Materials List

For my paper, I am writing about disposable and reusable diapers in terms of their life cycles and sustainability. So far I have found the materials for each type of diaper.

80% of the United States uses disposable diapers, equaling around 82,000 tons of plastic and 250,000 trees². Disposable diapers contain several different wood and plastic products, approximately “43% wood pulp (Fluff pulp), 27% super absorbent polymer (SAP), 10% polypropylene (PP), 13% polyethylene (PE), and 7% tapes, elastics and adhesives¹.” They are typically constructed of a plastic outer layer with some form of fasting mechanism and the inside, which is made of luff pulp, provides the absorptive property². There is also a plastic bottom layer in order to prevent leaks and the waist elastics contain Velcro material². The wood pulp used in diapers can come from forest waste materials like wood thinnings and sawmill waste. Re-usable diapers can made with an array of materials including polyester, terry cotton, and cotton, in combination with absorptive material like bamboo, hemp, and other ‘stay-dry’ fabrics. The waterproof layers of these diapers contain polyurethane laminate and thermoplastic polyurethane2.

AumAumonier, Simon, Michael Collins, and Peter Garrett. "An Updated Lifecycle Assessment Study for Disposable and Reusable Nappies." Nappy Informative Service. Environment Agency, 2008. Web. <http://www.nappyinformationservice.co.uk/docs/SCHO0808BOIR-E-E.pdf>

Clothh  versus Disposable Diapers." Appropedia: The Sustainability Wiki. Appropedia, n.d. Web. 02 May 2014.       <http://www.appropedia.org/Cloth_versus_disposable_diapers>.

Energy Use in a Day

1. Brushed teeth, water running for 30 seconds.

2.  bathroom

3. Took 12 minute shower

4. Ate a pop tart as I walked to class. Threw wrapper in trash

5. purchased a Dr. pepper from the vending machine in willet, threw can in trash

6. got a subway sandwich from the U.C., wrapped in paper and in a plastic bag, also got a bag of chips and dr pepper

7. Ate in my room and then threw away trash in the dumpster behind where I live

8. worked on homework, had my computer plugged in the outlet for electricity

9. Drove 9 miles to work in my car

10. used the bathroom twice at work and used paper towels to dry my hands

11. drove 9 miles back to campus. 

12. Ate leftover food in my fridge, threw container in trash

13. Washed my face and brushed my teeth, water running for approximately one minute.

I find it hard to extrapolate my energy use over a year using this information because I never have the same daily routine. I don't drive 18 miles everyday, sometimes 3 or 4 times a week or sometimes none, and maybe I have errands to run. I guess its safe to say I have a lot of personal trash because all my food containers got thrown in the dumpster. I also think I use a lot of electricity for charging my phone and computer and on some days I use a hairdryer. On a population level, this equals a lot of waste. My paper on diapers has also made me realize how much stuff we use and how much trash we create. In fact, diapers take up a significant amount of the space in landfills.