7 Best Biodegradable Baby Wipes (Compostable & Eco Friendly)

TheRoundup is reader supported. We may earn a small commission when you make a purchase via links on this site, at no cost to you.
All products are personally reviewed and tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.

James Miller
By 
James is an environmentalist, sustainability expert and senior editor at TheRoundup, specializing in testing non-toxic, organic and eco-friendly products. James, his wife and two daughters believe in chemical-free and zero-waste living. They aim to leave the planet in a better state than we found it, for future generations to enjoy.
James Miller
Category: 
Updated: March 19, 2024

As responsible parents, we all want to choose wipes that are kind to our baby's sensitive skin, but equally kind to the planet.

Many people don't realize the massive environmental impact of regular wet wipes. The problem is, they contain plastic.

First, they block our sewers, before eventually finding their way into rivers and oceans. There, they add to the plastic pollution that kills marine life, as well as releasing microfibers that contaminate our drinking water.

Clearly, this needs to stop! The good news is that there are two possible solutions: plastic-free, organic reusable wipes, or disposable biodegradable baby wipes.

In this guide, I'll show you the best of both, so you can decide which is right for you.

I'll start by showing you the best in reusable wipes. but if you're sure it's disposables you need, you can jump ahead:

Jump to: Reusable Baby Wipes | Biodegradable Baby Wipes.

Quick Picks

  • Best Biodegradable Baby Wipes: DYPER
  • Best Reusable Baby Wipes: EcoPeaCo

Best Eco-Friendly Reusable Baby Wipes

They Say: Luxurious organic flannelette baby wipes. Soft and absorbent and generously sized at 9 by 9 inches prior to washing. The reusable alternative to disposable wipes. Attractive unbleached fabric and soft colored edging.

We Say: As mentioned in my biodegradable diapers article, my sister-in-law (and my baby nephew) are both big fans of ClothDiaper.com as they meet all her reusable diaper needs.

It turns out they’re pretty handy on the reusable wipes front as well.

They’re the cheapest option in the reusable list (just $10.95 for 12 wipes if you buy three packs)…but quality has not been compromised.

GOTS-certified organic cotton has been used to make these 9” x 9” reusable wipes, and they’re nice and soft to the touch.

They Say: Our organic washable wipes are super-soft on delicate baby skin and generously sized to handle the messiest of diaper messes. Instead of going through endless packs of disposable wipes, 30 Wipe Ups are all you’ll need from birth through potty training.

We Say: Made responsibly in Pakistan, these reusable organic cotton wipes are as eco-friendly as it gets.

Simply dip in water and wipe. Easy!

For bigger/messier jobs, you might want to add a few drops of baby wash to the water.

Esembly only uses GOTS-certified organic cotton and is a member of 1% For The Planet.

With green ideals like that, you can be sure that you’re doing the best for your baby AND future generations of babies to come.

To hygienically store your reusable wipes (and diapers) until you have a full load to wash, I also recommend the Esembly diaper pail pouch liner. You can use it to line a trash can or simply hang it on a hook.

Need your baby wipes urgently? No problem - these products ship same day in plastic-free recycled packaging.

We Say: A quick mention for Healthybaby cotton dry wipes.

For the ultimate convenience and eco-friendliness, you can add organic cotton dry wipes to your Healthybaby diaper subscription.

These wipes are made from 100% organic cotton with no hidden nasties.

They’re soft, strong, and wash very well.

They’ll also fully compost (at home or commercially) once they’ve reached the end of their usable life.

Best Disposable Biodegradable Wipes

I love that EcoPea Co wipes are made with naturally hypoallergenic and renewable bamboo, carefully selected for its effectiveness and environmentally friendly properties. It's free from harmful chemicals and incredibly soft.

Your little one will absolutely love that these wipes contain infused aloe, chamomile, and cucumber extracts renowned for their gentle and moisturizing effects on delicate bums.

However, what truly sets these plant-based wipes apart and makes them excel is their exceptional thickness. They possess incredible resilience and provide an assurance that they are capable of handling any task, regardless of the nature of the mess! ????

Get 15% Off at EcoPeaCo with Coupon Code: ROUNDUP15
Valid on your first subscription or one-time purchase
GET DISCOUNT

They Say: Wow, did you realize how many toxic ingredients are in the traditional baby wipes found in your local store? With names like Bronopol, Triclosan, Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, Parabens (this one is an alphabet soup, as it could be butyl, ethyl, methyl, and propyl) and a bunch more, you know the stuff is bad if you cannot even pronounce it! Come on, do they really expect us to put that stuff on our precious babies? We are smarter than that!

We Say: DYPER is my top pick for eco-friendly diapers, and they also get the nod when it comes to biodegradable baby wipes.

The list of ingredients is short and publicly available. No hidden nasties here!

DYPER will collect these wipes (and also diapers) to be commercially composted. You can read more about this service in my eco diaper article here.

Ingredients: Water (99%), Less Than 1%: Glycerin, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Benzethonium Chloride, Citric Acid

They Say: Made from 100% compostable materials from renewable and plant-based resources, these wipes are fragrance free and contain chemicals or plastics. They're both hypoallergenic and vegan so they won't irritate the skin while cleaning and contain calming, organic ingredients like aloe vera leaf juice. Perfect for cleaning baby bottoms and wiping sticky faces and hands. Simply use these wet wipes, then compost them! Happy baby, happy home!

We Say: ECO by Naty wowed me with their eco-friendly diapers, and they’ve done it again with their eco-friendly wet wipes.

Simply made from 100% natural fiber and a small list of natural and organic ingredients, these sensitive skin wipes keep your eco-conscience clean and your baby squeaky clean.

You’ll notice that these earth-friendly baby wipes are thin in places, and they might stick together occasionally. This is to aid the biodegrading process and a small price to pay for a zero-waste wipe.

Ordering these unscented wipes from EarthHero also means you can return the external plastic pouch to be recycled through their TerraCycle take-back program.

Ingredients: Aqua, Gluconolactone, Potassium Sorbate, Propanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract*, Calcium Gluconate, Citric Acid.

*Cosmos organic certified

We Say: A quick mention for Healthybaby disposable wet wipes.

For the ultimate convenience and eco-friendliness, you can add plant-based wet wipes to your Healthybaby diaper subscription.

They’re soft, strong, and clean without any harsh chemicals.

Disposable v Reusable - Which Is Greener?

In my diaper article, I concluded that disposable compostable diapers were the greener option when compared to reusable diapers.

So, it surely stands to reason that the same applies to eco-friendly baby wipes?

Actually, no. This time around, I feel reusable has the edge…JUST! Read to the end to find out why.

Disposable Baby Wipes

Disposable baby wipes can be compostable (or at the very least biodegradable) if they’re made from suitable materials.

When choosing disposable baby wipes (also known as wet wipes), you should be looking for ones made from organic materials and free from the following:

  • Fragrances
  • Alcohol
  • Parabens
  • Phthalates
  • Endocrine disruptors
  • All other potentially toxic additives

Disposable wipes that break down into smaller elements under specific conditions (usually in a commercial facility) are biodegradable. They don’t break down completely. Some traces of material will remain.

Disposable baby wipes that break entirely into natural/organic material are compostable.

But the crucial facts that not all parents realize are that regular wipes are made using plastic (usually rayon fibers) and can’t be disposed of sustainably. That's why they typically end up in landfill, and pollute the environment.

Manufacturers swap plastic fibers for natural fibers (such as bamboo and organic wood pulp) to make wipes biodegradable or compostable.

Reusable Baby Wipes

Your baby’s skin can be super sensitive, so reusable baby cloths are usually made from the purest organic fabric. Often cotton, bamboo, hemp, or linen. Organic cotton is best in my eyes.

Using pure organic fabric makes reusable wipes genuinely compostable.

How to Choose Eco-Friendly Baby Wipes

You need to know what you’re looking for when shopping for reusable or biodegradable baby wipes and I hope at least one of my recommendations will suit your needs.

Things I took into consideration when making my choices include:

  • Price: No point in spending more than you need to.
  • Cleanup Power: Wipes need to be able to clean all types of fluids and solids from your baby. Nobody wants a baby wipe that just smears poop around.
  • No Nasties: To call wipes eco-friendly they need to be as natural as possible. No added harmful chemicals or other nasties.
  • Eco-Credentials: As well as being gentle on your baby's skin, wipes should also be gentle on the planet. All natural materials, no plastic packaging, etc.
  • Certification: I made sure that the reusable wipes I selected were all made using certified organic materials.

How to Make Your Own Eco Friendly Baby Wipes

Unsure about buying disposable baby wipes? Why not take the truly sustainable option and go DIY?

Making your own eco-friendly wipes is simple and a great way to give old fabric a new lease of life. You can also cut down on packaging and manufacturing, and save money into the bargain!

DIY Eco-Friendly Baby Wipes - Dry

  1. Take some old blankets, clothing, etc. (preferably made from organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, or linen) and cut up into baby wipe-sized squares (I find 9” x 9” works best).
  2. Use to clean up spit, poop, etc.
  3. When you have a full load of dirty DIY dry wipes, they can be machine-washed.

DIY Eco-Friendly Baby Wipes - Wet

  1. Take your squares of DIY dry wipes and place them in a large reusable glass jar.
  2. Fill the jar with water and a teaspoon of coconut oil, secure the lid, and give it a good shake. You can add a few drops of essential oil if you prefer your baby wipes to have fragrances.
  3. Shake again every time you need to use a wipe.
  4. When you have a full load of dirty DIY baby wipes, wash as described above.

Why You Should Not Flush Your Wipes

Baby wipes should always be disposed of properly. Ideally, they should be recycled, biodegraded, or composted.

NEVER flush wet wipes down the toilet. Even if the pack says they’re flushable wipes, it's not a chance worth taking. You don’t want to take the chance of blocking your plumbing or adding to the neighborhood wipeburg/fatburg.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Top Brands of Baby Wipes that are Truly Biodegradable?

Truly biodegradable and/or compostable wipe brands include DYPER, ECO by Naty, and Healthybaby.

Do Wipes Made From Biodegradable Materials Actually Biodegrade?

Yes, biodegradable wipes are designed to break down, and they will do so if they are disposed of properly.

If the wipes are made from natural materials like bamboo or cotton, and don't contain synthetic fibers or chemicals, they have the potential to break down in the right conditions.

If used baby wipes are thrown in the trash and sent to a landfill, they may not have access to the oxygen and microbes needed to biodegrade. But if they are composted in a proper facility, they are more likely to break down naturally.

Are Eco-Friendly Wet Wipes The Same As Baby Wipes?

Yep. Pretty much. All baby wipes can be used as wet wipes. However, depending on the ingredients and how sensitive your baby’s skin is, not all wet wipes are suitable to use as baby wipes.

Which Wipes Are Best for a Baby With Sensitive Skin?

All the disposable hypoallergenic wipes in this article are made with limited ingredients and should be fine for your baby's delicate skin.

However, to be 100% certain you’re cutting out all potential sensitive skin issues, you might be better sticking to 100% organic reusable wipes and water. Zero harsh chemicals, guaranteed!

Are Costco Wipes Biodegradable?

Costco/Kirkland baby wipes were not part of my tests, so I don’t have first-hand brand experience.

However, the Costco website makes no mention of these wipes being biodegradable. I’ve contacted them for clarification.

The Final Word

Unlike diapers (where I feel the best option is high-quality compostable), having considered the pros and cons, in my view I feel the best eco-friendly wipes are reusable ones.

According to Esembly, you only need around 30 of their reusable wipes to get you from birth to the end of potty training.

Compare that to the thousands of disposable wipes you’d get through.

A baby will get through around 7,000 diapers before they’re potty trained.

Most diaper changes will probably need two wipes. So you’re looking at using a total of 14,000 wipes per baby. And that’s not even including any extra you’ll use for spit-ups, etc.

Even when using the best biodegradable wipes you can buy, 14,000+ items to buy and dispose of compared to 30 is a bit of a no-brainer for me. Both in terms of cost and environmental impact.

Yes. You have the laundering of the reusable wipes.

However, unlike with reusable diapers, I would feel happy washing reusable wipes with other clothing items - once the worst of any poop, etc., has been hand rinsed out first (using water butt water, of course!) - so the cost and inconvenience are less.

However, there is no denying that disposable wet wipes offer a lot of convenience, and buying the occasional pack for when you’re out and about with your baby isn’t going to harm the environment excessively. Particularly if you go for one of the compostable brands mentioned in this article.

Get In Touch

Where do you buy your eco-friendly baby wipes? Are you in the reusable or disposable camp? Do you have a great DIY hack for homemade natural wipes? Drop me a line and let me know.

James Miller
James Miller
James is an environmentalist, sustainability expert and senior editor at TheRoundup, specializing in testing non-toxic, organic and eco-friendly products. James, his wife and two daughters believe in chemical-free and zero-waste living. They aim to leave the planet in a better state than we found it, for future generations to enjoy.

You May Also Like

Why Trust TheRoundup

Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.

TheRoundup.org - As Seen On

As Seen On Logos

TheRoundup

Your guide to a sustainable lifestyle and eco-friendly products for a non-toxic home. We offer simple, practical advice that anyone can follow. Together we can make a difference today & save tomorrow.
SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES

All Content ©2024 TheRoundup - All Rights Reserved.

539 W. Commerce St #2943, Dallas, TX 75208 | +1-830-904-0838 | [email protected]
CLICK TO WIN TWO NEST BEDDING EASY BREATHER PILLOWS WORTH $262