What is better nappy to use to reduce my carbon footprint?

Question

Standard throw away nappies that you only use once and dont recycle.

or

Reusable nappies where you use electricity & water by washing them in the washer dryer at 100 degrees.

Answer 1

the fact is  dispoable nappy's are not a friend to the enviroment they stay uner the ground for years.

they are also a bio hazard to the men and women who have to deal with them when they to be disposed of ie; recycling centre staff refuse collection personell and landfill.

but if we really want to make differance then we have to stop buying them and return to terry nappy's these can be washed and reused and even handed down to a friend.

just a note if we all really want to help the envioroment then we have to start at the begining of the process that is with the company's that make them.

Answer 2

You ask a good question. The washable one's are still the much better option to lesson your carbon footprint. This is because although you're using electric/gas etc for the washing of them. Disposible nappies literally take years and years and years to break down hon and during that time do untold damage.

Plus you have the added benefit of the reusable ones such as terry toweling nappies being a whole lot cheaper on your purse. Good luck with your decision.

Answer 3

Washable nappies by far, environmentally any way. Some people just don't get along with using washables, which is a shame as they really are very easy to use.

You mustn't forget the manufacture of disposables is terrible, all the emissions produced for the nappies production, packaging, transportation. And this for every single pack you buy.

With washables you do not need to wash them at 100 degrees at all. 40 max I'd say. You don't need to dry them electrically either, they dry very quickly in the sun, plus the sunlight helps to bleach out any stains. If you wash a full load every time there is limited electricity or water waste, plus you can use a low temp, Eco washing powders or washing balls.

We use washables, and I didn't pay for a single one! I was given a starter pack from my council and was given more by a local freecycler, which I picked up on foot, so no transportation needed.

I personally much prefer washables.

Answer 4

cotton washable ones are better for the environment and

my mom says she used those on us kids and because it is cotton and allows our skin to breathe - non of us kids ever got nappy rash

Answer 5

Washable nappies definately.  You don't need to wash and dry them at 100 degrees.  I used to wash mine at 40, and occasionally at 60.  Even when I used to manage a nappy lending library (for new mums wanting to try cloth nappies) we only had to wash them at 60 for insurance purposes, since bugs will get killed off at 60.  I used to dry them outside on a washing line, or if the weather was too bad on a radiator rack indoors.  If you must tumble dry them, just give them a short blast, 10 - 20 minutes to start them off, and then let them line dry/indoors dry after that.

Answer 6

buy a $1000 dollars of carbon credits and you will be o.k. for life

Answer 7

Definitely the reusable nappy! electricity is at least a renewable resource and plastic takes years to decompose and will be sitting in a dump for years and years.

Answer 8

I think that weirdly, disposables are better for the environment, because of the energy required to wash reusables. You won't have time to wash them anyway.

Answer 9

cloth are better but if you are really going all green the I suggest a wash board and a bucket use the p**p as fertilizer.

Answer 10

(B)

Answer 11

I don't think I'd be able to take a nap in a washer or dryer.

Answer 12

Ok, with my first i used cloth (the terries my mum had used on me and my brother), for the first few months, dried them on the line in the sunshine not a dryer. The sun helps to bleach them and get rid of stains. Then we used disposables as he got older, he was out of them by 2 and a half.

2nd i used the same terries, washing them by hand in rainwater, drying them in the sun or by a fire.  I did nappy free a lot of the time. I bought a book on Diaper Free, Natural Infant Hygiene by Ingrid Bauer.  Sometimes i used nature boy girl nappies which are fairly eco, disposables.He was well out of nappies by 20 months

3rd was nappy free 90% of the time, occasionally using the same terries and various washables i had been given or even more rarely Moultex eco disposables, completely bio degradable, non bleached without gel inside. She was taking herself to the big toilet and climbing on and doing it all by herself by 2 years.

So i would say - cloth or nappy free. You dont have to use a machine or dryer, machine is easier.  The processing of disposables- manufacturing uses loads of chemicals, to bleach and produce, the gel crystals are also toxic, plus you get the problem of them not biodegrading. Also if people have their children immunised, particularly the polio vaccine which is live polio, it sits in the ground with live polio in a very concentrated area.  I guess if you wash your own babys nappies, this is diluted in the water and less concentrated so less of a problem, but still not a nice thought - live polio in our watersystems.

Answer 13

like what people used 30 years ago. washable ones.

Answer 14

Good old fashioned terry nappies, like I used when my kids were babies (we didn't have disposables back then) O.K. they have to be washed, and dried, but they can be handed down, as my daughter's have done. They bought a dozen each, and pass them to each other whenever one or the other has a baby. My oldest daughter bought a special pressure washer, that washes a dozen at a time without detergent or electricity, (apart from boiling  the water. It's brilliant) In winter, she dries them in the conservatory, or on a clothes horse, rather than use a tumble dryer.

Answer 15

Definitely washable ones are better.

Answer 16

Terry Nappy (old way of using) done the old way.  Why are you using a washing dryer? Use a bucket, kettle and some detergent, place nappy in and allow to sit for 30 - 60 mins, stir occasionally once water has cooled enough for you to get your hands in, give it a good rub and then hang out to drip dry.

You can buy some good eco detergents now that are less harmful but just as effective.  Generations have used this method and I have found it just as effective.  Once your children are out of the nappy stage the terries can then be used as dusters, cleaning cloths etc.

Answer 17

Washable definitely. You dont need to wash them at 100 degrees. you just wash them at 40 using eco friendly nappy fresh. add a vanish tablet if there are bad stains but if you use a biodegradable nappy liner there arent many. You WILL have time to wash them. you just make sure to buy enough so that you arent panicking about getting them dry. i found every other day was sufficient but real nappy advisors can guide you as to how many you will need etc.

the best thing is you can buy them in all different colours. i had yellow, blue, orange, green, cream and theres purple red and pink for girls! Funky! And the waterproof wraps come in all differnt funky prints too. very cute.

Alternatively, you could use a nappy service where they supply the nappies and waterproofs for a weekly cost and take away the dirties to be washed,usually at a hospital laundry which is washing anyway so they are not using fuel just to wash nappies. they are all sterilised so no need to worry about germs from communal use. i did this with my first and it combines the ecofriendly reusable with the convenience of disposable. cost wise it comes out about the same as using branded disposables. both types of reusable nappies are very reliable too but you will need to change them every 2-3 hours, not 5-6 as i know some Mums do with disposable. Happy nappying.

Answer 18

use reusable nappies

Answer 19

Reusable nappies are better. If you handle things correctly, then the water can be treated and reused. The plastic and waste that using disposable nappies not only takes forever to break down, but can also contaminate ground water.

Look here for more info:

http://www.thenewparentsguide.com/diaper...

(scroll down a bit)

Answer 20

Hand wash them

Answer 21

Use the cloth diapers and hang them on the line to dry.  The sun will help get rid of any lingering smells, stains, and will also help protect the skin.

Answer 22

I would say the reusable ones are better for the environment even though they do use resources when they need to be washed. There is another way of reducing the impact on the planet, don't have children. Its a C*** world for them anyhow!!

Answer 23

terry nappies of course and you would save a fortune

Answer 24

??? Nice pic and its good ur trying