THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY: Disposable and Reusable Diapers--a Life-Cycle Analysis

This teaching note, prepared by the World Resources Institute's Sustainable Enterprise Program, discusses a life-cycle analysis comparing disposable and reusable diapers conducted by Arthur D. Little for The Procter & Gamble Company. It evaluates the environmental trade-offs between the two options and details P&G's corporate responses to negative publicity regarding disposable diapers.

• The environmental impact of disposable and reusable diapers varies by resource type: disposables use more raw materials, while reusables require more water and nonrenewable energy resources.
• The preference between diaper types depends on regional environmental priorities; for example, reusables are superior in areas where solid waste is the primary concern, such as New York, whereas disposables are preferable in water-poor regions like California.
• The environmental estimates for disposable diapers may be inaccurate because they assume incineration is the preferred waste management method, despite significant opposition and the fact that most disposable diapers are currently landfilled.
• To address negative publicity, P&G established a $20 million fund in 1990 for solid waste research and composting, launched a recycling project in Seattle, and engaged Burson-Marsteller for a lobbying campaign using the Arthur D. Little study.
• The cost of reusable diapers varies based on the laundering method, ranging from 7 to 9 cents when washed at home to 13 to 17 cents when using a service.

APA

World Resources Institute (1994). THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY: Disposable and Reusable Diapers--a Life-Cycle Analysis. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/tn_1-56973-168-3_teaching_note_english.pdf

Chicago

World Resources Institute. THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY: Disposable and Reusable Diapers--a Life-Cycle Analysis. 1994. https://pdf.wri.org/bell/tn_1-56973-168-3_teaching_note_english.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY: Disposable and Reusable Diapers--a Life-Cycle Analysis |date=1994 |url=https://pdf.wri.org/bell/tn_1-56973-168-3_teaching_note_english.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitute1994procter, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{THE PROCTER \& GAMBLE COMPANY: Disposable and Reusable Diapers--a Life-Cycle Analysis}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {1994}, url = {https://pdf.wri.org/bell/tn_1-56973-168-3_teaching_note_english.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }