The use of ecological or cloth diapers is not a new trend, since they were used a few decades ago, but with the appearance of disposable diapers this idea became a thing of the past. However, with the concern that has arisen for the care of the planet at a local and global level, cloth diapers have reappeared, offering an ecological alternative with different materials that are more friendly to the environment.

The use of ecological or cloth diapers is a trend that has been gaining strength; More and more fathers and mothers are opting for this alternative that brings benefits for the environment and for their babies.

How do ecological diapers contribute to caring for the environment?

Laura Ximena Sánchez, creator of Eco Agugú, a company that manufactures cloth diapers, affirms that ecological diapers greatly help to care for the environment since “they can be reused more than 1,000 times and can be used in subsequent generations, depending on the care, washing and maintenance that we do to the diaper”.

"In addition, when it comes time to dispose of them, they take more than a year to degrade compared to disposable diapers that take 500 years," adds the businesswoman.

Another contribution to the environment is saving water. People tend to think that with ecological diapers more water is used because they have to be washed every time they are used. The reality is that less water is used, according to Laura, “15 liters of water are used to wash 15 to 20 diapers. While for the manufacture of a disposable diaper 545 liters of water are needed”.

On the other hand, taking care of the baby's health and saving money are additional benefits, because, in addition to being made with natural fibers and not causing chafing or burns on the baby's skin, a Colombian family saves more than 6 million of weights. "With cloth diapers, only 15 to 20 units are needed for the entire stage of a baby," explains Laura.

The ecological diapers that Laura Ximena manufactures are made of waterproof polyester on the outside while, on the inside, they have a four-layer bamboo charcoal and bamboo cotton insert that absorbs the baby's urine and keeps it dry.

Problems that disposable diapers bring in the environment

It is undeniable that the use of disposable diapers pollutes and is harmful to the city's environment.

The Bogotá Aqueduct and Sewer Company (EAAB) revealed that the waste that is most found in the capital's sewer system is disposable diapers, sanitary towels and condoms, as well as elements of hygienic and sanitary material. "Those kinds of things are what end up in the Salitre Wastewater Treatment Plant and, additionally, end up clogging the networks," says the manager of the aqueduct, Cristina Arango.

Laura explains that "a baby spends an average of 6,000 to 7,000 disposable diapers." This figure in itself is considerable, but if we multiply it by the number of babies in Bogotá, this number is really very alarming. The EAAB affirms that these wastes make up almost half of the garbage that citizens throw into the sewer system, with the consequent problems of clogging in the pipes that prevent the passage of wastewater that flows through the sewer system.

On the other hand, there is another that arrives daily at the landfills. In addition to taking up too much space in these landfills, when they are deposited for a long time in the city's dumps, they release a liquid that is made up of toxic chemicals (leaching) that seep into the ground and reach the rivers and seas.

Let us remember that a disposable diaper takes 500 years to disintegrate, and even if it is thrown into plastic bags, it will not have the normal means to decompose such as light and oxygen, which will delay the degradation process for many years.

The waste of water and the felling of trees is also another problem. The production of just one disposable diaper requires the amount of 545 liters of water; additionally, for the production of 7,000 diapers, approximately 10 trees are cut down for a single baby, the equivalent of a million trees in a year”, says Laura.

Some recommendations

According to the Aqueduct and Sewerage Company, there are sectors of the city where the obstruction of networks by hygienic material occurs more frequently, among them, the center, Avenida 1° de Mayo, Siete de Agosto, Las Ferias, the Carrera 15 between streets 72 and 100 and areas surrounding Kennedy Central and Bosa La Estación.

Although the rainy season has passed, the Bogotá Aqueduct and Sewer Company continues to carry out preventive and network maintenance operations.

Likewise, the company recommends not throwing fats and oils or preservatives, sanitary napkins and diapers down the toilet, because they could cause obstructions in the city's wastewater pipes.

The manager of the Aqueduct Company, Cristina Arango, calls on citizens to contribute with their culture to clean up the city.

For its part, the District Institute for Risk Management and Climate Change (IDIGER) recommends that citizens do not throw solid waste into the street or into bodies of water and the sewage system. solid waste, established by your local cleaning company

Verify that the aqueduct and sewage systems of your property do not present leaks or tiebreakers. Clean the rainwater collection systems (canals, gutters) and carry out the necessary corrective maintenance.

And report any incident to line 123.

In conclusion, we could say that ecological cloth diapers are a better option. Although it doesn't matter what type of cloth diaper you choose for your baby, the most important thing is to do your bit for the environment, make a healthier choice for your baby and save money.

For more information on this topic, you can contact Laura Ximena Sánchez at @eco_agugu, Eco Agugú or https://ecoagugu.com/