On a mission to raise a low impact baby? Let’s start at the bottom, by which we mean biodegradable nappies.
With 8 million nappies thrown away every day in the UK, it’s time we made a (nappy) change for the better.
Reusable nappies are ideal but we know disposables make days out or trips away easier. Or you might not be ready to make the leap to cloth yet, and that’s okay!
However you choose to doo(doo) eco-friendly diapers are a far cry better than traditional ones stinking up the planet with plastic pollution.
Progress, not poo-fection, right?
Fact: there isn’t a 100% biodegradable nappy yet, so know that right up front. However, we have found brands that are transparent about the extent to which their nappies are biodegradable, opt for more sustainable materials, prioritize green business practices and give to important causes.
We know that true sustainability requires more than this though so we have developed a new Brand Rating System through which we will rate brands against 22 different sustainability criteria. Learn more about this here and look out for rated brands below.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Our Top Picks: The Best (Partially) Biodegradable Nappies
Eco By Naty uses 60% plant-based and biodegradable materials for their vegan and OEKO-TEX certified nappies.
Certified B Corp Mama Bamboo’s 80% compostable content and 100% compostable packaging make for some of the best biodegradable nappies.
Index: Natural & Biodegradable Nappies
- Eco By Naty Jump to brand
- Bambo Nature Jump to brand
- Mama Bamboo Jump to brand
- Beaming Baby Jump to brand
- Ecoriginals Jump to brand
- Comfy Koalas Jump to brand
Eco By Naty
About Eco by Naty
Family-owned Swedish brand Eco by Naty has been on a biodegradable nappy-making mission since the 90s.
They’re now one of the world’s leading brands for nappies made from plant-based and compostable materials.
Certified vegan and made with TÜV Austria certified biobased ingredients, they’re tested for harmful substances via the OEKO-TEX 100 Standard.
They also sell pull-up pants, baby wipes, and sustainable period products.
Eco by Naty’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Eco By Naty’s nappies feature up to 60% plant-based and biodegradable materials, like FSC-certified wood pulp for absorption.
The nappies contain a small amount of superabsorbent polymer (SAP).
No oil-based plastic comes into contact with the baby’s skin and the elastic in the leg cuffs are covered with plant-based material.
Supply chain & labor practices:
None of their products are tested on animals and they partner with suppliers who uphold their code of conduct in terms of fair labor practices and minimal environmental impact.
Green business practices:
Their whole fem-care line, baby wipes, and disposable nappy sacks are 100% compostable, as is their sugarcane plastic nappy packaging.
Bambo Nature
About Bambo Nature
For biodegradable nappies that are skin and planet friendly, Bambo Nature has you (or rather your baby’s bottom) covered.
They are free of perfumes and parabens, have been dermatologically tested, and are certified by the Asthma Allergy Nordic label.
While the nappies are still partially so, their baby wipes are 100% biodegradable.
Bambo Nature’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Bambo Nature’s partially biodegradable nappies contain more than 30% biobased materials.
The fluff is made from FSC-certified wood fibers and is Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) and all ingredients are certified by the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Nappies and skincare products are made in Denmark and Bambo Nature is SMETA certified for its social practices.
Green business practices:
The nappies are made on energy-efficient machines using 100% renewable energy.
The Danish factory is ISO50001 certified for its energy-efficient practices and recycles 95% of production waste.
Nappy packaging is made out of 30% post-consumer recycled materials.
Mama Bamboo
About Mama Bamboo
Award-winning Mama Bamboo was the first European nappy company to become B-Corp certified, now B Corp’s highest-scoring diaper brand.
Although these bamboo nappies bear 80% biodegradable content, a nappy composting service isn’t currently available in the UK.
However, Mama Bamboo claims they can be home composted in a hot compost set up to safely destroy the bacteria and pathogens in human waste. Please note even in a hot setting, they will not break down quickly enough to be considered certified home compostable and won’t break down as quickly as kitchen scraps and yard trimmings.
Mama Bamboo’s Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Mama Bamboo’s bamboo biodegradable nappies are made from sustainably certified bamboo viscose with a plant-based liner and chlorine-free pulp, certified by FSC, OEKO-TEX 100, and the Vegan Society.
In three months, 60% will biodegrade. In an industrial or hot composting setting, 80% will degrade within two years.
Before composting, remove the non-biodegradable elastic tabs and ruching sections. Work is ongoing to establish a suitable yet compostable material for these sections.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The brand’s manufacturing plants are assessed by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and
certified to SMETA standards. 100% of product suppliers are screened against SMETA
standards.
Green business practices:
Mama Bamboo is certified carbon-positive from cradle-to-grave, offsetting 110% of their carbon
footprint through partners like ONCRA-approved Bamboo Village, and saved 275,109 gallons of
water in 2024 using bamboo rather than cotton or polyester.
They champion compostable materials in UCL’s three-year Comfort Loop program to develop the blueprint for zero-waste hygiene products. Collaborating with UCL and the University of Hertfordshire, they completed a Lifecycle Assessment proving that composting plant-based nappies is the most sustainable solution.
Their wipes are already certified home compostable and the nappy packing is 100%
industrially compostable (they recommend using it as a liner in your food waste bin).
Community & charitable giving:
Mama Bamboo has a formal written policy to donate a portion of products to charitable causes each year.
With The Ickle Pickles Children’s Charity Mama Bamboo designed Size 0 – Tiny Baby nappies to donate to 6 neonatal wards. Customers can also donate to the scheme via the Give Another Mother campaign where Mama Bamboo matches all donations pound for pound.
Beaming Baby
About Beaming Baby
Beaming Baby’s natural nappies from the UK are over 75% biodegradable—including packaging—within four years.
Only the velcro tabs and the elastic in the leg cuffs won’t degrade in that time.
These affordable biodegradable nappies are available in sizes 1-6.
Beaming Baby’s Ethical and Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The top sheet is made with natural cotton and cornstarch fibers paired with a GMO-free absorbent core.
They recently launched a new nappy made from organic bamboo.
Each one contains 54% fewer chemicals and will biodegrade 40% faster than standard nappies.
Green business practices:
The plastic nappy sacks contain an additive that enables them to break down in 2-5 years in a landfill.
Ecoriginals
About Ecoriginals
Looking for the best biodegradable nappies in Australia?
Ecoriginals’ are hard to beat, being made with over 90% plant-based materials—and that’s only until they achieve 100% biodegradability.
The nappies are free from harmful chemicals and both the nappy packaging and the brand’s wipes are 100% home compostable.
You can save 20% on cost with their subscription service, making them a good option if you’re looking for more affordable nappies.
Ecoriginals’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
The 90% natural materials include non-GMO corn starch, 100% cotton, and FSC-certified wood pulp.
Only the polyethylene (PE) front tape and tabs and lycra leg holes are stopping these from being completely plastic free nappies.
Ecoriginals use plant-based glue and there are no dyes, inks, or otherwise harmful chemicals.
Supply chain & labor practices:
The different nappy materials are sourced from the US, China, and Japan before being sent to Ecoriginals’ manufacturing partner in China.
The brand is looking for partners in Australia and New Zealand (where the wipes are made) but says that at the moment there isn’t any machinery outside of China that can make the nappies.
Green business practices:
Ecoriginals is a plastic neutral company. For every gram of plastic they use in their products, they collect and recycle an equal amount from the environment via Plastic Bank.
Their New Zealand wipe factory uses 100% renewable energy from wind, hydro, and solar and their Chinese nappy factory recycles all water.
Products are shipped in recyclable cardboard and the nappy packaging is 100% home compostable.
Community & charitable giving:
Ecoriginals plant one tree for every order to help offset their carbon emissions through their partnership with Ecologi.
Comfy Koalas
About Comfy Koalas
Founded by Sydney parents Nat & Mo, the Australian biodegradable nappy brand Comfy Koalas is on a mission to help curb plastic pollution and make safe nappies.
Dermatologically tested for sensitive skin, you won’t find any nasties including ink, dyes, chlorine, perfume, latex, or PVC.
With four sizes available, you’ll find biodegradable newborn nappies through toddler nappies.
For cheaper nappies, have a look at their subscribe and save service.
Comfy Koalas’ Ethical & Sustainability Practices
Materials:
Comfy Koalas’ nappies are made from 67% plant-based and biodegradable ingredients. This includes FSC-certified bamboo and chlorine-free wood pulp.
The absorbent core’s liner also contains a preservative-free pure aloevera gel.
The leg cuffs, front tabs, and waistband still contain plastic.
Comfy Koala’s nappies have been independently tested by SSG Labs and are completely free of toxins.
Supply chain & labor practices:
Comfy Koala nappies are ethically manufactured at an environmentally certified and regularly audited factory in China.
Green business practices:
The nappies are wrapped in 100% certified home compostable packaging made from GMO-free corn starch.
How To Dispose Of Biodegradable Nappies
First things first: it’s important to remember that biodegradable and compostable are not the same thing.
To be genuinely biodegradable, an item must break down into its natural components within a reasonably short period of time (within one year according to CFR guidelines).
To be compostable, they must break down within six months.
So unless they’re certified for composting, and until recycling services exist, biodegradable nappies have to be sent to landfill.
That may sound bad, but with average disposables taking 300-500 years to biodegrade, even if biodegradable nappies take 3-5 years, it’s still a massive improvement.
An important factor to consider is the conditions that are needed to break down a nappy. The landfill environment is very different from an industrial composting setting.
To maximize biodegradability, use a biodegradable or compostable nappy bag, or wrap in old newspaper/paper packaging before putting it in your bin (but not inside a plastic bin liner).
With that in mind, are biodegradable nappies better for the environment? Absolutely.
While not perfect, they’re a much better choice than nappies that are made from oil-based plastic—at least until we unlock the secret to making disposable zero waste nappies.
However, if you’re keen to go for fully plastic free nappies, check out our advice on how to wash cloth nappies to talk you through the process (we promise it’s not as scary as it sounds!)
