Cloth vs. Disposable
It has always been the debate: which one is better than the other? Well, from
an environmental perspective, research has shown that neither washable nor
disposable nappy systems are better or worse for the environment than the
other. They simply affect different parts of the environment to a different
extent (UK Environmental Agency - 2005).
With this in mind then it is really up to each parent to decide which diaper
they want to adopt, and the choice can be grim. On the one hand, cloth diapers
are accused of using more water (a scarce resource), more electricity
(requiring fossil fuels or nuclear energy to generate) and releasing increasing
amounts of detergents and bleaches in nature. And this is not including the
amount of time it takes away from the already busy parents' schedule. On the
other hand disposables are said to kill trees, use plastics and chemical
bleaches during manufacturing generating harmful industrial effluents, cause
nappy rashes, and clutter our landfills for hundreds of years.
So if you ask us cloth or disposables? Well. baby first: we chose the diaper
which will protect our baby first, then protect our environment as much as
possible. Besides the cloth diapers, the only disposable available fitting the
bill was the Moltex Oko. And from experience, the convenience of the disposable
is really unbeatable.
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Disposables cause rashes all the time
It is true that while Etienne used cloth diapers he never developed a rash -
mind you, cloth diapers have to be changed every 2 or 3 hours so not enough
time for the skin to get affected. But it is also not true that all babies
wearing disposables will develop a rash - a myth developed by some industry
players in order to justify their use of harmful chemicals in their absorbent
gels.
As responsible parents, changing baby should be part of the ordinary feed, play,
sleep routine. Wearing a disposable does not mean one has to leave his baby
carrying overloaded nappies - this is plain selfish. The trend is for
manufacturers of disposables to brag at how many 'wettings' the diaper can
handle, or how many hours a reusable lining can last, without having to be
changed. Remember that diapers are not about you as a parent but what you can
do for your baby. And the little ones deserve to remain clean and happy, and to
be changed as often as needs be.
The Moltex Oko has added benefits as it is produced with unbleached cellulose
for softer touch on baby skin. It is also less likely to irritate their skin,
cause nappy rash or allergic reactions as it has no chlorine, deodorants, dyes,
lotions, antioxidants or unnecessary chemicals.
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The disposable diapers dilemma
Disposable diapers are a fairly recent addition to the modern parents' toolbox,
and as for many of the post-war inventions, maybe the manufacturers initially
overlooked a 'few details' to say the least.
Most of the claims against disposable diapers focus on the harm done to the
environment during the manufacturing process. According to these claims
disposables are using oil, energy, kill trees, and use lots of chemicals bad
for the skin and for the environment. The second argument against the
disposable relates to waste management. Numbers greatly vary but it is
estimated that disposables alone represent up to 5% of the total solid waste in
our landfills, and take up to 500 years to decompose.
The Moltex Oko answers all these issues and is the true environmentally friendly
disposable diaper. Manufactured in Germany with 50% renewable resources from
controlled cultivation, it does not use antioxidants, dyes or perfumes, has a
100% chlorine free absorbent core made of unbleached cellulose (bleaching used
to whiten diapers is a known human carcinogen, and the process generates
serious environmental pollutants), and a protective film which is 100%
biodegradable. And the Moltex Oko is the only diaper we know which can be
naturally broken down and turned into compost naturally within 8 weeks.
From manufacturing to waste management, the Moltex Oko is the best thing we can
do for our environment when it comes to diapering systems.
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Environmentally friendly: beware of false claims
Environmental claims are most fashionable these days but what do they really
mean?
Some disposable diapers advertised on the market make claims way beyond what the
manufacturers intended. If it is true that some manufacturers are now using
renewable resources and are managing their processes in a more environmentally
friendly manner. Their efforts are to be acknowledged, the products perform
very well, but their environmental claim stops here.
One such claim is how entirely biodegradable the diaper is. As far as we know,
only the Moltex Oko has had such a claim proven by end users. Through
vermicomposting - using earthworms to decompose and transform waste into usable
compost - several teams in Ireland have demonstrated that the Moltex Oko can be
entirely be broken down in 8 weeks. For more information see the excellent site
of Eco Baby:
http://www.ecobaby.ie.
A lot of literature on the web and in magazines is truly one sided - and this is
certainly true of the argument cloth vs. disposable diaper. So next time you
read the "Top Ten Arguments for/against." keep your eyes, and your critical
mind, open.
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More about the Moltex Oko
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| TWICE AS GOOD FOR YOUR
BABY |
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| Pro-ecology |
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manufactured with more than 50% renewable
resources from controlled cultivation. |
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produced with unbleached cellulose. |
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100% chlorine-free absorbent core and 20%
biodegradable absorbent gel. |
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100% biodegradable breathable protective film. |
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| Pro-baby comfort |
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elastic fastening system for a perfect fit. |
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classified as "skin friendly" in dermatological test. |
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For more information on why the Moltex Oko is the most desirable disposable
diaper solution, please see the excellent page of Moltex Oko's Western
Australia distributor:
http://www.thenappytree.com/why/index.php
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But environmentally friendly products are more expensive than generics
Manufacturers of environmentally friendly products go to great length to help
protect our environment and their efforts do cost money. But at Oko Loco we
believe that, in order to make a real impact on our environment, such products
should remain affordable and largely distributed.
So how much more?
Based on the daily average diaper consumption, the Moltex Oko will cost you
about S$1 per day more than other generic brands. Yes. only S$1 dollar per day
to help our environment in a very meaningful way is not much when a single cup
of coffee can cost over S$5.
And to make things even more interesting, at Oko Loco we have decided to
buy-back your un-used Moltex Oko diapers. So no more wastage or struggling with
diapers too small for your baby: call us and we will change them for you.
Terms and conditions
apply.
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