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Soiled Green: Cloth Diapers Make Comeback

Eco-conscious uprising puts disposables on the defensive

By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 13, 2008 11:43 AM CST
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(Newser) – Cloth diapers are getting a serious makeover, as old-fashioned safety pins and rubber liners give way to velcro and water-resistant merino wool covers. New cloth diaper brands, such as Fuzzi Bunz and Happy Heinys, can thank an increasingly eco-conscious population for their success, reports Time, with some companies reporting 50% profit increases in recent years.

"None of us can expand fast enough to keep up with demand," says the founder of bumGenius. Cloth proponents cite lower costs (a total of $300 through toilet training, as opposed to up to $3,000), less waste, and fewer rashes for the heinies in question. Opponents argue that the cost of water and energy for washing cloth diapers is worse than the 27.4 billion Huggies and Pampers tossed each year.

Pampers STAGES is a customized line-up of diapers, training pants, and corresponding wipes for each stage, which makes it easy for parents to know which products are most appropriate for their baby or toddler at that time. Icons on the packaging and descriptive side panels highlight the stages and product...
Pampers STAGES is a customized line-up of diapers, training pants, and corresponding wipes for each stage, which makes it easy for parents to know which products are most appropriate for their baby or...   (Associated Press)
Luvs disposable diapers are seen in this Wednesday, July 18, 2007 photo in Columbus, Ohio. New cloth diaper brands, such as Fuzzi Bunz and Happy Heinys, can thank an increasingly eco-conscious population for their success. The total cost for a parent to take a child through toilet training, reports Time,...
Luvs disposable diapers are seen in this Wednesday, July 18, 2007 photo in Columbus, Ohio. New cloth diaper brands, such as Fuzzi Bunz and Happy Heinys, can thank an increasingly eco-conscious population...   (Associated Press)
New cloth diaper brands, such as Fuzzi Bunz and Happy Heinys, can thank an increasingly eco-conscious population for their success. The total cost for a parent to take a child through toilet training, reports Time, is $300 -- as opposed to up to $3,000 for disposable diapers.
New cloth diaper brands, such as Fuzzi Bunz and Happy Heinys, can thank an increasingly eco-conscious population for their success. The total cost for a parent to take a child through toilet training,...   (Getty Images)
New cloth diaper brands, such as Fuzzi Bunz and Happy Heinys, can thank an increasingly eco-conscious population for their success.
New cloth diaper brands, such as Fuzzi Bunz and Happy Heinys, can thank an increasingly eco-conscious population for their success.   (Getty Images)
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Cloth diapers are on the rise
New York Times

Venture capitalist see green in going green
Guardian (UK)

 
environmentalism • waste • green technology • diapers • cloth diapers • disposable diapers • Huggies • Pampers • bumGenius • wool

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