There are a lot of good reasons to choose cloth diapers over disposables. One of these is making less of an impact on the environment, so it helps to know which fabrics are more "eco friendly," if that's an important factor for you.
These five fabrics are often marketed as being green. But do they measure up?
Hemp is more dense and absorbent than cotton, but is not as soft, so you often find it blended with other fabrics. Hemp leaves a small footprint since it’s easy to grow without a lot of water or chemicals. The mechanical processing of hemp is aided by natural enzymes, and the resulting fibers which make up the final product are the actual natural fibers from the plant. Hemp production is now legal in 46 US states.
Pictured: Best Bottom diaper cover with hemp insert (Nicki's Diapers)
Wool is a very unique fabric. It’s created by sheep, and that makes it very sustainable. It’s performance as a breathable, waterproof and bacterial-resistant fabric is unbeatable. But it does require special care. Check the labels and choose “organically grown” when possible, or buy re-purposed/up-cycled, handmade goods.
Bamboo is frequently marketed as a natural fiber, and it is - with some caveats. Bamboo grows as prolifically as grass, making it highly sustainable. However, the fabric that is made into cloth diapers is actually “rayon from bamboo,” because a complicated chemical process is necessary to render the rayon/viscose filaments that are woven into that deliciously soft fabric that mothers and babies love. It is this process and its byproducts that somewhat dampen (but don’t negate) the claim that bamboo diapers are “green” and environmentally friendly. Is bamboo naturally anti-bacterial? The FTC is hesitant to say “yes” and the debate continues.
Pictured: Diaper Rite newborn bamboo all-in-one (Diaper Junction)
Cotton has been a cloth diapering standard for years. It’s soft and absorbent, easy to wash, very economical and more resistant to odors than synthetics. However, the pesticides, herbicides and insecticides used to grow cotton conventionally, as well as the large amounts of water required, are a definite drawback. You can lessen the impact by choosing the organic, unbleached variety instead.
Pictured: Flip diaper with organic cotton insert (Cotton Babies)
Upcycled fabrics can include pretty much anything. The idea is that you’re buying a diaper or cover which was repurposed from something else. Lots of WAHM’s turn things like old sweaters, t-shirts, blankets and burp cloths into beautiful, functional diapers. The environmental benefit here is not so much in the fabrics themselves, but in giving the diapers a second (or third) life, and saving them from a landfill. One of my favorite "upcycled" cloth diaper shops is Mama Bear Babywear.
