Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Cloth vs. Disposables

CBC News - Health - Disposable diapers: Are they dangerous?

Oh the great debate continues! Pampers actually had a whole section on their webpage recently telling people why cloth is bad! I have always said that I don't judge people who choose to use disposables, but to outright say that cloth is bad? Come on, Pampers! We will not ever be buying Pampers if we need disposables in the future. Here are the "Myths & Facts"  that were formerly on the Pampers website:
Myth: Cloth diapers are better for the environment than disposables.
Fact: In October 2008, the United Kingdom's Environment Agency published an update to its 2005 Life Cycle Assessment study on cloth versus disposable diapers. The update confirmed the earlier study's findings that there is no clear winner in terms of environmental impacts between disposable and cloth diapers in the U.K., once all factors such as water, energy, detergent, and disposal are considered.
Myth: Developing countries prove that cloth diapers are better than disposable diapers.
Fact: Our product provides key benefits in terms of skin health, dryness, and even sleep. In China, for example, we've learned that babies and parents are frequently awakened during the night each time the baby soaks the bed, because the baby has no diaper or a very thin piece of cloth. As a result, studies have shown that a disposable diaper can help a baby there get a better night's sleep. In another test, we have also seen less fecal contamination spread around the home using disposables versus cloth or nothing.
Myth: Disposable diapers are harmful to the environment.
Fact: All of the component materials in Pampers diapers are gentle to consumers and safe for the environment. Pampers diapers are made of materials that are also frequently used in a wide range of other consumer products. We are committed to continuing to reduce our environmental impact. For example, Pampers has decreased its diaper weight by one-third and packaging weight by two-thirds. And innovative technologies, raw materials, and product design improvements have led to significant reductions in energy, water use, emissions, and waste at our plants. We are working so that our diapers in the future will have less impact on the environment than even today's diapers.

Myth: The materials that make up Pampers diapers are depleting our forests.
Fact: The pulp used in our diapers comes from well-managed forests in North America. In some cases, we source our pulp from scrap wood chips from lumber and saw mills. Our pulp suppliers are required to be certified by an independent third party as practicing sustainable forestry. Certification includes standards and criteria for replanting trees, protecting biodiversity, water, air and soil, and for obtaining broad stakeholder input into the forest management plan."
 And here is a response from a fellow cloth diapering mama, at Jennifer's Loads of Joy:
Myth: Cloth diapers are better for my baby.
Truth: Cloth diapers are better for my baby because when she was 4 months old, she developed a "chemical burn" type diaper rash (3rd degree) and we tried 8 different brands of disposables with no relief. The only relief she got was when we put her in cloth diapers. The "burn" diaper rash took over 3 weeks to heal completely.
Myth: Cloth diapers are better for the environment than disposables.
Truth: Cloth diapers are better for the environment. There is a chemical in some disposable diapers that firemen use as a fire retardant. The chemicals used in tampons that caused toxic shock syndrome (tss) have also been found in disposable diapers. So not only are the chemicals in disposable diapers not good for the environment, do you really want these chemicals close to your baby's skin?
Myth: Developing countries prove that cloth diapers are better than disposable diapers.
Truth: This is truth - most developing countries don't have the money to throw away on disposable diapering. Our country knew this just 2 - 3 generations ago. I think that cloth diapers are better than disposables in an established country or a developing one. When you buy disposable diapers, just as my husband has said, you might as well just be throwing your money away. For $200 you can have all the cloth diapers you will actually need to diaper your baby from birth through potty training. And you can use these diapers again on a 2nd or 3rd baby. How much money will be gone after buying disposable diapers for 3 babies?
Myth: Disposable diapers are harmful to the environment.
Truth: As above, disposable diapers are harmful to the environment. Another article can be found here on the trash that disposable diapers cause.
Myth: The materials that make up Pampers diapers are depleting our forests.
Truth: You know, I don't know - and I don't care at this point - it is the chemicals that is making my blood boil and that Pampers is attacking cloth diapering because they were attacked by a group of concerned parents. It almost sounds like they are bullies. You remember the bully in your school? Once you attacked them, they just threw something back, it usually didn't make any sense, but they did it.
So, there is my list of "myths and truths" and I am proud to be a part of this blogging carnival on real sustainable diapers. I think everyone should cloth diaper - after all 50 years ago, that's all there was!
There will be a debate about this forever. I'm not saying I agree or disagree with all this stuff, and I didn't blog about it to cause arguments or fights between me and my disposable using family and friends, but I was quite irked with Pampers and had to blog about it!

5 comments:

  1. i don't know where they get off saying that disposables are better for the environment. over 50% of our landfill waste is diapers!!! how is that better than a teaspoon or two of detergent? i haven't used pampers since luke was in the swaddler stage - but i definately will never buy them for him or any other baby i have.

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  2. I bought cloth orignally for enviromental reasons. Now I use them to save money. We are now saving about $30 a week I figure, however I spent a pretty penny on the diapers to begin with. Worth it though I love them. I use kushies ultra. Cloth has come a long way since our parents used them. People don't know jus thow great they are now. No pins, no blowouts and adding flushable liners its a piece of cake! Good for you Sarah!

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  3. The cloth diapers are fabulous now! Even when Sarah was a baby, I used terry no-folds, and they were pretty "posh" in the day. So much softer, and comfy than pampers!

    I want fuzzibums when I'm in Salem Manor! No Depends for me, Sarah!!

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  4. I've taken the plunge and bought 12 One size FuzziBunz for now. I may want to try Bum Genius too but I think we will wait until baby comes so I don't have to pick just neutral colors.

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  5. Oh yay, Binzer! How exciting for you! I think you'll just love them! Yes, it's very fun to pick cute boy/girl colors. The new colors are fabulous!

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