Disposable Diaper Dilemma
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Report conclusion The specific health, environmental, and economic advantages of disposable diaper products appear to outweigh the more limited advantages of the reusable diaper products.
Background Products with short life spans have recently come under scrutiny because of their solid waste disposal.
Key findings As a result of analysis, disposable diapers offer distinguishable health and economic advantages over their reusable counterparts. In particular, they offer better protection against diaper dermatitis (diaper rash), while also decreasing the potential spread of infection in day care settings. These benefits are achieved at a lower weekly cost compared to cloth diapers. ln terms of environmental considerations, neither disposable nor reusable diapers is clearly superior.
Health impacts For protection from infection in the home, day care, or other environments, disposable diapers result in reduced opportunities for exposure as compared to reusable diapers. Disposable diapers that incorporate absorbent gelling materials offer better protection from dermatitis (diaper rash) than do other brands of disposable diapers or home-laundered reusable diapers. Studies indicate that the presence of soiled diapers in the solid waste stream does not cause a public health problem.
Economic issues Disposable diapers are generally less costly on a life cycle basis than their reusable counterparts. Reusable diapers can provide an economic advantage when the cost of labor for home laundering is not considered.
Resource and environmental impacts Disposable diaper manufacture and use consumes more raw materials than cloth diapers and results in the generation of more post-consumer solid waste. Reusable diaper manufacture and use generates more process solid waste (e.g., wastewater treatment sludge and incinerator ash) than disposable diapers. Reusable diaper manufacture and use consumes more non-renewable energy resources (e.g., oil, gas, and coal) and more renewable energy resources (e.g., wood and hydroelectric). Reusable diaper manufacture and use consumes more water and releases higher levels of total water pollutants. Reusable diaper manufacture and use results in emissions of higher levels of total air pollution.
This information comes from Arthur D. Little, Inc., International Management and Technology Consulting Firm, Environmental, Health and Safety Practice, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
MSU 2003
Background Products with short life spans have recently come under scrutiny because of their solid waste disposal.
Key findings As a result of analysis, disposable diapers offer distinguishable health and economic advantages over their reusable counterparts. In particular, they offer better protection against diaper dermatitis (diaper rash), while also decreasing the potential spread of infection in day care settings. These benefits are achieved at a lower weekly cost compared to cloth diapers. ln terms of environmental considerations, neither disposable nor reusable diapers is clearly superior.
Health impacts For protection from infection in the home, day care, or other environments, disposable diapers result in reduced opportunities for exposure as compared to reusable diapers. Disposable diapers that incorporate absorbent gelling materials offer better protection from dermatitis (diaper rash) than do other brands of disposable diapers or home-laundered reusable diapers. Studies indicate that the presence of soiled diapers in the solid waste stream does not cause a public health problem.
Economic issues Disposable diapers are generally less costly on a life cycle basis than their reusable counterparts. Reusable diapers can provide an economic advantage when the cost of labor for home laundering is not considered.
Resource and environmental impacts Disposable diaper manufacture and use consumes more raw materials than cloth diapers and results in the generation of more post-consumer solid waste. Reusable diaper manufacture and use generates more process solid waste (e.g., wastewater treatment sludge and incinerator ash) than disposable diapers. Reusable diaper manufacture and use consumes more non-renewable energy resources (e.g., oil, gas, and coal) and more renewable energy resources (e.g., wood and hydroelectric). Reusable diaper manufacture and use consumes more water and releases higher levels of total water pollutants. Reusable diaper manufacture and use results in emissions of higher levels of total air pollution.
This information comes from Arthur D. Little, Inc., International Management and Technology Consulting Firm, Environmental, Health and Safety Practice, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
MSU 2003