Huggies has allegedly introduced a new line of Pure Biodegradable wipes for us that biodegrades after 15 days under landfill-like circumstances.
According to Huggies, plastic-free wipes are composed entirely of organically produced fibers. According to a story in Circular, independent testing has shown that Huggies Pure Biodegradable wipes would biodegrade under landfill settings after 15 days, making it the brand’s first biodegradable product (U.K.).
The company has pledged to phase out plastic from its line of baby wipes in the United Kingdom within five years, if not sooner.
What is new about Huggies Baby Wipes?
Along with introducing its first biodegradable product, and Huggies has made considerable progress toward achieving the company’s other ‘Tiniest Footprint’ Mission objectives. To date, the following accomplishments have been made:
- This year, the company will eliminate 360 tons of plastic from the entire range of baby wipes (on an annual basis)
- Eliminating interior plastic bags inside its big pack boxes, resulting in a 43-ton reduction in plastic waste (on an annual basis)
- Huggies Pure Biodegradable wipes are going to be offered in the United Kingdom beginning at select Asda and Morrisons shops.
Eco-Friendly Diaper Types
The word “eco-friendly” is a catch-all phrase that diaper companies use freely these days. It’s important to have a basic knowledge of terminology before deciding on the diapers that are best for your household.
- Biodegradable diapers often referred to as biodegradable diapers, are disposable diapers that are compostable. (That is, they will degrade in the appropriate environment.) There are, however, a few critical points to make here.
- There is a distinction between biodegradable and compostable materials. For the sake of simplicity (and since we are not the EPA! ), let us state that although all compostable things are biodegradable, and not all biodegradable products are compostable. Biodegradable goods degrade into smaller components but do not really “disappear,” while compostable products degrade into organic material under the proper circumstances. While many diaper businesses use the words interchangeably, it’s critical to understand the distinction if you’re serious about doing your research.
- Only when biodegradable diapers are delivered to a professional composting facility are they really compostable. While some manufacturers (like Dyper) provide this service, the majority do not, and diaper composting facilities are currently few in North America. While a compostable diaper might take less time to degrade than a conventional disposable diaper, do not be fooled into believing these diapers will degrade magically once they reach the landfill; many can take hundreds of years to degrade due to landfill conditions that are not conducive to composting.
- Sustainable diapers are devoid of many of the chemicals present in conventional diapers and have a lower negative effect on the environment. Bear in mind, however, that sustainability does not equate to compostable. They are often manufactured with some plant-based materials—the amount varies significantly across brands—and many companies that manufacture these diapers frequently contribute back in some manner, such as by contributing to offset their carbon impact.
- Organic, chemical-free, and natural diapers all refer to a variety of very broad, non-specific, and sometimes extremely unscientific concepts, so proceed with caution and do your own research. Occasionally, companies that use these words utilize plant-based ingredients, while others manufacture diapers that are devoid of scent, chlorine, parabens, and dyes.
And one last remark to allay any parental guilt that may have crept in. Although eco-friendly disposables might be (somewhat) more environmentally friendly, it’s very improbable that conventional disposable diapers are causing damage to your kid. If you can discover an eco-friendly alternative that works for you and your budget, that’s fantastic; if not, that’s OK as well. Parenting is all about determining what works best for you, your kid, your family, and your own sanity on a day-to-day basis.
Cost Comparison of Biodegradable vs. Conventional Diapers
Many individuals opt out of eco-friendly diapering due to the misconception that eco-friendly goods are more costly.
And I will not lie. This is true in general. If your budget is very limited and you are already financially strapped, you may choose to stay with Pampers (or cloth!).
However, I wanted to determine how much more costly eco-friendly diapers are in comparison to conventional disposable diapers. As a result, I conducted research.
The prices shown here are those that the businesses post on Amazon. They may alter, but they will very certainly stay identical.
BRAND |
PRICE PER DIAPER |
| Eco by Naty | 0.45 |
| Earth + Eden | 0.23 |
| Honest Company | 0.38 |
| Babyganics | 0.33 |
| Bambo Nature | 0.48 |
| Seventh Generation | 0.35 |
| Huggies Little Movers | 0.28 |
| Pampers Swaddlers | 0.24 |
The typical newborn to six-month-old infant uses about nine diapers each day or approximately 270 diapers per month. If you purchased Pampers, you would spend a little less than $65 on diapers.
But, if you select a brand such as Babyganics at 0.33/diaper, you’ll pay approximately $89, or around $24 more per month.
Thus, sure, you will spend more on gentler items. This is not always the case, as shown above with Earth + Eden. However, even if the cost is somewhat higher, I believe the advantages outweigh the costs.
What to Consider When Purchasing Biodegradable Diapers
The market for infant products is OVERFLOWING with labels like ” all-natural ” and ” green,” and it’s insanely difficult to determine which ones are bogus and which ones are genuine.
The following are some of the criteria I used while looking for biodegradable diapers:
Connector.
Price
Because, boy, do infants need a lot of diapers.
Connector.
Impact on the Environment
We want an item that was as hypoallergenic and environmentally friendly as feasible.
Function
If it cannot contain the feces, it will not fit inside my diaper bag.
How should Huggies wipes be disposed of?
The wipe could or could not be produced from a biodegradable substance. Additionally, it is not guaranteed to be safe for plumbing or rural or campground septic systems. In such instance, place the baby wipe in the restroom’s sanitary napkin bin rather than flushing it — OR wrap it with toilet paper and place it in the trash.
Conclusion
According to Huggies, plastic-free wipes are composed entirely of organically produced fibers. Independent research demonstrates that Huggies Pure Biodegradable wipes biodegrade after 15 days under landfill conditions, making them the brand’s first biodegradable product.
The move is a first step toward the brand’s goal to completely phase out plastic from its baby wipes line in the United Kingdom within five years, if not sooner.