In recent years, we have seen a real comeback of washable diapers. Flat, pocket or all-in-one: they come in different options to satisfy parents and toddlers. They are often presented as more economical than disposable diapers; but are they more ecological?
“Do we know the ecological footprint of disposable diapers? And that of washable diapers?” asks Josée Tétreault.
At a rate of 6 to 12 per day, the number of diapers needed during a baby’s first few months is enough to make your head spin. By opting for disposable diapers, this represents an investment of around $2,200 for parents until their child is potty trained.
“And that’s just an average,” says Adeline Krieger, spokesperson for the Quebec Zero Waste Association. “If it takes longer for a child to be potty trained, the bill continues to climb.”
But beyond their weight in parents’ wallets, numerous studies show that disposable diapers pose a significant environmental issue, due to the quantity of waste they generate in the world — including in Quebec.
Disposable diapers in figures
- An average child will use a ton of disposable diapers until they are potty trained.
- Approximately 600 million disposable diapers are sent to landfills each year in Quebec, which represents 60,000 tonnes of waste. This is the third largest waste in landfills.
- A disposable diaper takes between 200 and 500 years to decompose.
- Disposable diapers are one of the largest sources of plastic waste worldwide.
Sources: Report of the citizens’ working committee presented to the City of Gatineau, 2009, and United Nations Environment Programme, 2021
What about the washable option?
One thing is for sure: cloth diapers are more economical than disposable ones. According to data from the magazine Protect yourselfyou should expect to pay between $600 and $900 for a set of washable diapers, depending on the model chosen. Several municipalities also offer subsidies to parents to purchase them. And if you want, you can turn to second-hand products to save more.
As for the environmental aspect, there is no recent study comparing the footprint of a washable diaper and its equivalent in disposable diapers in Quebec. But a citizens’ committee conducted an analysis for the City of Gatineau in 2009, which had called on several Quebec experts to work on the issue.
And the observation is clear: washable diapers allow us to drastically reduce waste and the environmental footprint of a baby. And this is all the more true since in Quebec, the environmental impact of the hundreds of washes that a washable diaper undergoes is much less than in other countries, thanks to hydroelectricity.
A comparison of disposable and washable diapers
1000 disposable diapers compared to 5 washable diapers used approximately 200 times each, is:
- 7.5 times more solid waste
- 3.6 times more raw materials used
- 1.7 times more energy consumed
- 1.4 times more water consumed
Source: Report of the citizens’ working committee presented to the City of Gatineau, 2009
A question of duration
A washable diaper is, however, more costly for the environment at the time of its manufacture than a single disposable diaper. If we want to “make it profitable”, we must therefore use it a certain number of times.
“The best thing is to buy second-hand, to extend the lifespan of diapers that have already been produced and used as much as possible,” emphasizes Geneviève Albert, environmental advisor and facilitator at the Incita cooperative.
Or, if you want something new, go to quality Quebec companies to ensure that the diaper will last a long time.
Geneviève Albert, environmental advisor and facilitator at the Incita cooperative
When it comes to diaper care, the best way to limit water and energy consumption, and also to extend their lifespan, is to air dry them rather than in the dryer. And doing large loads also makes each wash profitable.
Difficult to take the plunge?
Some parents, however, are hesitant to take the plunge and switch to cloth diapers. There are many reasons for this: some dread the extra load of extra loads and the hassle of removing stains from yellowed diapers. Others are concerned about stool management or are afraid of leaks. Still others have turned away from the cloth option after a bad experience, or simply find the disposable option more convenient.
It’s like when you buy a new computer. It’s better to do your research before switching to washable diapers, to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Adeline Krieger, spokesperson for the Quebec Zero Waste Association
There are many resources online; for example, parents share their tips and washing routines on the Facebook group “Addicted to Washable Diapers,” which has over 37,000 members. There is also a website of the same name.
Services also exist in Canada, particularly in large cities, which offer young parents a rental service, to have clean, “like new” washable diapers, without having to worry about the washing step.
“You also have to learn to let go,” emphasizes Geneviève Albert. “You can go back to disposable diapers when you go on a trip, for example. There is always the perfect option of 100% washable diapers, second-hand diapers, etc., but you really don’t have to go there. You can remain flexible while trying to move toward this ideal.”
Other ideas for reducing a baby’s environmental footprint
- Favor second-hand items (clothes, toys)
- Extend the life of objects (repair, reuse)
- Avoid buying and accumulating unnecessary items
- Inform those around you of your choices and state your needs.
Visit the “Addicted to washable diapers” website
Ask your questions about the issues related to the ecological transition
Green light: ragweed removal campaign in Verdun
For the third consecutive year, the Maison de l’environnement de Verdun is waging war on ragweed. After a first day of weed removal, which took place in mid-July, it is organizing a second one on August 10, which will begin at 10 a.m. on the banks around the John-Gallagher islet.
Effective and ecological, pulling out ragweed helps promote the growth of other plant species, while preventing the production of pollen by this particularly allergenic grass.
She said:
UNESCO stands ready to support the British authorities in reconciling the needs of development and conservation of this exceptional heritage.
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), on X, July 31. This statement comes after Keir Starmer’s Labour government decided to abandon its plan to tunnel under Stonehenge. UNESCO had considered classifying the prehistoric site as “in danger” to prevent the project from going ahead. Concerns had been raised about the impact of the works and traffic on Stonehenge and the surrounding ecosystems.
Source: Agence France-Presse
Green light: what drives young people to swap clothes?
A new study from Concordia University looks at what motivates young people to participate in clothing swaps. The researchers posted a questionnaire on social media, and nearly 300 young people aged 18 to 35 from different parts of the world responded. The results were published June 20 in the journal Journal of Consumer Behavior.
The study reveals that someone who grew up in an individualistic environment will trade clothes for financial reasons, while someone from a collectivist environment, which will prioritize the well-being of the group, will be more motivated by community, environmental and activist aspects.
The authors also noted differences from one continent to another: the culture of clothing exchange is, for example, very developed in Europe. But within a North America that is rather focused on buying new, Quebec is an exception, with a circular consumption network in terms of fashion that is much more developed than elsewhere in the northern half of the continent.
Source: The Canadian Press