Disposable vs cloth nappies

Everyone wants the best for their baby, but they also want to make sure they are doing the right thing for the environment.

The long running debate of cloth versus disposable nappies has now been clarified by a major two year Government sponsored and independently reviewed study in the United Kingdom.

The UK government’s Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK 1, coordinated by its Environment Agency, found “there was little or nothing to choose between them.”

This thoroughly documented study assessed a wide range of activities associated with manufacture, use and disposal of disposable and reusable nappies which can affect the environment.

The UK life cycle study, released May 2005, showed that:

  • using cloth nappies uses more water, energy and detergents
  • disposable nappies contribute more solid waste to landfill.

These results confirm the findings of five other LCA studies conducted since 1991.

Cloth has NO environmental advantage over disposables

Another independent and objective study was the Australian Consumers’ Association’s consumer study of nappy performance, which concluded:

“There’s no clear environmental advantage in using cloth nappies over disposables. Both have damaging environmental impacts.” 2

This and the other life cycle assessment studies found that nappy alternatives had similar, overall impacts on the environment. The main differences were in the type of impact which occurred at each stage of each product’s life cycle such as the use of water, energy and chemicals for washing cloth nappies.

Laundering of cloth nappies

The environmental effects of cloth nappies are often not discussed. Whether washed at home or in a commercial laundry, the environmental impacts of laundering cloth nappies need to be considered.

  • Washing and drying cloth nappies uses large amounts of energy such as gas and electricity which emit carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
  • Significant water usage (around 19 tonnes for every 1 tonne of laundry washed) is also required.
  • Chemicals used, such as pre-wash soakers and detergents, add substantial loads to waste water.

Based on these studies and conclusions, parents can now make a guilt free choice based on other important factors such as performance, cost and convenience.

Footnotes

  1. Simon Aumônier & Michael Collins, 2005. Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK, Environment Agency, Bristol, UK.
  2. Reprinted from the August 1999 edition of CHOICE – with the permission of the Australian Consumers’ Association (ACA).