has passed to know exactly how long diapers (and other plastic products) actually take to decompose.

Best Biodegradable Diapers in 2020 [Gentle & Natural]

Traditional disposable diapers can take over 500 YEARS to decompose.

And in addition to containing plastics and petroleum products that never decompose, there are also artificial fragrances and moisture-wicking chemicals that, ironically, are known to cause rashes on little homeless people.

So we set off in search of some hypoallergenic and biodegradable disposable diapers, to soothe their aching and aching environmental hearts (Go ahead! The planet needs us more than ever).

If you’re ready to make a change for the better, check out the Top 10 Biodegradable Wipes.

But Do I Really Need Biodegradable Diapers?

If you signed up for best biodegradable diapers and had to (inevitably) turn down the Pampers, you probably had a lot of skeptics saying you were just being picky. Or like us, some friends referred to you as the “crispy” parents.

Or what about all this spiel: “In my day we used these biodegradable diapers and we were fine!”

Ok, lovely. Isn’t that your favorite storyline EVER?

But the bottom line is, the more people you talked to, the more you realized that babies who wear conventional diapers ALWAYS seem brash, and those who haven’t changed long ago to something chlorine-free and earth-friendly .

From what we see, you are saving yourself a step here because these diapers are not incredibly expensive as a result, they are pretty good at what they do and they are much easier on baby’s skin as well as being much lighter in landfills.

The Top 7 Best Biodegradable Diapers

#1. Eco by Naty Biodegradable Diapers

Naty diapers allow you to be ecological without losing performance. The Swedish company was started by a Marlene Sandberg who cared about all the diapers that clogged landfills and leaked toxic chemicals back to the ground. He decided to create an ecological diaper that does not affect quality and green.

Naty diapers are also super absorbent. Its core is made of 100% Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood pulp and the leak protector is made of 80% bio-based material. These biodegradable diapers help absorb and retain liquids. In my experience, these biodegradable diapers contain everything and prevent blowouts, and saved me from disaster on a memorable trip to the store with my baby.

In addition, Naty diapers are EcoCert (95% or more plant-based materials), labeled “Good for the Surrounding” by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, and pass the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 test which designates them free from over 100 undesirables. substances.

#2. Earth’s Best Chlorine-Free Diapers

These biodegradable diapers are some of the cheapest and greenest diapers you can buy at around $ 0.26 / diaper. Made from corn and wheat starch, these biodegradable diapers do not contain chlorine (irritating to mega skin) and do not contain 100% latex, dyes and fragrances. This is BIG to wear at night and get wet a lot, and it has a great fit around the leg.

#3. Broody Chick Eco-Natural Biodegradable Diapers

Okay, I’ll just say: The price of these biodegradable diapers is definitely more than the average diaper. At $ 0.56 / diaper, a 32-pack will cost you around $ 20. Yowza

However, these biodegradable diapers are easily the greenest diapers I’ve ever seen. 100% biodegradable and WITHOUT petroleum-based products, these biodegradable diapers are super hypoallergenic and gentle on the planet, and actually quite decent for catching droppings (SCORE) too.

#4. Honest Biodegradable Diapers

This is a good and reasonably priced biodegradable diaper (at $ 0.35 / diaper) that fits really well and comes in TONS of adorable prints and patterns. Honest diapers are also made from wheat and corn materials. However, they are not 100% biodegradable due to spandex and the petrochemicals used in them, and many parents report problems with leaking stool. Yikes

#5. Babyganics Ultra Absorbent Biodegradable Diapers

Babyganics Ultra Absorbent Diapers

Price: 5 out of 5 stars (5.0 / 5)
Environmental impact: 1 out of 5 stars (1.0 / 5)
Function: 2 out of 5 stars (2.0 / 5)
Average: 2.7 out of 5 stars (2.7 / 5)

I wanted to love these babyganics diapers 1,000% because These biodegradable diapers are so stinky affordable at $ 0.25 / diaper. Although they are SUPER soft and fit pretty well, they are also notorious for leaks and blowouts, and I was a little scared by the little information available about what was really in them.

“Plant-based materials”, whatever that means.

#6. Bambo Nature Premium Baby Biodegradable Diapers

One of the original brands of biodegradable disposable diapers, Bambo Nature produces diapers that alleviate parents’ environmental concerns while protecting their children’s sensitive skin. These biodegradable diapers diapers are safe and effective; free of chemicals and dyes, but also absorbent and leak-free. The wood used for pulp is derived from sustainable forestry, where more trees are planted than felled; and the waste from baby diaper production (including dust and plant dust) is filtered, collected and sold for later use.

Bambo Nature biodegradable diapers are FANTASTIC for babies with sensitive skin. These biodegradable diapers contain no fragrance or latex, although the packaging does not specify whether they use chlorine (something I am particularly special about). These biodegradable diapers diapers are made from wheat starch and are SUPER soft, but they cost quite a bit at $ 0.47 / diaper.

#7. Seventh Generation Free and Clear Biodegradable Diapers

Okay, so I’m going to live up to you here: These biodegradable diapers have a green leaf and that makes them much greener than a pack of Pampers Swaddlers. It’s the type of diaper you love before scratching the surface. They’re $ 0.35 / diaper, so it’s pretty reasonable, and the core is chlorine and fragrance free.

That said, biodegradable diapers diapers are known for throwing gel pearls all over your baby’s butt, they drip like CRAZY, and they’re still crazy, rough, and rough, despite being very, uh, inorganic.

Are Biodegradable Diapers Better for the Environment?

A popular alternative to conventional single-use diapers are biodegradable or compostable single-use diapers. In general, diapers marketed as biodegradable (or compostable) tend to use more sustainable materials and production methods than normal diapers, making them slightly more environmentally friendly. But if they aren't actually sent to a composting facility, then their impact is only slightly better than normal diapers.

When companies put words like "clean" and "green" and "nature" and "green" in their diaper packaging, they indicate that the product is sustainable and good for the planet. But in reality, most single-use diapers contain plastic, which means they will end up in the same place as the average Huggies - the landfill.

The biodegradable world is very shaken when talking about organic diapers. Some websites even offer lists that review "biodegradable" diapers, when, in fact, many of the options on the list aren't even marketed as biodegradable, but their packaging only gives off an eco-friendly vibe. For example, lists of "biodegradable" diaper companies often include Hello Bello, Seventh Generation, the Honest Company. This helps consumers feel like those diapers will break in the landfill, when in fact all of these diapers use plastic and won't break for hundreds of years.

That said, some of these companies take additional steps to make their diapers a little less terrible for Earth before they hit the landfill; for example, by using some biodegradable materials, sustainably harvested wood pulp and maintained free from chlorine and fragrances.

All this raises the question of whether any single-use diapers are really compostable.

Can You Compost Biodegradable Diapers?

Most diapers marketed as biodegradable or organic cannot be composted, as they include various synthetic components. However, there are some single-use diapers on the market that can be composted, typically only in commercial or industrial compost environments, and not in home or backyard compost bins.

For example, the New York-based diaper service Nature’s Premiere offers a compostable diaper service, where parents can choose from three brands of single-use compostable diapers. After using the diapers, parents can seal the used diapers and leave them outside for collection. An employee will collect them and take them to a biosolids composting facility. In a few months, diapers become compost. This helps keep thousands of diapers from the landfill.

However, Nature's Premiere explains that the diapers from those three companies are actually not 100% compostable: They are approximately 85 to 90% compostable, because the tabs and elastic leg gussets are still made of plastic and need to be removed before composting. . Nevertheless, the use of compostable diapers (if you have access to them) is more sustainable than the use of disposable plastic diapers.