Scandinavian mothers place high demands on their choice of diaper. Beyond requirement for high performance that will keep our baby's bottom dry, we're particularly sensitive to the environmental impacts of the diaper. We'll usually look for diapers that are free of hazardous chemicals and made from all natural materials. Not only to protect the environment, but also to protect our baby's toosh from harsh chemicals.
There are two Scandinavian diapers with these features widely available at major online retailers in the US. Danish Bambo Nature and Swedish/Finnish Naty by Nature Babycare.
At Scandinavian Living, we use both brands - and we're highly satisfied. here are our reasons for sticking to these eco-friendly performance winners.
Scandinavian diapers: Ecofriendly performance winners
by Sanne, 22 November 2015
Top-rated performance test winners
We use Bambo and Naty every day and can attest that these diapers satisfy all of our needs. While the occassional blow-out cannot be prevented, these diapers stand the tests for our wee ones - even for overnight use. We have never experienced a diaper rash with either of them, and we love the high quality feel. They may be eco-friendly, but ther are nice and soft.
If our word it is not enough, we can always turn to the good people at Baby Gear Lab for some extra support.
In their blog on the Battle for the Best Disposable Diapers, they took 24 disposable diapers - eleven green and thirteen traditional diapers - and put them to the test in a bum-to-bum competition to find the top-performing disposable diaper. With weighted scores in six different categories - absorbancy, leakage, comfort, health, eco-friendliness, and durability - Bambo and Naty outperformed the competition.
Bambo nature received 1st prize as the Editor's Choice Award and Naty by Nature Babycare took second prize.
Certified eco-friendly
The Scandinavian countries are known for their high environmental standards with some of the strictest rules for eco-labelling. Companies need to undergo a whole life cycle impact assessment - from raw material to production, consumption and watste - to obtain an eco-labe.
In this cycle, all raw material suppliers, business partners, distributors, and subsidiaries must adhere to similar environmentally friendly business practices in their daily operations. Otherwise, the production can't be certified eco-friendly. This speaks very highly of our selected diapers.
Bambo Nature was awarded the Nordic Swan Eco-Label (Svanemærket), the officiel eco-labe of the Nordic countries. Naty by Nature Babycare was awarded the Good Environmental Choice (Bra Miljöval) by the Swedish Society for Nature Conservancy.
Sustainably produced in Scandinavia
An average baby in the US goes through approximately 6000 diapers before being toilet trained. Imagine the amount of materials and chemicals that goes in to producing this load. for the sake of our future generations, it's essential that every consuming mom think about how the environment is impacted by our choices.
Bambo Nature is produced in Denmark. It has earned recognition from the Forestry Stewardship council for it's sustainable production. The FSC provides verification of the environmental and social performance that ensures responsible management practices of forests. It's the globally trusted label for businesses and consumers looking to make informed purchasing decisions concerning forest products.
Naty by Nature Babycare are developed in Sweden, but manufactured in Turkey using forestry poducts from Finland. The wood used for the pulp in the absorbent core is derived fro sustainable forestry, where more trees are planted than cut. Naty by Nature Babycare has also earned the FSC mark of recognition.
Made from natural and renewable material
Naty and Bambo are made from renewable raw materials such as sustainably-produced forestry products. Even their packaging and distribution are aimed at reducing waste and lowering the use of fuels. Packaging materials can be disposed of through recycling, incineration, or composting.
Both diapers claim to be completely biodegradable. However, it's worth noting that in order for the diapers to biodegrade, they should be kept out of landfills, where the lack of exposure to air will prevent the biodegradation process to take effect. And perhaps you didn't know this: but keeping poo out of landfills is far more important than keeping diapers out of landfills as feces present a biohazard risk and may seep into the groundwater. The correct thing to do is to flush the poo out before composting the diaper (or disposing of it in case you don't have the possibility to compost it).
100% chemical free
Most disposable diapers are made with chemicals. Bambo and Naty on the contrary are 100% free of chemicals and hazardous material. Their production cycle boasts the following:
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Zero chlorine used in the bleaching process and therefore free of dioxins.
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No chemicals or compounds from SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern).
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No known substances that are harmful to human health or to the environment, including Phthalates, Organotins (MBT, DBT, TBT), Heavy metals, Chlorine (Cl), Formaldehyde (HCHO), Colophonium, AZO-pigments, and PVC.
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No known allergens, irritating or locally irritating substances, sensitizing substances, mutagenic substances, or carcinogens.
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No optical brighteners, lotions, perfumes, essential oils or odor eliminators.
The chemical-free feature of Naty and Bambo has won them the seal of approval from the National Asthma and Allergy Associations of Denmark and Sweden. Such awards are recognition that both Bambo and Naty are dedicated not only to keeping our baby's bottom dry, but also to making a diaper that promotes human health and fights asthma and allergies.
A note on SAP: The secret ingredient in most diapers is a synthetic material called Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP). SAP's extraordinary ability to absorb 300 times it's weight in water makes it a magical component in the absorbent core layer inside the diaper. While researchers are now working on making a plant-based SAP, diapers are still made with the typical petroleum-based SAP, which is known to cause skin and respiratory tract irritation.
Both Bambo and Naty are committed to making a diaper using less SAP. Naty has designed an absorbent core with less SAP using a distribution layer made of natural wood pulp without plastic. Bambo uses less SAP by adding wheat starch - a natural absorbent material - instead.
Scandinavian design
No review of a Scandinavian diaper would be complete without mention of its design!
Both diapers offer a minimalistic design with a discrete pattern. We love Naty, with its light grey motived (made from soy0based ink). The Bambo Nature is an all-white diaper with a small image band around the waistline usually showing a cartoon figure (made from using printing ink free of heavy metals). Both work great underneath white pants or a dress.
Easily available on Amazon and Diapers.com
For all those busy moms relying on Amazon or Diapers.com to deliver diapers and wipes overnight, there's good news. Both Bambo and Naty diapers are available online with next-day delievery. This has certainly saved us a few times when the diaper stock was suddenly too low for comfort.
So, there you have it!
If you're looking for a disposable diaper that is sensitive to the environment and to baby's bottom without compromising on high performance, a Scandinavian diaper may be the right choice for you.