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Our diapering journey and review of the REDYPER SubscriptionWhen we had Ruby we thought we would go the cloth diaper route. Quickly after she was born we realized that this was not for us and we switched to Honest brand diapers. We thought since they didn’t have many of the harsh chemicals and were non-toxic and “clean” that they would be a great choice to use on Ruby as well as a better choice for the planet. We used them happily for 2 and a half years (until she potty trained). They worked great for us- minimal leak issues, her skin didn’t react to them and cute prints to boot! But one day after chatting with my brother-in-law (who by the way is one of the smartest people I know, along with his wife- my sister…) told me that even though these diapers are plant based, they still would take DECADES to break down in a landfill- which is where our diapers were going. I was shocked to learn this. "A landfill is not a composting facility," the California Integrated Waste Management Board says on its website. "Nothing degrades well in a landfill." Oh Sh!t-the shocking facts about biodegradable diapers After doing some research I found out some statistics to go along with this new revelation : “ biodegradable diaper can take 50 years to decompose in a landfill, all the while emitting methane, a harmful greenhouse gas. 50 years is a long time, but it's significantly less time than 500 years, which is how long it takes regular diapers to break down.” And without getting into the nitty gritty of the science behind this…. That 50 year estimate is a best care scenario… "A landfill is not a composting facility," the California Integrated Waste Management Board says on its website. "Nothing degrades well in a landfill." This is because due to a lack of oxygen and microbes in landfills, things just DON’T break down. “Disposables of any sort won’t biodegrade in landfill sites, as landfill sites are managed to keep decomposition as low as possible due to the gases and liquid that leaches out”So to “break this down”(no pun intended)- all of those “biodegradable” diapers are NOT as earth friendly as you think….HELLO greenwashing! They ARE more earth friendly due to their makeup, and certainly are better for your child (the stuff in traditional diapers are really yucky), however they are still ending up in a landfill for MANY decades to come...not ideal! "A landfill is not a composting facility," the California Integrated Waste Management Board says on its website. "Nothing degrades well in a landfill. Our switch to Dyper and ReDyperFor these many reasons we have switched to DYPER and we use their REDYPER service. These diapers are made of responsibly sourced bamboo (bamboo grows quickly without fertilizer). DYPER diapers are free of chlorine, latex, alcohol, lotions, TBT or Phthalates. They're unprinted, unscented, soft to the touch, and we have found them to be durable and absorbent. AND WON’T END UP IN A LANDFILL! They have partnered with TerraCycle in order to provide composting for their diapers. By subscribing to the REDYPER service- you are ensuring that your diapers will be composted (as human waste is difficult to compost properly and you can’t do it at home with poopy nappies at all…) Additionally, Dyper purchases carbon offsets to help reduce the footprint of your diapering journey. How Dyper and ReDyper WorkDYPER subscription is much like any other diaper subscription. We made an account where we can customize the size, frequency and amount of diapers/wipes to be mailed to us. They also have an SOS feature if you are close to running out...all parents know that panicky feeling! Now on to REDYPER... First of all, with any solid waste (-ahem if you're reading this you're probably a parent and poop talk is standard) we try and roll it into the toilet. Then, we have an Ubbi pail with a reusable cloth liner where we deposit the used diaper. When that gets full we transfer those soiled diapers into the REDYPER bag and box that we keep in the garage. When that is full we zip tie it shut, print out a label and send it away to TerraCycle to deal with it properly. As a subscriber to the REDYPER™ service, we are provided with the bags, boxes and prepaid shipping labels designed to safely transfer the diapers. All parts of the process are designed with safety in mind and engineered to the strictest United Nations Haz Mat shipping standards. The BOTTOM line...hah see what I did there?Diapering is a personal choice and many factors go into what is the right choice for your family. We understand that diapers are a huge financial cost and at the end of the day, affordability is key. To be able to compost our diapers and provide our children with non-toxic diapers is a PRIVILEGE that we recognize. Environmentalism is very much intertwined with race, class, and privilege and I have so much learning to do on this topic...but please understand that I do not write this in hopes to shame anyone for their choice, but instead to let them know that this service exists and why we have chosen to use it. I hope that one day all parents will be able to have this choice for their children and our planet.
If you are interested in using Dyper, I have an affiliate link that you can use here: https://dyper.com/?ref=allisonzilinek
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