The greening of baby diapers has not yet translated to adult diapers, although longer-lasting brands available online cut down on the volume of trash (see Caring.com/articles/adult- diapers-waste). Japan’s answer is to convert used adult diapers into an alternative heating fuel.


The toxic stew smoldering under-


ground isn’t the only uncomfortable problem—the Green Guide notes that aboveground, animal studies have linked emissions from disposable diapers’ fragrances and plastics with infant respiratory problems and symp- toms of asthma. The biocide tributyltin, which can be absorbed through the skin and lead to immune system dam- age and disrupted hormone function, has been detected in disposables, and diapers are not routinely tested for the substance. Most disposable diapers also


contain polyacrylate crystals, or super absorbent polymers (SAP), that absorb up to 800 times their weight in liquid, turning into gel when wet and keep- ing baby dry and protected from diaper rash. If the diaper breaks open, though, the gel may end up on skin or in baby’s mouth, leading to skin or gastrointestinal irritation. Plus, because SAP allows dia- pers to retain lots of liquid while keeping baby’s bottom dry, the child may have a harder time recognizing when he or she is wet, and thus take longer to potty train than an infant wearing cloth.


Newest Innovations


New hybrid diapers now feature cloth outer pants that are free of latex, chlo- rine and fragrance, and smaller, dispos- able inserts made of absorbent wood pulp and polyacrylate (still a potential concern). The inserts can absorb up to 100 times their weight in liquid. Because they don’t contain plastic, many can be composted, thrown in the


natural awakenings August 2010 43


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• AllAboutClothDiapers.com • ClothDiaperBlog.com • ClothDiapersMadeSimple.com • DiaperJungle.com • DiaperService.RealDiaperIndustry.org • GreenBabyGuide.com • RealDiaperAssociation.org • SDDiaperService.com


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trash or even flushed, although not in septic systems. Hybrids can be useful for traveling and are accepted at some day care centers that don’t have the resources to deal with cloth diapers. Companies that sell cloth diapers


have reported sales increases of 25 to 50 percent over the past few years as eco-savvy parents convert from dispos- ables. These new green moms and dads are determined to ensure an Earth- and baby-friendly “bottom” line.


Barb Amrhein is an editor with Natural Awakenings.


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