When you’re shopping for diapers, we recommend looking for products that are free of phthalates, chlorine bleach, and synthetic fragrances. Our favorite diapers are certified by SFI and/or FSC, which both indicate that the brand is taking extra steps to protect forests when sourcing pulp for diapers.

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Ingredients & Materials

Sodium Polyacrylate

Sodium Polyacrylate is a super-absorbent polymer, often used in the inner lining of diapers, increasing their capacity to retain liquid. The waterproof outer layer or “backsheet” of the diaper is made of polyethylene. Creating that layer for just one disposable diaper uses 1 cup of crude oil. All the diapers just one baby uses before being toilet trained require almost 405,239 gallons of crude oil. Yikes. Crude oil (i.e. fossil fuel) processing is associated with waste and emissions, which can negatively impact water and air quality. 

Wood Pulp

Disposable diapers often contain a small amount of wood pulp to help absorb liquids. Wood pulp – often referred to as “fluff” – can retain up to 10 times its weight in fluids. That’s a whole lot of something being absorbed in these diapers! The not-so-good? The amount of fluff required to keep one baby in disposables for one year is between 400-800 lbs. This has significant land use and biodiversity implications. While pulp products are considered renewable, we also have to remember that our forests are fragile and are typically depleted faster than they are replenished. That’s why it’s super important to look for certifications that indicate sustainably sourced pulp.

Phthalates

Synthetic phthalates are sometimes added to soften the plastics used to create diapers.  Phthalates are absorbed by the skin and since they belong to the family of endocrine disruptors –  i.e. things that mess with our hormones – they can cause developmental hurdles over time. Studies have found that prenatal exposure to phthalates can decrease mental and motor development in children, too, which is not what we’re looking for in our nappies.

Chlorine Bleach

Remember that wood pulp we mentioned? Well, that pulp is bleached and fluffed to give it that soft white look. Using chlorine bleach creates dioxins (a highly toxic pollutant that also screws with our hormones and immune systems) and other byproducts that are incredibly dangerous for human health. During manufacturing, chlorine can make its way to waterways, impacting the health of local ecosystems and aquatic life, which often means dioxins can show up and remain in the animal and human food chains for years.

Synthetic Fragrances

Because fragrances are often proprietary, they’re not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Meaning, ingredients can be labeled as “fragrance” on diaper packaging with no indication of what they contain. Fragrances can contain irritants and phthalates, which as we know, are things we want to stay away from. Whether the doses of phthalates in fragrances can cause endocrine disruption is still being researched, so for the safest alternative, we suggest going fragrance-free and keeping an eye out for phthalates. And let’s be real, diapers only smell clean for a short time!

Certifications

Here are some certifications to look for when shopping this category.