Disposable, Compostable, Cloth: Which Is the Most Sustainable Diaper?

When you think of single-use plastic, what comes to your mind? Plastic straws? Takeaway bags? Plastic bottles? While all of these contribute to plastic waste, one of the biggest culprits often gets overlooked in the discussion: disposable diapers.

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The Problem with Disposable Diapers

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Disposable diapers are undeniably convenient, especially since babies use 6–10 diapers daily for at least 1–2 years. But these diapers contain multiple types of plastic. This includes a polyethylene waterproof backing and a polypropylene inner layer, which means they typically end up in landfills. Some brands market their diapers as biodegradable, and while this may be technically true, calling something biodegradable when it takes centuries to break down is misleading. And it’s worth noting that just because something is biodegradable, it doesn’t mean that it’s compostable.

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According to a 2018 EPA estimate, there was no significant recycling or composting of disposable diapers. In landfills, these diapers break down into harmful microplastics and leach chemicals like parabens and phthalates into our soil and water.

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Compostable Diapers

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An alternative to disposable diapers is compostable diapers that are made without plastic and break down naturally. Sounds promising, but there's a catch. Since they contain human waste that needs high-temperature composting, you can't just toss them in your backyard compost bin. You'll need to find an industrial facility that accepts them, and these are still pretty rare. Some companies like Do Good Diapers, and Tiny Tots have started specializing in diaper composting, but before you invest in these diapers, make sure there's actually a facility near you that can process them. Otherwise, they'll just end up in a landfill like disposable diapers.

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Cloth Diapers

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Reusable cloth diapers present a complex sustainability picture. Though they generally offer benefits in cost, emissions, and waste reduction, these advantages only emerge under specific conditions, particularly when you commit to air drying and using them for multiple years, or when you buy them secondhand.

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So the environmental impact heavily depends on consumer behavior, unlike disposables, where the impact is mostly determined by manufacturing and disposal.

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According to our estimates, you could save roughly 0.25-0.5 tons of CO₂ equivalent per child by using reusable diapers, but they actually score worse in several environmental categories, including marine eutrophication, water consumption, and ecotoxicity. This is primarily due to the water, detergent, and electricity used in washing and drying them.

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If you're only using cloth diapers for one child or relying on a dryer, their environmental impact becomes comparable to disposables. So some of the things you can do to reduce the impact of cloth diapers are air drying them, using them for multiple kids (buy secondhand, sell or borrow), and using a more efficient washing machine and wash cycle.

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Check out our 6 Tips for More Eco-Friendly Laundry.

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How to Reduce the Impact of Disposable Diapers

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If cloth diapers aren’t right for you all (or some) of the time and there isn’t a facility to compost diapers, there are a couple of things you can do to reduce the impact of disposable diapers. Prioritize smaller and lighter diapers as they will use less material and energy during production. Although it will not eliminate landfill waste, doing this will help reduce it.

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Another (and probably the most impactful) thing you can do is potty train your child early. Potty training at 18 months vs. 36 months would reduce diaper emissions by 50%, helping you save time, money, and emissions. This step works well regardless of the diaper you choose.

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