MK-001 The Gray Zone

Green. Organic. Natural. We see these words all around us, on everything from potato chips to bed sheets. Now, even the makers of goods that have traditionally been known to be harmful to the environment are getting into the act.

Kimberly-Clark, long-time maker of disposable diapers, now sells Huggies Pure and natural diapers. According to Kimberly-Clark, Pure and Natural diapers contain organic cotton, are hypoallergenic, and include Aloe and Vitamin E for baby’s sensitive skin. And, the product’s outer packaging features green leaves, green grass, and a very happy baby. Given all this, many environmentally-concerned parents use Pure and Natural diapers, seeing them as a good way to “go green.”

But, are these diapers as eco-friendly as we would be led to believe? After all, no matter how “natural” these diapers are, they are still disposable diapers, which means that they will end up in landfills some day. Should Kimberly-Clark make this information clearer to consumers? Does the company have an obligation to provide their customers with the “whole truth,” even if it doesn’t support the diapers’ Pure and Natural brand? What do you think?