Dyper Bamboo Review
The Skinny
Compare to Similar Products
This Product
Dyper Bamboo | |||||
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Awards | |||||
Price | $0.59 List $0.71 at Amazon | $0.56 List $0.56 each at Amazon | $0.27 List $0.27 each at Amazon | $0.33 List | $0.31 List $0.31 at Amazon |
Overall Score | |||||
Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Compostable, soft, eco-friendly, surprisingly durable | Super absorber, great leak protection, comfy, durable, free from chlorine, fragrance, and lotions | Excellent absorption, great leak protection, comfortable, durable, inexpensive | Great absorbency, few leaks, very durable, fragrance and lotion-free, TCF | Better absorption, good leak protection, comfortable, durable |
Cons | Expensive to buy and compost, poor absorption and leak protection, carbon footprint? | Expensive, primarily available online | Not eco-friendly, uses coloring/inks | Uses inks | Not eco-friendly, disappointing health attributes |
Bottom Line | We give kudos for the composting service with this diaper, but the performance is so poor eco-friendliness must be your main concern | This super absorbing diaper offers great leak protection, comfort, and nods to the environment and baby's health, but it will cost you | A high-performing diaper that works well and has a reasonable price, but isn't as eco-friendly as you might want | Absorbent, durable option with good leak protection and impressive considerations for health and eco-friendliness | Cozy with great absorption and leak protection at a lower price, but eco-friendliness and health attributes are disappointing |
Rating Categories | Dyper Bamboo | Parasol Clear and Dry | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Snug & Dry |
Absorption (45%) | |||||
Leakage (25%) | |||||
Comfort (20%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Dyper Bamboo | Parasol Clear and Dry | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Snug & Dry |
Type of Diaper Green/Traditional | Green | Green | Traditional | Green | Traditional |
Chlorine-Free ECF/TCF | TCF | TCF | ECF | TFC | Not Listed |
Fragrance-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No - Strong baby powder scent |
Biodegradable | No, but there is a "REDYPER" program to send back used diapers for composting (costs additional $) | Not listed | Not listed | No | Not listed |
Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Miscellaneous Materials Details | Cellulose, Non-Woven Fabrics, PLA, Super Absorbent Polymer, Thermoplastic Adhesive, Elastics | Made with "Drylock" technology, which means less wood pulp is used for core of diaper | Made with Plant Based Materials (At least 23%+ by weight) | TCF fluff pulp from sustainably managed forests, a high-performance Super Absorbent Polymer, polypropylene/polyethylene/polyester nonwoven fibers, plant-derived PLA nonwoven fiber, spandex strands, and an elastomeric fill | Wood Pulp Sodium Polyacrylate Polypropylene Polyethylene Adhesives Polyester Polyrurethane elastics |
Wetness Indicator | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stretchable side wings | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stretchable Back of Diaper | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Eco-Awards & Certifications | "B" Certified Corporation | Nordic Swan Eco Label, PEFC Forest Sustainability, PETA Cruelty-Free and Vegan, Original Excellent Dermatest , FSC, ROHS compliant | Good Housekeeping ~ "2022 Parenting Awards" New York Magazine ~ "Best Diaper Subscription" ptpa.com ~ "winner" |
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Dye-Free | Not listed, does not have a print | Uses water-based inks | Not listed, does have a print | No | "Printing inks are used to provide a decorative design. The colorants and pigments we use are evaluated to ensure they are safe and non-sensitizing." |
Lotion-Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Listed |
Latex-Free | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Dyper is a unique diapering brand trying to change the face of how we diaper little ones. With a goal of preventing diapers from ending up in the landfill and using renewable resources like bamboo, this company is leading the way in creating a more eco-friendly disposable diaper.
Performance Comparison
Likes
The Dyber Bamboo diapers are super soft and comfortable and almost feel like the softest pillow. They are also shockingly durable, given their softness. We rarely see a diaper that can pull off both comfort and durability together, as you typically sacrifice one over the other.
These diapers are also compostable by sending them back to the manufacturer. To be clear, while you can return them at a cost to prevent them from ending up in a landfill, they cannot be tossed in your compost pile out back or at your neighborhood composting station.
Dislikes
This diaper has one of the worst absorption test results in the group.
Given that absorption is really the critical aspect of a diaper, it is hugely disappointing, and we suspect you might end up using 2-3 times more diapers with this brand than others. It also doesn't seem to offer the best leak protection, and users report more leaks than most of the competition.
Last, while these diapers are compostable, we aren't sure about the carbon footprint required to accomplish this. Whether you live in an area where a vehicle will drive to your house to pick up your soiled diapers, or you have to order the special return box, there is likely an environmental impact in your choice. Also, the processing of diapers in the compost plant raises questions about the process and its environmental impact. While we love the idea of diapers going somewhere other than the landfill, we wonder if it balances out or is just a wash in the environmental concerns landscape.
Cost
We traditionally don't say much about the cost as a like or dislike as everyone has a different budget and what they think is expensive or cost prohibitive. For Dyper, however, their structure and function are somewhat different than any other product, disposable or cloth. Dyper offers a composting service, which is the big plus and draw of this diaper. Using this service is why you choose Dyper over competitors, which makes them potentially better for the environment. If you buy Dyper Bambo diapers and toss them into a plastic bag and your traditional trash, they aren't much different than other green diapers, and they will not break down in a landfill. If you live in one of their included pickup zones, this process is relatively painless; you pay a monthly fee to pick your diapers up from your door. The price varies, so you'll need to check their website for details on your area. If you don't live in one of the cities where they offer this service, you'll be paying for a shipping kit from Dyper that, at the time of print, was close to $150. So, in essence, you could be paying for each diaper twice. This is a significant bump in the price of diapering, and we want to make sure our readers know this so it isn't a surprise later. If you don't plan to use this composting service, there really is no reason to choose Dyper over higher-ranking, better-absorbing options. If you plan to use it, we recommend factoring it into the lifetime cost of diapering to determine if your budget allows this added expense. It's also a good idea to factor in the time you need to expend preparing these diapers for transport and what that "costs" you translated into a dollar value.
Should You Buy the Dyper Bamboo?
We like Dyper Bamboo, but less for its effectiveness and more for the ability to prevent your diapers from hitting the landfill without using cloth diapers. This diaper is unique, with a composting process of home pickup or delivery back to the company to stop your diaper contribution to the landfill. We love this idea and the convenience of a disposable diaper that has less impact on the environment. If your goals include eco-friendliness at the top, and your budget is bigger than average, Dyper might be a great option for you. If you can't afford the price of sending diapers back to Dyper or your goal is effective absorption with few leaks, it won't be the best fit for your needs.
What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?
Dyper is not the most effective diaper in this lineup, so it isn't our favorite or the one that meets a diaper's primary goals. While it's great to consider the environment and what you put into the landfill, this diaper might be out of your budget or result in leaks and added laundry or cleanup duty to prep for shipping. For those folks, you might consider Eco by Naty. Eco is also eco-friendly, compostable under the right circumstances, and is a B corporation using renewable resources. This diaper is a good option for those who want good absorption without forgetting the impact on the Earth. Parasol Clear and Dry is also a potential option for green-loving diaper enthusiasts, with one of the highest absorption scores in the group. While it is also expensive, the composting process has no secondary cost.
Manufacturer Video
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