Disposable Bamboo Diapers: Pros/Cons to Consider

Several diaper brands now offer disposable diapers that have the top and back sheet (the inner and outer layers of the diaper) made from 100% bamboo fibers. Are disposable bamboo diapers safe for your baby? Bamboo disposable diapers are in the premium category – are they worth paying extra? What are the pros and cons of bamboo diapers, and what is bamboo fiber, anyway? Let’s dive right in, so that you know what bamboo baby diapers are all about (and why everyone’s talking about them)!

In this article:

• What is bamboo fiber?
• How is bamboo viscose made?
• Is bamboo viscose safe for babies?
• Pros and cons of disposable bamboo diapers
• Are disposable bamboo diapers eco-friendly?
• Are disposable bamboo diapers biodegradable?
• Are bamboo diapers antibacterial?
• Bamboo diapers made in the USA
• Best disposable bamboo diaper brands
• Summary: Are bamboo diapers worth it?

What is bamboo fiber?

Bamboo fiber is a type of fiber derived from the obvious – the bamboo plant.

Although tough like wood, bamboo is actually a type of grass. A very versatile grass that can be turned into a durable construction material or very soft fabric.

A few different fibers can be produced from bamboo, but the majority of bamboo-based fabrics worldwide are made with bamboo viscose. Bamboo viscose is also the type of fiber used in disposable bamboo diapers.

Now, even though the source material in bamboo fiber production is fully natural – the pulp of the bamboo plant, bamboo viscose is considered a semi-natural material because the conversion of bamboo into fiber requires a certain amount of processing. (Which is why another name for bamboo fiber is “regenerated cellulosic fiber” – more on what that process entails below.)

The bamboo viscose used in disposable diapers is a non-woven type of fabric. This simply means that the fibers aren’t woven or knitted like standard fabrics are, but rather arranged or entangled in a desired structure and bonded by thermal, mechanical, or chemical means. Nonwoven fabric doesn’t have the same strength and durability as standard woven or knitted fabrics and is popular for use on things made for single-use applications.

How is bamboo viscose made?

There are multiple ways to turn bamboo into fiber, but typically this is achieved with the use of chemical solvents like sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide which break down the bamboo pulp into a viscose solution (hence the name, bamboo viscose). The liquid mass is forced through a spinneret (a device with tiny holes) which in itself creates the fiber, and the formed fibrous filaments are solidified by the use of an acidic compound. The produced fibers are stretched, washed, bleached/dyed, dried, and spun into yarns.

Bamboo fiber can also be made by omitting chemical solvents, using natural enzymes instead, but this process is much less common and the produced fiber not as soft as viscose.

If bamboo fibers are bleached, this processing step shares the same principles as the fluff pulp bleaching in the diaper’s absorbent core and can be either elemental chlorine-free (ECF) or totally chlorine-free (TCF). (More on TCF vs. ECF bleaching here.)

The chemicals used in bamboo viscose production can vary between production plants, but the three most commonly used chemicals seem to be:

• sodium hydroxide
• carbon disulfide
• sulfuric acid

Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) is a widely used substance in the textile industry in general. This chemical compound is routinely implemented in the processing of cotton, including some organic cotton, and is approved by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). Sodium hydroxide is neutralized in the chemical matrix of the viscose fiber-making process and does not remain as a residue on the fibers.

Carbon disulfide is a colorless liquid with a strong odor that readily evaporates when exposed to air. Any last bits are force-evaporated by decompression during processing. Before the viscous mass is run through the spinning nozzles, carbon disulfide has been removed.

Sulfuric acid appears to be the most commonly used substance in the acid bath applied towards the end of the viscose-making process. The diluted acid solution hardens the extruded fibrous filaments and converts them back to cellulose. The fiber is thoroughly rinsed to remove any residual acid.

Is bamboo viscose safe for babies?

Overall, there seems to be a widely accepted consensus that none of the processing chemicals of the bamboo viscose manufacturing process remain on the finished fibers.

Many bamboo viscose textiles in general as well as some disposable bamboo diapers are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. Certifications like OEKO-TEX can be helpful in assessing the safety of products particularly if they are made outside of North America or Europe where there may not be as much oversight.

Does OEKO-TEX screen for aaaaaall chemicals out there? No. But it does check for several hundred substances that are known to be harmful to human health. And that’s certainly better than nothing.

Related: The Single Best Baby Powder Alternative (Safe & Cheap!)

The biggest threat of exposure to chemicals used in the viscose manufacturing process seems to be for the workers – mostly by inhalation if the chemical compounds used are not being managed properly, and secondary for the environment by the same causes. If proper measures aren’t taken, harmful byproducts from the manufacturing process of bamboo viscose can be released into the air and waterways surrounding the production facility.

But, in all fairness, this is true for the manufacture of most materials today across all industries. Disposable diapers made with plastic or other fibers share the same concerns. In the end, even cotton cultivation and processing can cause harm to the farmers and cotton processors, as well as negatively impact the environment.

On the other hand, some viscose manufacturers are able to significantly reduce the environmental impact of making bamboo fibers with the application of a closed-loop production process which captures and reuses all or most of the chemicals and water used during viscose manufacture.

Now that we’ve covered what bamboo fiber is and how bamboo viscose is made, let’s talk about the pros and cons of bamboo disposable diapers, so that you know what to expect when using them!

Pros and cons of disposable bamboo diapers

Benefits of bamboo diapers:

• Bamboo diapers are very soft

The first thing you’ll notice about disposable bamboo diapers is that they are very smooth and soft to the touch. Bamboo viscose is even softer than cotton, with a texture similar to a blend of cashmere and silk. “Buttery soft and silky smooth” is how parents usually describe bamboo diapers once they try them.

• Thermo-regulating properties + breathability

Disposable bamboo diapers can help keep your baby’s skin from overheating inside the diaper. Bamboo fiber is porous and allows for air circulation (provided the leak-proof film in the back sheet is breathable!).

• Moisture wicking

Supposedly, bamboo fibers are very absorbent thanks to an abundance of micro gaps in the fiber’s structure (some say bamboo fiber is even more absorbent than cotton). The bamboo top sheet in a bamboo disposable diaper has all the right qualities to swiftly wick moisture away from the skin.

• Naturally hypoallergenic

Bamboo viscose is considered naturally hypoallergenic and unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. If your baby has very sensitive skin, disposable bamboo diapers might be worth a try because the word is, bamboo viscose is gentle enough even for eczema-prone skin!

Drawbacks of bamboo diapers:

• Price

Disposable bamboo diapers are in the premium diaper category and are priced as such.

• Sizing

GENERALLY speaking, disposable bamboo diapers don’t always seem to follow traditional diaper sizing. Compared with most mainstream diapers they tend to run big, so finding the right size and fit might be somewhat of a challenge at first. Moreover, due to the generous sizing, you can’t always expect the Newborn size to actually fit your newborn well. (Or to fit your newborn at all…)

Eco Pea and Dyper are two well-known brands of disposable bamboo diapers that have recently addressed this issue and gave their diaper sizing a complete makeover, so there are more sizes to choose from now with these brands, and the newborn diaper should be a better fit for the youngest babies.

• Fabric lint on baby’s skin

Disposable diapers that aren’t made with synthetic petroleum-derived fibers are more likely to leave fibers (lint) on your baby’s skin, particularly when the diaper is wet. This may be concerning at first but is completely harmless.

• The exterior can feel damp

It’s not uncommon for a disposable diaper of any kind to feel damp on the outside once it is wet on the inside. The dampness is often just condensation from the diaper and not the contents leaking through. Because of bamboo’s excellent wicking properties and breathability, as the moisture evaporates through the outer layer of the diaper, the exterior of the diaper may feel wet to the touch.

Are disposable bamboo diapers eco-friendly?

In other words… Are bamboo diapers better for the environment than other disposable diapers???

The top and back sheets of most disposable diapers are made with petroleum-derived plastic fibers. Petroleum (crude oil) is a naturally occurring resource, but it’s not considered sustainable, and locating, producing, and transporting crude oil can have detrimental effects on the environment.

Bamboo, on the other hand, is a rapidly renewable resource that requires very little to flourish.

• Bamboo grows super fast

Bamboo is among the fastest growing plants on Earth. Some species of bamboo can grow at an astonishing rate of 1.5 inches per hour – like the Chinese Moso bamboo, the most popular bamboo variety used commercially for fabric production. Imagine that… you could literally watch the plant grow!

It takes about 3-5 years for Moso to reach harvesting height (which is around 75 feet), and the plant has little requirements throughout that growth period.

• Low watering needs

Like most other plants, bamboo seedlings need frequent watering to establish a healthy root system, but little to no irrigation is required to grow bamboo past this point which saves a considerable amount of water over the years it takes bamboo to reach maturity.

Even though bamboo is highly water-dependent initially as a young plant, replanting is rarely needed because of bamboo’s ability to self-regenerate through its underground rhizomes.

Once established, the same plant continuously produces new shoots, so when bamboo is harvested, the plant isn’t killed, therefore there is no need to re-plant and irrigate.

• Growing bamboo is not a chemically intensive process

Bamboo grows voraciously without the need for fertilizers, although fertilizers can be used in commercial bamboo farms and plantations to accelerate growth and achieve higher yield.

Routine pesticide and herbicide applications are not required in bamboo production due to an inherent antimicrobial element of bamboo, known as “bamboo kun,” which naturally deters a variety of pests, fungi, and bacteria that could otherwise cause damage to the plant. Depending on the farming practices, herbicides can be used to keep competing foliage down when the plants are very small, but bamboo grows so fast it is known to smother weeds before they even have a chance.

• Bamboo helps curb greenhouse gas emissions

Bamboo gets bonus points for the reduction in greenhouse gases. It absorbs carbon dioxide and releases about 25-30% more oxygen into the atmosphere in comparison with the same mass of trees.

Are bamboo diapers better for the environment?

Most baby diapers are made with fibers derived from crude oil. As for the usage of chemicals in baby diapers fiber production – between petroleum and bamboo, it’s a tie – chemicals are used either way. In raw material sourcing, bamboo disposable diapers beat mainstream diapers made with oil-based fibers.

Are disposable bamboo diapers biodegradable?

Bamboo fiber is biodegradable. If the top and back sheet of the diaper is made with 100% bamboo fibers, these components of the diaper will naturally break down over time, but the rate at which this happens will depend on the elements that facilitate the decay process.

For a biodegradable material to break down you need the proper balance of oxygen, light, and water, none of which exists in a modern landfill that’s designed to be airtight and closed-off from the elements. Even things like vegetable scraps will not easily biodegrade when placed in a landfill.

Other components of the diaper may not be made with biodegradable materials, like the elastics, the closing system, the leak-proof barrier, or parts of the core structure. Disposable diapers have several interconnecting layers made up of a variety of materials, so just having a bamboo top and back sheet does not make the entire diaper biodegradable.

Although the use of bio-based and biodegradable components in the disposable diaper industry has increased in the past decade, no disposable diaper is currently fully biodegradable.

Are bamboo diapers antibacterial?

Bamboo textiles, including bamboo viscose, are often advertised as having antibacterial properties.

“Our bamboo diapers are naturally antibacterial” – bamboo diaper manufacturers often claim as well.

The evidence of this is inconclusive.

Some studies have shown that bamboo viscose possesses a certain degree of anti-bacterial properties, but other studies dispute the antibacterial activities of viscose.

The antibacterial qualities of bamboo fibers are attributed to the bio-agent that bamboo naturally contains – the same “bamboo kun” that gives the plant a unique defense against fungi, bacteria, and pest infestations and prevents bamboo from needing intensive pesticide and fungicide treatments like most other commercial crops.

In many circles it is said that this intrinsic element (bamboo kun) is bound directly to the bamboo cellulose. Hence, it transfers onto the finished fiber.

Mechanically processed bamboo fibers treated with enzymes may retain some of bamboo’s inherent antibacterial properties. Possibly. But standard bamboo viscose is a chemically converted cellulose into fiber. I just can’t see how a bio-agent could withstand the chemically intensive process of making bamboo viscose. But that’s just my opinion.

Related: Is Polyester Safe for Babies?

Disposable bamboo diapers made in the USA

Currently, I’m not aware of any disposable bamboo diapers being made in the USA. At this time, all disposable bamboo diapers seem to be made in China.

It’s a bummer having what seems to be an “eco-friendly” disposable diaper alternative shipped to the U.S. across the world with all the additional resources this requires, but China is the biggest bamboo producer at this time, so I guess it makes sense that the processing is also kept there.

This helps keep the costs down and shipping would be part of the equation either way, be it finished products or raw or partially processed materials, but of course the ugly side of this is no oversight over the manufacturing process for the average consumer.

Which bamboo diapers are the best?

Now that you know about the pros and cons of bamboo baby diapers and that bamboo viscose is likely very safe for babies and bamboo disposable diapers more eco-friendly than mainstream diapers made with fibers derived from crude oil… which bamboo diapers are the best?

Here are 4 disposable bamboo diapers that are the most popular:

• Andy Pandy
• Dyper
• Eco Pea
• Little Toes

That said, the ONLY two things these 4 brands have in common is that the top sheet and back sheet is made with bamboo fibers and that all of them currently have a wetness indicator.

Other than that, there are MANY differences if you were to compare them next to one another. See a detailed comparison of the best bamboo diapers here, including how they measure up in cost. (A detailed comparison coming soon!!!)

(…If you’re interested in safer diapering, don’t skip a list of the safest baby wipes!)

Summary: Are bamboo diapers worth it?

With all the pros and cons of bamboo diapers considered???

Disposable bamboo diapers are rated favorably by parents for being soft and gentle on baby’s skin while being an environmentally-friendly alternative to some of the best-known diaper brands.

The environmental impact of cultivating bamboo is minimal.

The manufacturing process of bamboo viscose, on the other hand, is chemically intensive. However, by the time bamboo viscose is finished there appear to be no traces of the processing chemicals left over that could cause any harm.

That said, bamboo viscose manufacture can have dire impact on the health of workers and the environment if proper measures aren’t taken. We as consumers aren’t told the specifics of where each disposable bamboo diaper company sources their bamboo sheet material and what the environmental and human health toll is.

All things considered… Should you give bamboo diapers a try? Are bamboo baby diapers worth it?

If you want to stay away from plastic fibers in disposable diapers, then a disposable bamboo diaper is certainly worth a shot!

Resources:

---

• Comparison of regenerated bamboo and cotton performance in warm environment [ScienceDirect]
• Carbon disulphide and hydrogen sulphide emissions from viscose fibre manufacturing industry: A case study in India [ScienceDirect]
• Carbon Disulfide [UNEP]
• The Superiority of Bamboo Fibre – Softness, Breathability and Absorbency [The Bamboo Factory]
• Effect of Bamboo Viscose on the Wicking and Moisture Management Properties of Gauze [ResearchGate]
• Physical-Mechanical Properties of Bamboo Fiber Composites Using Filament Winding [NCBI]
• Carbon Disulfide – an overview [ScienceDirect]
• Bamboo Fiber Processing, Properties, and Applications [ResearchGate]
• Fibres and fabrics used in home textiles [ScienceDirect]
• Viscose and Lyocell Fibers from Bamboo Dissolving Pulp – A Scientific Review on Claimed Properties [Lenzing]
• Carbon Disulfide [ATSDR]
• Comparison of regenerated bamboo and cotton performance in warm environment [ScienceDirect]