Is Honest Company Diapers Clean?

🔑 Key Findings

No Longer TCF - Honest switched to Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp, which uses chlorine dioxide instead of being completely chlorine-free.

OEKO-TEX Certified - The diapers are tested for over 350 harmful substances, a strong reassurance for safety.

Fragrance-Free - They contain no added fragrances, lotions, or latex, reducing the risk of contact dermatitis.

Petrochemical Plastics - While plant-based is part of their marketing, the inner and outer layers still rely heavily on polypropylene and polyethylene.

The Short Answer

Honest Company diapers are Acceptable, but they are no longer the "clean" leader they once were.

For years, Honest was the go-to recommendation for non-toxic diapers. That changed in late 2023 when they quietly removed the "Totally Chlorine Free" (TCF) claim from their packaging. They now use Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) pulp. While this is still safer than standard bleaching, it introduces a risk of trace dioxins that TCF diapers strictly avoid.

If you can't find specialized brands, Honest is still safer than Huggies or Pampers because they are strictly fragrance-free and OEKO-TEX certified. But for the purest option, they have fallen behind.

Why This Matters

Diapers are worn 24/7 for roughly three years. That is over 25,000 hours of direct skin contact on your baby's most sensitive area.

The shift from TCF to ECF matters because dioxins are bio-accumulative. Even trace amounts from the bleaching process can build up over time. TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) is the gold standard because it uses zero chlorine compounds. ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) uses chlorine dioxide—better than the old ways, but not perfect.

Honest also relies on Standard SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer). While Is Sap In Diapers Safe generally concludes SAP is safe, cleaner brands are now mixing it with more plant-based materials to reduce petrochemical load. Honest's "clean" marketing does a lot of heavy lifting for a diaper that is fundamentally similar to many drugstore brands.

What's Actually In Honest Diapers

Honest is transparent about their ingredients, which is a green flag in itself. Here is the breakdown:

Absorbent Core: Wood pulp (now ECF, formerly TCF) and Sodium Polyacrylate (SAP). The pulp is the main issue here due to the processing change.
Backsheet: Plant-based PLA (Polylactic Acid) and Polyethylene. This is the "waterproof" layer.
Topsheet: Polyethylene and Polypropylene. This is plastic. Unlike Kudos (which uses cotton), Honest puts plastic directly against your baby's skin.
Odor Inhibitors: Citrus extract and liquid chlorophyll. A natural approach to smell control without using synthetic fragrance. Are Fragranced Diapers Bad

What to Look For

Green Flags:

OEKO-TEX Standard 100: Verifies the product is free from hundreds of harmful chemicals.
Fragrance-Free: No masking scents or "baby fresh" perfumes.
Cute Prints: Uses safe inks without heavy metals (lead/cadmium).

Red Flags:

ECF Pulp: The switch from TCF is a cost-cutting measure that lowers safety standards.
Plastic Topsheet: Your baby sits on petroleum-based plastic, not natural fibers.
Marketing Fluff: "Plant-based" often refers to only a percentage of the materials, not the whole diaper.

The Best Options

Honest is now a mid-tier option. It sits above conventional brands but below the true clean leaders.

Brand	Product	Verdict	Why
Kudos	Kudos Diapers	✅	100% cotton topsheet + TCF pulp. The current gold standard.
HealthyBaby	HealthyBaby	✅	The only EWG Verified diaper + TCF.
Honest	Clean Conscious	⚠️	Acceptable. Good availability, but ECF pulp is a downgrade.
Huggies	Special Delivery	🚫	Claims to be plant-based but contains fragrance and questionable plastics.

The Bottom Line

1. Use Honest in a pinch. If you are at Target and need diapers, they are the safest option on the shelf.

2. Upgrade for daily use. If you have the budget and can subscribe, switch to Kudos or HealthyBaby to avoid chlorine processing completely.

3. Watch for rashes. The plastic topsheet in Honest diapers can still cause irritation for sensitive babies, even without fragrance.

FAQ

Did Honest Company change their formula?

Yes. In late 2023/early 2024, they switched their wood pulp bleaching process from TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) to ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free). They also moved manufacturing from Mexico to North America.

Are Honest diapers TCF?

No. They are now Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF). This means they use chlorine dioxide in the bleaching process, which is safer than elemental chlorine but not as clean as TCF.

Do Honest diapers contain phthalates?

No. Honest diapers are strictly phthalate-free and fragrance-free. This is verified by their internal "NO List" standards and third-party testing like OEKO-TEX.

References (16)

🛒 Product Recommendations

✅

Kudos

The only diaper with 100% cotton touching baby's skin and TCF pulp.

Recommended

✅

HealthyBaby

The first and only EWG Verified diaper on the market.

Recommended

✅

Coterie

High-performance TCF diaper, though pricey.

Recommended

✅

Pura Eco-Friendly Diapers

Pura

A top-tier European option now available in the US that maintains the TCF (Totally Chlorine Free) standard Honest abandoned. They hold the rigorous Allergy UK Seal of Approval and use a polyethylene/polypropylene topsheet derived from plants rather than petroleum.

Recommended

✅

Clear + Dry Diapers

Parasol

Uses a proprietary 'RashShield' design that eliminates wood pulp from the core entirely in favor of a high-performance SAP matrix, reducing bulk and chemical processing agents. They carry the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, one of the world's strictest sustainability certifications.

Recommended

✅

Eco Diapers

Eco by Naty

One of the few brands to use a compostable film based on GM-free corn starch instead of oil-based plastic for the backsheet. The absorbent core is TCF verified, and the product holds an Austrian TÜV certification for bio-based content.

Recommended

✅

Dream Diapers

Bambo Nature

A pioneer in clean diapering, these are Nordic Swan Ecolabeled and Asthma Allergy Nordic certified. They use TCF pulp and a thinner profile that reduces overall material usage without sacrificing absorbency.

Recommended

✅

Skin Shield™ Diapers

Freestyle

One of the rare diaper brands to achieve the **EWG Verified** mark, signaling total transparency and zero ingredients of concern. Their 'BambooTek' core uses bamboo pulp instead of tree pulp, making it naturally TCF and more sustainable.

Recommended

✅

Plant-Based Diapers

Terra

A New Zealand brand offering 85% plant-based materials, including a backsheet made from 100% biodegradable bamboo fiber. They use food-safe inks for prints and are strictly TCF, avoiding the ECF processing used by mainstream brands.

Recommended

✅

Bamboo Diapers

Eco Pea Co

Ideal for sensitive skin, these use sustainable bamboo for both the topsheet and backsheet, which is naturally breathable and antimicrobial. They are dermatologist-tested, TCF, and ship in biodegradable packaging.

Recommended

✅

Baby Diapers

Nest

Designed with end-of-life in mind, these diapers use a TCF wood pulp core and materials that are compostable in municipal facilities (where available). They are free from all known allergens and use no chemical wetness indicators.

Recommended

✅

Inners & Outers System

Esembly

The best non-disposable alternative; the 'Inner' is made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton, ensuring only natural fibers touch your baby's skin. The waterproof 'Outer' is made from recycled plastic bottles (Oeko-Tex certified), offering a blowout-proof seal without single-use waste.

Recommended

✅

Natural Cotton Diapers

Happy Little Camper

Uses a topsheet made of GMO-free natural cotton rather than plastic, blended with TCF wood pulp. They are independently tested and free from polyethylene glycols (PEGs) and ethyl alcohol.

Recommended

🚫

Pro Level Leak Protection

Luvs

Contains 'Parfum' (fragrance) which can trigger asthma and skin allergies in sensitive infants. The ingredient list explicitly includes **petrolatum** and **stearyl alcohol** coating the topsheet, introducing unnecessary petrochemicals to baby's skin.

Avoid

🚫

Swaddlers

Pampers

Uses a 'Baby Fresh' scent that masks chemical odors but introduces potential allergens. The topsheet is coated with a lotion containing petrolatum and aloe extract, which can cause contact dermatitis in babies sensitive to botanical additives.

Avoid

⚠️

Little Snugglers

Huggies

While fragrance-free, these are produced using **ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free)** pulp, the same downgraded processing Honest now uses. They rely on standard petroleum-based plastics (polypropylene) for the liner with no plant-based offsets.

Use Caution

⚠️

Luxury Diapers

Millie Moon

Previously a top recommendation, this brand **quietly switched from TCF to ECF** pulp in late 2022/early 2023. This unannounced formulation change removed their primary safety advantage over drugstore brands.

Use Caution

⚠️

Bamboo Diapers

Dyper

Although they use a bamboo viscose topsheet, Dyper has transitioned to **ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free)** pulp for their absorbent core. This makes them less 'clean' than competitors like Freestyle or Kudos who maintain TCF standards.

Use Caution

⚠️

Premium Diapers

Rascals (formerly Rascal + Friends)

Marketed as a premium 'clean' option at Walmart, but they use **ECF pulp** and standard petrochemical plastics. They lack the organic certifications or TCF status of truly non-toxic brands.

Use Caution

⚠️

Premium Diapers

Hello Bello

Another brand that succumbed to supply chain pressures and **switched from TCF to ECF** processing. While affordable and cute, they no longer offer the dioxin-free assurance of their earlier formula.

Use Caution

⚠️

Absorbent Diapers

Thrive Market

Recent user reports and product updates indicate a shift from TCF to **ECF pulp**, removing a key reason to subscribe to this private-label brand. They remain fragrance-free but are no longer a 'clean' leader.

Use Caution

⚠️

365 Baby Diapers

Whole Foods

Despite the retailer's 'natural' reputation, these diapers are **ECF** and lack transparency regarding the specific plastics used in their topsheet. They are a generic private-label product with minimal safety certifications compared to branded competitors.

Use Caution

👌

Gentle Dreams

Parent's Choice (Walmart)

A budget-friendly option that is fragrance-free and lotion-free, making it safer than Luvs or Pampers. However, it uses **ECF pulp** and offers zero transparency on plastic sources or phthalate testing.

Acceptable

💡 We don't accept payment for recommendations. Some links may be affiliate links.

Is Honest Company Diapers Clean?

TL;DR

🔑 Key Findings

The Short Answer

Why This Matters

What's Actually In Honest Diapers

What to Look For

The Best Options

The Bottom Line

FAQ

Did Honest Company change their formula?

Are Honest diapers TCF?

Do Honest diapers contain phthalates?

🛒 Product Recommendations

📖 Related Research

Are There Chemicals in Diapers?

Is There Chlorine in Diapers? (And Why You Should Care)

Is SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer) in Diapers Safe?

More about Baby Care

Search Crunchy

TL;DR

🔑 Key Findings

The Short Answer

Why This Matters

What's Actually In Honest Diapers

What to Look For

The Best Options

The Bottom Line

FAQ

Did Honest Company change their formula?

Are Honest diapers TCF?

Do Honest diapers contain phthalates?

🛒 Product Recommendations

📖 Related Research

Are There Chemicals in Diapers?

Is There Chlorine in Diapers? (And Why You Should Care)

Is SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer) in Diapers Safe?

More about Baby Care