Use biodegradable diapers
Why This is Green
The biodegradable diaper is an elusive thing. It’s not that some diapers marketed as eco-friendly aren’t made of biodegradable materials—they are. But most of these are only 70 percent or so biodegradable. Here’s the tricky part: for biodegradable items to actually break down in landfills, they need access to a combination of air, water, light, microbes, and enzymes. Overcrowded landfills are too tightly packed to offer this access and so biodegradable items don’t actually biodegrade.
That said there are hybrid diapers on the market that can be considered truly biodegradable—a reusable exterior (usually a cloth/plastic blend) and a biodegradable liner. Cloth diaper devotees will be familiar with these; the covers can be used with cloth inserts as well. When you crunch the numbers these hybrids can wind up looking like the greenest option available in the Great Cloth Vs. Disposable Diaper Debate. What you do with the liner can increase its biodegradability. If your system can handle it, flushing the liner the way to go. Composting (pee only!) and landfill are second best. An insert is a considerably smaller thing to send to a landfill than an entire diaper.
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How To
gDiapers makes the only certified 100 percent biodegradable inserts currently available. They’re Cradle to Cradle certified—an eco-label that assesses a product's safety to humans and the environment and design for future life. Purchase them at natural product stores, some Whole Foods, and online.
An auto order service will ensure you don’t run out of inserts—never a good thing.
