Jan 21 2009
Bend, Ore. mom develops green baby wipe-the first to market using Ingeo Fibers.
Many of my friends and family know that for the past year and a half my time has been consumed between my family and developing a “secret” baby care product. Well, my secret is finally out in the Bend Bulletin’s Savvy Shopper.
After becoming a mom, I became aware of all the chemicals added to baby wipes. Unhappy with any of the wipes on the market, I decided to create a product I felt comfortable using on my own baby’s skin. I spent the next year researching everything that goes into creating quality (and truly “green”) baby products and, armed with that knowledge, started Elements Naturals™.
The company’s first product is a 100% Natural and Renewable baby wipe that is the first to be made from Ingeo™ fibers, the world’s first man-made fiber made from 100% annually renewable resources. Ingeo™ fibers are free of chemical additives and surface treatments, and production requires 68% fewer fossil fuel resources than traditional oil-based materials.
Unlike other baby wipes, our wipe solution contains only plant-based ingredients derived from organic and natural resources, including certified organic aloe vera and is free of harsh synthetic chemicals and preservatives like phenoxyethanol, chlorine, parabens, and artificial fragrances.
Look for Elements Naturals™ wipes at Whole Foods(Bend, Ore) and Diapers.com in late February 2009.
If you would like to learn more about the company and our product(s) visit the Elements Naturals™ website.
Congratulations, and well done! I’m not a parent (and won’t be), but what a great way for you to help others get a healthier product!
Congratulations, Linda! I can’t wait to see Elements Naturals wipes being used by moms and dads everywhere!
You may want to check out Nature Baby Care products. They claim to be the greenest wipes and diapers on the market. Their wipes are also all natural and the packaging is biodegradable. I buy their products at diapers.com and noticed Amazon.com has them at good prices also.
Dear Sophia,
Thank you for your comment on my blog posting : Bend, Ore. Mom develops green baby wipe.
I feel that many consumers are misdirected with the claims “natural” and “biodegradable” and would like to share with you what I have learned while developing my baby wipe.
Most materials “biodegrade”, even disposable diapers it just takes 500 years for them to do so. What makes Elements Naturals wipes different from other wipes is that they are the first to be made from Ingeo Fibers (www.natureworksllc.com), a material that is derived 100% from annually renewable plant resources.
According to INDA, the leading Association of the Non Wovens Industry (i.e. Baby wipes) there is no “truly biodegradable” wipe on the market, except for Elements Naturals. Other wipes are a blend of wood pulp, rayon, polyester, polystyrene and cotton. Rayon, Polyester and Polystyrene are all petroleum based products. Companies use polyester and polystyrene to make the wipe stronger. Rayon and cotton are used to make the wipe softer. Wood pulp is used to be more “eco-friendly”. And all cotton wipes on the market contain only 15% cotton.
Our wipe material is compostable and in 180 days breaks down into a rich and vital nutrient for the soil; thus completing the “Cradle to Cradle” cycle rather than “Cradle to Grave”.
The fibers of Elements Naturals wipe material is bound by air while other wipes use a latex resin, resulting in rashes for most children.
Our solution is completely derived from natural and plant resources. Have you ever looked on the back of your baby wipes? Conventional wipes contain alcohol, parabens and other chemicals known to wreak havoc on our bodies, even worse for babies.
I hope you will give Elements Naturals 100% Natural and Renewable baby wipes a try and see for yourself the difference and value they bring to the baby wipe industry and our environment. If you would like to learn more about Elements Naturals baby wipes please visit our FAQ on the website http://www.elementsnaturals.com
Best Wishes,
Linda
How do you compost the wipes? I’m hesitant to put a poopy wipe in my compost bin– seems like human waste doesn’t belong in the good stuff that’s going to be on my vegetable plants!
Hi Genevieve,
Thank you for your question.
Under the correct conditions and with the right handling, Elements Naturals™ baby wipes will fully break down into carbon dioxide (CO2), water and humus, a beneficial soil nutrient. They are intended for industrial-based composting facilities where unlike home composters, conditions such as temperature, moisture and turning are very carefully regulated. To locate an industrial composting facility near you visit: http://www.findacomposter.com
For more information you can visit our FAQs on our website at
http://www.elementsnaturals.com/faqs.html