Eco Disposables

When my daughter was born this past June, we had to make a number of important decisions about consumption, the biggest of which was going to be diapers. With disposables, the average baby goes through 10 to 12 diapers a day, which add up to a whopping 4,380 diapers a year! For a number of reasons, we decided to go with disposables and so the search began to find the best of the worst… in other words, we wanted to get disposables that were made out of renewable sources, that would decompose easily (even though landfills are anaerobic, perhaps making the criteria irrelevant), and that would be gentle against my baby’s skin.

The third criterion is especially important because most popular brands contain some pretty toxic substances and, unfortunately, the manufacturers are not required to disclose exactly what’s inside. But the list of components likely includes dyes, fragrances, as well as toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene and dipentene.

So what are these ‘enes’ and why should I keep them far away from my baby’s bottom? Well, some have been found to be endocrine disruptors, neurological toxins and respiratory irritants. It’s definitely not how I want to welcome my little one into the world! Using cloth diapers is really the preferred way to avoid chemicals, but a number of eco disposables have appeared on the market that are gentler on both baby bums and the environment (Guide to Less Toxic Products). What’s more, many include voluntary component lists.

I can only assume that the number of Mommies concerned with minimizing the impact of disposable diapers on bums/environment is growing and that we will continue to have more choices at a lower cost in the near future.

Here is a list of some choice brands currently available in Canada, links to further component information, and the cost for Size 1 diapers:

Earth’s Best Tendercare (56 for $19.99 at www.betterbabybums.ca)
Broody Chick 100% Natural and Fully Compostable (32 for $16.99 at www.betterbabybums.ca)
Nature Baby Care (40 for $18.95 at www.ecobotts.ca)
Seventh Generation (44 for $16.99 at www.betterbabybums.ca)
Bambo Nature (30 for $14.95 at www.ecobotts.ca)

Does it Work?

Can we really make a difference by purchasing, or more importantly, refusing to purchase certain products and services?

Yes, and I think it's important that we understand our individual and collective power by looking at past successful actions where consumers affected business practices to align with their values. Examples include anti-sweatshop, anti-pesticide and pro-organic movements, which in some cases lead to voluntary business codes of conduct or mandatory legislation. Whether we realize it or not, each time we decide to purchase a Canadian made T-shirt, natural pesticides, or organic eggs, we are saying 'no' to unlawful working conditions, chemicals in our environment, and factory farming, and that's having an impact on our economy. Very simply, it means a reduction in profit for companies that don't understand their customers' values and support outdated business practices. Ideally, consumer boycotts, or letter campaigns, or angry internet posts, will push companies to reevaluate their approach and innovate in order to better connect with their public. That can mean using their size and influence to spearhead industry change, like the Gap adopting a Sourcing Code that demands that all of its suppliers abide to certain labour standards and basic human rights. And we get to decide if the solution is acceptable to us.

Of course, we can and should take a more active role in the discussion about issues that matter to us; being an informed consumer is just one way we can partake. Understanding the reasons why we are buying something gives us control over our consumption, and knowing the issues means that we don't inadvertently condone something we don't agree with.

Voting at the Checkout

A couple of months ago, I was at breakfast with family and we started talking about the importance of informed consumerism. As consumers, we sometimes forget the power our choices and actions have on the market, and how we can use that influence to trigger social and political change. I thought it would be a good idea to spread the word about how we essentially vote at the checkout, and I imagined a world where we instill this idea in our children in the same way our parents instilled recycling in us.

When I was growing up, I often felt that I was simply told what I needed and what I wanted, and that 'things' entered my life because of the success of the large advertising budgets behind them. This was especially true in junior high school, where labels and brands ruled the school yard and I remember distinctly the enormous social pressure to wear the right kind of jeans.

Perhaps it's because popularity is no longer my number one concern, but today I make my purchase decisions based on criteria other than the label. Although I am not resistant to advertising, I am aware of its omnipresence and influence, and try to research my purchases by considering the implications of buying 'things' and supporting the companies behind them. I believe that the internet facilitates this type of analysis, which is evidenced by all the feedback that helps consumers distinguish between the quality of goods and services out there. As consumers, we not only expect that the companies we support provide great products, but we also want them to treat their employees fairly, to source their materials in a sustainable way, to give back to the community, etc. And I think that's a great thing. In essence, each time we make a purchase, we voice our opinion and we send a message about what we need, what we want, and what we are willing to support with our hard earned money. And that means that the decisions we make at the checkout have a huge impact on not only the market, but also the environment, social issues, and politics.

This is my blog where I hope to participate in the discussion about consumerism and encourage voting at the checkout.