Nappy technology – biodegradable or washable?

Hygiene technology is changing – over time, many individuals and industries are turning to more sustainable products.

This change is in no small part to help enable us to preserve our environment for generations to come, making it a bit ironic that baby products, such as nappies, are a huge contributor to the landfill!

Here at Vectair we do not sell nappies, but like to think that our convenient and hygienic Babyminder® baby changing table is a great help to parents when out and about with their youngsters and gives them a safe, convenient and hygienic place to change their baby’s nappy.

We thought that to help out a bit more, we’d explore nappy sustainability and why choosing nappies carefully is essential.

Nappy technology through history

For generations, babies wore washable nappies. Even before mass production of terrycloth and similar cloth nappies in the 19^th Century, washable material versions were considered essential by parents of all social classes. As technologies and materials progressed, rubber and plastic covers for cloth nappies were introduced to prevent leakage. Although these were heralded as advancements in baby care, some believed that they were less comfortable and safe for the infant as they were warmer and less breathable than cloth alone.

The use of materials which were not readily biodegradable was also more damaging to the environment and the introduction of disposable nappies in the 1930s exacerbated this problem.

Disposable nappies originally consisted of plastic ‘pants’ with disposable linings, but as time progressed and demand boomed, entirely disposable versions were introduced to the market. Still widely used today, disposable nappies are considered to be detrimental to the environment, using vast swathes of landfill space and emitting harmful greenhouse gases. In addition, conflicting scientific opinion has parents concerned that disposables may even harm babies, with some believing that the heat they retain potentially reduces the future sperm count of boys.

For these reasons and more, there is has been a bit of an about-turn in nappy purchasing, with parents opting once again for cloth nappies or choosing eco-friendly disposables. As we specialise in sustainability in hygiene, we thought we’d explore the pros and cons of these options.

Reusable nappies

Several types of reusable nappy exist today and traditional terry cloth options are still available, albeit with some adjustments (they come in various colours and dangerous looking pins have been replaced with plastic grips). Many parents choose to buy reusable, washable waterproof covers for such nappies, although these do need replacing as baby grows, which adds to cost both financially and in terms of environmental waste. Having said this, cloth nappies (even with covers) do not produce anywhere near the amount of waste or cost nearly as much as conventional modern disposables, so parents using them vastly reduce their landfill ‘footprint’ and nappy budget.

Of course, when using cloth nappies, wastage is not the only ‘green’ issue to consider – washing nappies on a high heat uses a lot of energy, although there are various techniques which parents can use to reduce this.  As with anything, buyers need to consider pros and cons of cloth nappies, especially as there are other reusable options available, many in the form of fitted ‘pants’ with readily biodegradable liners which can be flushed down the toilet.

Semi-biodegradable nappies

Numerous brands of semi-biodegradable disposable nappies are available to the modern consumer and these are a popular choice for those wanting to be environmentally friendly but who are uncertain about reusables. These options vary but have their advantages – whilst terry and other cloth nappies are made from cotton – an environmentally taxing crop which requires the use of pesticides and a lot of processing – eco nappies are often made of materials from sustainable, fast-growing crops.

Like regular disposables, eco versions are sent to landfill, where they can contribute to waste volume. However, they take less time to decompose (approximately 50 years compared to 200 years) and release less toxic compounds into the environment. Like any disposable, these nappies are costly over time, so parents thinking of using them will need to do some sums to decide whether they are the right option.

New information about the costs and benefits of different nappies comes out all the time and new innovations in materials, manufacture and design should ensure that future nappies continue to improve in terms of sustainability.

In the meantime, most parents are hoping to find a middle ground between cost, convenience and environmental responsibility – usually, this means using reusable nappies where possible, but disposables when the pressures of modern life make this the most practical option.