One of the simplest things you can do to be more ecologically responsible is to cut down or eliminate your use of disposable products. It’s the second R in the “Reduce-Reuse-Recycle” mantra. Using washable cups instead of paper is simple, right? However, these days there is a growing backlash against washable household goods. So what’s the complete story of your water usage?
Paper tableware and disposable diapers have long been the enemy of those who wish to reduce landfill waste. Why throw something away if you don’t have to? Currently, those in drought-stricken areas like California are trying to combat the strain on their reserves by switching to paper products. Their argument: washing up wastes valuable potable water. Enter the new book Your Water Footprint by Stephen Leahy, in which he breaks down the simple math behind this somewhat flawed line of logic.
1. Diapers
A single cloth diaper will consume about 4 gallons of water over 50 washes. Sounds like a lot, right? A single disposable diaper consumes about 9 gallons of water in its production process. It is estimated that one child will go through 8,000 diaper changes, so the water impact of disposables is quite high versus their washable counterparts.
2. Paper Goods
It takes about 2.6 gallons of water to manufacture a sheet of paper. Consider those paper plates and cups you packed for your last family picnic or big gathering, perhaps thinking to yourself, “This will be easier and more economical than washing all those plates and cups.” The amount of water used in the manufacturing process far exceeds the quantity needed for cleaning.
As with any disposable product, besides water there are energy consumption levels used in manufacturing and transporting these products. That doesn’t mean your ceramic mug or stainless steel travel cup are completely off the environmental hook. They, too, take resources to produce and get to your cupboard. But since they are used over and over, that water footprint is spread over a much longer period of time. Using a Styrofoam cup once has a far greater impact than the hundreds of uses your ceramic mug will have, even if it took a bit more to make that mug in the first place.
Think of it like buying replacement windows for your house. There’s a big upfront cost, but you’re going to see a reduction in your electric bill thanks to having better insulated windows. Eventually your new windows pay for themselves in the savings you see on your utility bill each month. It’s the same concept behind reusable household products.
While it is difficult to calculate every nuance of reusable versus disposable, the simple answer is that, despite concerns over water consumption, it still takes less water to wash a plate than to manufacture and dispose of a paper one.
Featured Image from Sandra Parra/Unsplash
