It's Not That Easy Being Green

Disposable diapers are the 3rd largest consumer product in landfills (behind newspapers and beverage/food containers) and require over 500 years to decompose. So, one of the reasons I signed us up for a cloth diaper service was so that we could be a bit more environmentally friendly.

Unfortunately, we haven't used the cloth diapers as much as I had hoped. The first couple months of Logan's life, we weren't able to use them due to his brace (cloth diapers are a lot bulkier and his brace didn't fit right with them on). We also use disposable when we go out, since it's more convenient to chuck the dirty diaper rather than carry around the dirty cloth one.... but, because we are such social animals and out all the time (I guess), there would be entire days in a row where we'd be using only disposable and not the cloth! :( And, now that he's attending preschool, cloth diapers aren't very well supported there...

It's been eating at my conscience that we aren't being as green as we should be, so I started doing some research on biodegradable disposable diapers instead (our lifestyles are such, that we really can't join the camp of parents who don't use any diapers at all).

There seems to be (at least) two different options that get really good reviews. gDiapers (started by an Australian couple) are a flushable option which are kind of a cross between cloth diapers and regular disposables. They seem pretty cool but we still run into the "inconvenience" of carrying a dirty diaper cover while out and about (and talking our preschool into the extra care required to use them).

Logan's cousin Luke is using the other option, a biodegradable diaper made by Nature Babycare (started by a Swedish mom; Isn't it pathetic that none of these are American?!?). And, after talking to Curtis/Renee, and reading reviews online, it seems to be everything we're looking for! :) They are biodegradable, compostable, chlorine free and easy to use. They also make disposable wipes as well which is a plus. :) So, I just ordered a small pack of the wipes and diapers this past weekend to try them out and Mr. Logan wore his first biodegradable disposable last night. They seem to work just fine -- we'll know more with time of course, but my hopes are up!