GoodGuide Tips for Buying Diapers

The Issues

The question comes up frequently: Which is better disposable or reusable cloth diapers? The impacts of diapers, which come from manufacturing, consumer use and disposal, vary significantly depending on whether the product is reusable or disposable. The most important impacts include:

• Water pollution and consumption from manufacturing disposable diapers or growing cotton for reusable cloth diapers.


• Water and energy consumption at home or in a commercial laundry to wash reusable diapers.


• Solid waste from manufacturing and landfill disposal of disposable diapers.

What to Look For

Here are a few things to look for as you're shopping for diapers:

• Organic cloth reusable diapers or diapers with flushable inserts.


• Disposables generate more landfilled waste, but cloth diapers consume more water. If you live where fresh water is limited, disposables better preserve regional water resources.


• On balance, both disposable diapers or reusable cloth (either home or commercially laundered) are acceptable alternatives.

GoodGuide Recommendations

Since most diapers have a similar environmental and health profile, select diapers that will work for you and your baby. Maintaining hygiene is the most important health consideration. For home laundered cloth diapers, reduce your impact by rewashing in efficient washing machines with recommended detergent, cold or warm water, and air dry for the smallest environmental footprint. For disposable diapers, select a flushable version to avoid the solid waste impacts of adding diapers to municipal waste streams.

More GoodGuide information on diapers coming soon!