Why Bleach at All?
To make an absorbent diaper core, manufacturers shred wood into a fibrous pulp. In its natural state, this pulp is brown and full of lignin, which repels water. Bleaching removes the lignin, making the fluff soft, highly absorbent, and bright white.
Historically, they used elemental chlorine gas. This caused an environmental disaster, as the bleaching process dumped massive amounts of Dioxins into rivers.
“Dioxins are among the most toxic environmental pollutants known to science. We want them nowhere near a baby's most sensitive skin.”
— Renee Says
Section Summary
- Bleaching is required to make wood pulp absorbent.
- Old methods used chlorine gas, creating toxic Dioxins.
ECF vs. TCF
ECF (Elemental Chlorine-Free): Due to environmental outcry, the industry shifted to ECF. This uses Chlorine Dioxide instead of raw chlorine gas. It significantly reduces Dioxin creation (by over 90%) but does not mathematically eliminate it. The vast majority of standard diapers (Huggies, Pampers, Honest, Kirkland) are ECF.
TCF (Totally Chlorine-Free): This process abandons chlorine entirely, using hydrogen peroxide, oxygen, or ozone to whiten the pulp. It is mathematically impossible to generate Dioxins using this method. This is why premium non-toxic diaper brands obsess over TCF certification.
Section Summary
- ECF reduces Dioxins but does not eliminate them.
- TCF uses oxygen/peroxide, generating zero Dioxins.
- TCF is better for the environment and the baby.