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

The document analyzes the environmental trade-offs between disposable and reusable diapers, noting that disposables use more raw materials while reusables require more water and nonrenewable energy. It highlights how regional priorities—such as solid waste management in New York versus water scarcity in California—determine which product is environmentally superior. Additionally, it discusses the role of labor costs in the economic assessment of reusable diapers and details Procter & Gamble's corporate efforts to mitigate negative publicity through research funds, recycling projects in Seattle, and lobbying campaigns using the Arthur D. Little study.

• The environmental impact of disposable diapers may be overstated because they are used less frequently per week on average than reusable diapers.
• The environmental superiority of a diaper type depends on regional priorities: reusable diapers are preferable in areas with pressing solid waste issues like New York, whereas disposable diapers are better for water-poor regions such as California.
• Disposable diapers require more raw materials, while reusable diapers consume more water and nonrenewable energy resources.
• The cost of reusable diapers varies based on the laundering method, costing 7 to 9 cents when washed at home and 13 to 17 cents via a service.
• Procter & Gamble attempted to counter negative publicity by establishing a $20 million fund in 1990 for solid waste and composting research, launching a recycling project in Seattle, and conducting a lobbying campaign using the Arthur D. Little study.

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} }