Here's hoping that I win...I never win anything! :) Is the correct answer the reusable diapers equipped with flushable, biodegradable liners? I love the CBB!

The study showed that all 3 types of diapers: disposable, home-washed cloth diapers, & commercially laundered cloth diapers had about the same environmental impact. So there really isn't a choice that is clearly better. There were steps you can take in each of the three options to try and cut down on the environmental impact though.

They are equal according to findings. Each one is wasteful in one way or another.

Dr. Greene said he likes hybrid diapers—the reusable diapers equipped with flushable, biodegradable liners. The only brand like that I know is gDiapers! Yay!

Nancy

I believe the article states that all three types of diapers are equally harmful to the environment. However, there are ways to midigate the environmental impact of each if we try.

The study mentioned in the article on the Healthy Child Healthy World website found that the overall environmental impact was about the same for all three diapering options. The 3 options which were included in the study were: disposable diapers, home laundered cloth-diapers, and commercially laundered cotton diapers.

The article states that all three types of diapers are equally harmful to the environment.

Both disposable diapers and cloth diapers have environmental issues that need to be noted. Disposable diapers obviously fill up our landfills, but the issues also start at the very beginning of the processing cycle, such as the oil rigs where the plastics start their production cycle. Cloth diapers obviously don't fill up any landfills, but they use energy, water and chlorine in having to wash them. Bottom line - whatever diapers you choose, make sure you make your choice as environmentally friendly as possible.

This study found that all 3 types of diapers: disposable, home-washed cloth diapers, & commercially laundered cloth diapers is about the same.

IF this isn't the answer, I found where it says about the hybrid diapers--reusable with flushable~biodegradable liners. :)

The article doesn't really state which diapers are better. It says that studies reveal that disposies & cloth (home & commercially laundered) all have the same impact on the environment, in different ways though. He does mention hybrid diapers (like G diapers) and how they were not included in the study...which kind of suggests that he maybe leans toward using those. That's the best I can come up with...

I know I've always wanted to either try G dipes or Bum Genius cloth...maybe someday :)

It basically says that all three types of diapers are equally harmful to the environment, but that the hybrid diapers haven't been studied.

All 3 diapers are equally unhealthy for the environment under the study presented which didn't take many factors into consideration and didn't consider hybrid diapers at all.

By the way, I'm considering trying the hybrid diaper G-diapers, has anyone tried them?

The article states that disposable diapers, home-laundered cloth diapers and commercially-laundered cotton diapers have an equal overall environmental impact. However, the article did not consider hybrid diapers which have a reusable cover and cloth, bidegradable liner.

Whichever type is chosen, there are ways to make those alternatives greener.

All diapers have an impact on the environment. The Environmental Agency performed the largest and most unbiased study done as to determine the most environmentally safe diaper. Although the study did not include Dr. Grenne calls "hybrid diapers", they did include disposible diapers, home laundered cloth diapers, and commercial laundered cloth diapers. The study concludes that the environmental impact of each of these diapers are equal.
The resources used during the manufacturing of disposible diapers, the electricity used for laundering cloth diapers at home, and the fuel used for traveling and electricty used for commercially washing cloth diapers in their own way leave their footprint on our environment. So what can we do to help our environment when choosing our diapers? There are many green alternatives such as using eco disposible diapers or reducing the energy and fuels used for the laundering of cloth diapers commercially or at home. While we can not eliminate the environmental impact diapers have on our environment, there are things we can do to make it a little greener.

Please enter me for the goodie bag.

The study found the three types studied were about the same, but they did not look at the hybrid diapers like G-diapers. I am a huge fan of G's especially after finding out they are Cradle to Cradle certified.

BTW - Healthy Child Healthy World is a great resource site for growing up green!

all types of diapers are harmful to the environment in some way, but looking at ways to reduce the impact on the environment is a big help.

All 3 types of diapering are equally harmful to the environment. Many people are misled, believing that cloth diapering is better for the environment, when really it takes a lot to launder them. I'd be interested in trying G-Diapers, right now we have some 7th Generation and they are pretty good.

The article states that all three are pretty equal, but that it was not a totally comprehensive study by any means. I would be interested to see a study of which diaper is actually better for baby.

All three diapers are equally as bad for our environment according to Dr. Greene.
Disposable diapers show the most significant impact on our environment during manufacture. Home-laundered diapers primary impact our environment because of the amount of electricity that is used during washing and drying. Commercially laundered diapers use electricity and fuels.

Personally I think the diapers with a flushable liner are the best for the environment. The liners I use decennia great in the water and the child’s stinky and urine are disposed of just as adults are.

My second option would be cloth diapers. Since I use a front loading machine that uses less water and is energy efficient, I believe it is better then disposing of diapers in our landfills.

I try my best to do my part in keeping our environment clean and green for our children’s sake.

All 3 diapers studied (traditional disposable, home-laundered cloth, and commercially laundered cloth) are equally bad for the environment. The best thing to do is check out disposables that are produced "greener" in the first place (chlorine-free, for instance) or to find ways of reducing the energy used in washing and drying cloth diapers. (How about line-drying?) Flushable hybrids (such as gDiapers) seem to be better, as mentioned very briefly in the article.

All 3 types were equally as bad for different reasons. Disposable clogs up landfills, but cloth uses energy for washing etc :)

all three are damaging to the enviorment- but as mentioned by previous posters the gdiapers have not been inlcuded in the study- I wish we could get these diapers in canada- I may have to make a trip south!

They all have their own drawbacks, but there are things you can do to help make it a little better for the environment.

The study showed that none of the diaper choices are better than another; since the study did not include "hybrid" diapers, it showed that between the material used in disposables and the energy used to clean cloth diapers, that there is no difference on the environment. Hopefully, hybrids will become more popular and available in the future, because they'd be the diapers that I'd like to use.
What a fantastic giveaway. Good luck to everyone!

The study found that the impact from all three is relatively the same--just in different ways. Home laundered diapers waste water/energy; commercially laundered diapers waste fuel/energy; disposable diapers clog landfills.

The study found that the impact from all three is relatively the same--just in different ways. Home laundered diapers waste water/energy; commercially laundered diapers waste fuel/energy; disposable diapers clog landfills.

All diapers are equally bad for the environment!

Hybrid diapers.. a clith diaper with disposable liner.

The article seemed to talk about the pros and cons of all the diapers. Cloth diapers waste water and energy and disposable diapers fill up the landfills. "Hybrid" diapers weren't included in the study. The study also didn't include greener alternatives as well. All and all, there is a pro and con to any diaper choice in relation to the environment.

The article states that all three types of diapers are equally harmful to the environment.
hybrid diapers—the reusable diapers equipped with flushable, biodegradable liners

The article states that disposable diapers, home-laundered cloth diapers and commercially-laundered cotton diapers have an equal overall environmental impact. But the article did not consider hybrid diapers which have a reusable cover and cloth, bidegradable liner. So I hope this is it!!

All three diapers they tested were equally harmful for the environment. For disposable diapers, (during manufacture); for home-laundered diapers, (electricity used in washing and drying); for commercially laundered diapers, (fuels and electricity). However, if you do choose disposable diapers, go with the "hybrid" Eco-Diapers. Let's hope we all do our part no matter what diaper we use!
Good luck to all!

The article says that all 3 "main" forms of diapers are bad for the environment, each in their own way. While the cloth dipes dont fill up landfills the way disposables do, they create their own set of problems with air quality and the like. The article did mention that hybrid diapers were not included in the study, I believe they are better as they are flushable and create no more waste than us as adults do.

The article says they were equally deleterious to the environment. Something I find interesting and eye rather dubiously. It takes me one load and 1/4 the soap to wash my cloth diapers every couple days and I reuse them instead of tossing out the several or dozen or more diapers each day that I generated with the disposables. (2 kids in dipes) When I think about the trash bags full of diapers that even just one child could generate over time from birth to potty training that end up sitting in landfills - I can't see how a couple extra loads of laundry a week is "the same" in environmental impact. I have six kids - when I think about how many diapers I've changed the last 13+ years, I think I could have easily filled our house to overflowing. Certainly cloth is more cost effective. Line drying also cuts down on electricity costs. I've used gdiapers (hybrid) and liked them - though, you are still adding the manufacturing process in there for the disposable aspect. The main reason I went to cloth though - is because my now 2 year was actually allergic to the chemicals in disposable diapers. We tried them all and the poor kid was miserable until we went to cloth. Many cloth diaper moms I know reuse old clothing, bedding etc to make their own cloth diapers - talk about recycling!

The bottom line though - no pun intended! - is flat out - if I had to wear a diaper, I'd rather it be cloth than having to wear a big old stiff wad of absorbant stuff, chemicals and who knows what else . . .

Both disposable diapers and cloth diapers cause harm to the environment. The best diapers are those manufactured in an eco friendly environment or grown with organic cotton or other green fabrics.

The article indicates that the overall environmental impact of disposable diapers, home laundered cloth diapers, and commercial laundered cotton diapers are the same.

The study found that "overall environmental impact is about the same for all three options they [considered]." However, they did not take into considreation "green" disposable diapers, hybrid diapers or choices made in the manufacturing process. The article also says "if you choose cloth diapers, the first focus should be on reducing the energy used during washing and drying and reducing fuels and emissions during transportation [and] if you choose disposable diapers, focus first on greener manufacturing."

Hybrid diapers--cloth diapers with flushable, biodegradeable liners--are better. However, cloth diapers, disposables, and commercially laundered diapers all have a similar impact on the environment.

Love this website..disposable diapers, home-laundered cloth diapers and commercially-laundered cotton diapers have an equal overall environmental impact. The article did not consider hybrid diapers which have a reusable cover and cloth, bidegradable liner.

Whichever type is chosen, there are ways to make those alternatives greener.

I was surprised to find that the article found that all 3 diapering options are equal unhealthy for the environment. All things being equal then- I think it's good to mention that cloth is at least easier on the baby bum :)

All three options have equal impact on the environment: disposable diapers, cloth laundered at home, and cloth laundered commercially. The article says that you can make the option that you choose a greener one by looking for certain things in the cleaning, processing or manufacturing of the diapers.

Overall they have the same impact. So if you go with cloth diapers you should try and reduce energy when cleaning them. If you go with disposable you should focus on greener manufacturing.

The hybrid Eco-Diapers are best for the environment because of their biodegradable liners!

No diaper is perfect. Cloth diapers require the use of electricity for laundering, and didposable diapers clog up landfills. I plan on using G-diapers for my next bbay, the ones with the disposable liner. I would like to use cloth diapers, but it is too difficult when using other caretakers or leaving the house.

The article shows that unfortunately all diapers are harmful on the environments with none of them really being any better than the next. It's up to the consumer to choose the one that they can work with best to be the "greenest".

All three are bad for the environment!

Every diaper, like so many things in our world, has it's downfall to the environment. He suggests friendlier laundering for cloth, and friendlier manufacturing for disposable.

I recommend the POTTY! :)

Sorry, I'm training my 2 year old and, well, it's just not going all that well, diapers are a sore subject for me at the moment :)

According to this particular study, major-brand disposable diapers, home-laundered cloth, and commercially-laundered cotton diapers are equally harmful to the environment. Further research needs to be done for a more comprehensive conclusion on the subject, but among these three alternatives, there are ways to make each of these diaper options more eco-friendly.

I hope I am right,but I got that all diapers are harmful in one way or another.

All types of the diaper mentioned are harmful to the environment in some way.

The study found that all three types (disposable, home-laundered cloth and commercial-laundered cotton) are essentially equally harmful to the environment. Though, "hybrid" diapers were not studied. If one wishes to minimize their imact, they should minimize energy consumption with home-laundered cloth or use green-manufactured disposables.

Hybrid diapers

The article reports that all three types of diapering (cloth, home laundered cloth, commercially laundered cloth) are harmful to the enviroment.

He mentions using eco-friendly or green diapers.

the study said that all 3 diapers are equally harmful to the enviroment.

All 3 diapers studied are equally harmful to the environment, but for different reasons. I was really surprised by this! Depending on what you choose to use, there are ways to make your diaper choice better for the environment.

According to the studies, all three types of diapers all have a harmful impact on the environment. There are diapers that were not included in the article, like the hybrid ones but it is really up to us to help mitigate the negative effects of all the diapers.

Whatever we choose for diapers, we have an unavoidable impact on the environment. But whatever we choose, we can make those diapers a little greener.

The article basically said that all 3 types of diapers have an impact on the environment. He liked the idea of the biodegradeble diapers the best but we still need to think of the impact of diapers from the beginning to the end.

All 3 types of diapers (disposable, cloth laundered at home or by a company) have a negative effect on the environment. What about flushable diapers like the G diaper?

He said that all diapers are bad for the enviroment depending on how you look at it. However, there are ways to make both disposable and reusable diapers more environmental friendly by carefully choosing the brand you purchase both cloth and disposable diapers and reevaluating the way you clean cloth diapers.

All 3 types harm the environment according to the article

To answer the question, according to the article,all 3 types of diapers (disposables, cloth, diaper service) pretty much have equal impact on the environment.
As a cloth user though, I would have to say that if one launders the diapers in an efficient and eco-friendly way (by using high efficiency washers and eco-friendly detergent), it just might tip the scales in favor of cloth again.
Additionally, line drying diapers in the sun will not only lessen electricity consumption but will be good for the diapers as well because of the UV disinfecting properties of the sun.
How you're going to do that during the winter in Alaska though... I'm stumped. :D

To the previous commenter, I have used gDiapers but while they are a great and novel idea, the design and fit leaves much to be desired. I still use them though when we're out and about. :)

According to the article, disposable diapers, home-laundered cloth diapers and commercially laundered cotton diapers are equally harmful to the environment in one way or another. The study did not include hybrid diapers (i.e. the reusable diapers equipped with flushable, biodegradable liners).

The article said that all three types of diapers studied have about equal negative impacts on the environment, each in different ways (i.e. global warming, fuel and energy, etc.). It also stated, however, that it appears in the study only major-brand diapers were used, not their greener alternatives.

Eco-Diapers are probably the best but then all of them have certain side effects to cause harm to the environment.

There are no great diapers. The only open seems to be hybrid diapers, though those weren't tested in the article. All kinds of diapers have a detrimental affect on the environment.

Hope I win!

The article states that all three choices are as equally bad but that Eco-Diapers would be a better of the 3.

The article said all 3 types of diapers are equally harmful to the environment- in different ways. Here's hoping I win- I never win anything!

In short it says that all three types of diapers are equally harmful to the environment, but that the hybrid diapers haven't been studied.

I personally used pampers for my first and cloth for my 2nd and 3rd and loved cloth. IF HUGE IF I ever have another baby I think I'd go with g-diapers this time around.

The research was inconclusive but he does mention the hybrid diapers. If you use the cloth or disposable, both have an impact on the environment. I personnaly choose the hybrids.

From reading the article, I found several options. One being the reusable hybrid diapers with the biodegradable and flushable liner. It also mentions an option of using an "organically grown" green cotton diaper, which does not have to be chemically treated when being made, but does require more washing than the hybrid diapers. So, there are two alternative diapers to the commercial diapers that attack our landfills and even add to the diseases that already flourish there.

Overall environmental impact is about the same for all three options.

A very interesting fact! Love the site...now if I could take time to read all the articles!

The article stated that all three widely used types of diapers were harmful to the environment in some way (home washed, commercially washed, and disposable).

In the article Dr Greene stated their isn't really one type/brand that's better than another but that there are certain steps you can take to make which ever type you choose a good choice for the planet!

The article showed that all 3 types of diapers which were disposable, home-washed cloth diapers, & commercially laundered cloth diapers gave about the same environmental impact. Therfore depending on the choice of diapers you choose to use there were steps you can take in each of the choices in diapers as far as to cutting down the environmental impact. Great Article by the way i would have never known that unless i read it thank you...

The article showed that all 3 types of diapers which were disposable, home-washed cloth diapers, & commercially laundered cloth diapers gave about the same environmental impact. Therfore depending on the choice of diapers you choose to use there were steps you can take in each of the choices in diapers as far as to cutting down the environmental impact. Great Article by the way i would have never known that unless i read it thank you...

The study found that the overall environmental impact is about the same for all the three options they did consider, disposable diapers, home-laundered cloth diapers and commercially laundered cotton diapers.The study did not include hybrid diapers, the reusable diapers equipped with flushable, biodegradable liners

the reusable diapers equipped with flushable, biodegradable liners or eco-diapers

All three types of diapers are harmful to the environment, however, there are ways to midigate the environmental impact of each if we try.

It says that all three types of diapers are equally harmful to the environment, although the hybrid diapers haven't been studied.

The study found the 3 types studied have the same harmful impact for the environment, however they did not look at the hybrid diapers like G-diapers.

Eco-Diapers

Dr. Greene likes hybrid diapers—the reusable diapers equipped with flushable, biodegradable liners however all diapers are bad for the enviornment your better going GDiapers

The study found that of all 3 types, disposable, laundered, and cloth, none prevailed as being more environmentally friendly than the other. Where we can make a difference is in how eco-concious we are when we purchase and process our diapers.

The article states that cloth, disposable and laundered are all equally harmfull to the environment. It says there are ways to improve on all of these, such as the eco-diaper. Not involved in the study was the hybrid which Dr. Greene likes!

This study found that overall environmental impact is about the same for all three options they did consider. I had no idea that the findings would come out like this! I always assumed cloth diapers were more environmentally friendly and never took the time to consider the energy it takes to wash them every day. Thanks for the article and link to the great website!

While most diapers (cloth and disposable) have about the same overall environmental impact there are smarter choices within reach option. According to Dr. Greene, there is a big difference between cotton grown drenched in toxic chemicals and cotton organically grown, between sustainable forestry and irresponsible logging, between dioxin-producing chlorine gas in pulp mills and bleach-free diapers. If you choose cloth diapers, the first focus should be on reducing the energy used during washing and drying and reducing fuels and emissions during transportation. If you choose disposable diapers, focus first on greener manufacturing, such as used by the Eco-Diapers, reusable diapers equipped with flushable, biodegradable liners.

Tricky question! The article surprised me when it stated that all three types of diapers that were studied (disposable, cloth laundered at home, and cloth commercially laundered) have about the same overall environmental impact. However, the study didn't look at "green" alternatives for each diaper type, nor did it consider hybrid diapers. The article basically concludes that whatever type of diaper you choose, it's important to consider ways in which environmental impact is minimized (either by you in laundering cloth diapers, or in the manufacturing process of any of the diaper types).

Just an aside, but where I live we have mandatory composting which gets picked up weekly with garbage or recycling, and you can put disposable diapers into the compost bins! So if you go that route, at least only part of the disposable diapers are ending up in landfills...

The article states that all three diapers have an unavoidable negative impact on the environment, but it helps by listing ways to reduce that negative impact, i.e. reducing energy/use of electricity.

After reading the article, it sounds to me like there really isn't a 'better' choice. Each of the diapers study had a different, but equal, impact on the environment. However, the author did speak about the re-usable diapers with a flushable liner as an alternative to the other 3 diaper options. Hmmm...tricky question. :-)

What I got from the article is that all three types he focused on had equal enviromental effects. He did seem to recommend the "hybrid" diapers though.

Thanks, very interesting article!

All diapers are equally bad for the environment. we need to all be "greener" in whatever diapers we choose to use.

all three of the types looked at come out about equal, therefore one must instead look at making their choice greener- whatever choice that is.

Basically, the article says that all three have their flaws and are all harmful to our environment in some way. He seemed to recommend the hybrid diapers though.

There is no better diaper for the environment. Each type of diaper has its own pros and cons as to how its made, cleaned or disposed of.

From the article it looks like cloth and disposable each effect the planet negatively. There is also the option of hybrid diapers or *Eco Diapers* which may actually be a better alternative but were not included in the study.

Cloth diapers washed at home.