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

The Short Answer

Most likely, yes. Unless your diaper package explicitly says "Totally Chlorine Free" (TCF), it was almost certainly bleached using chlorine dioxide.

While this method (called Elemental Chlorine Free or ECF) is the industry standard and safer than the old-school bleach used decades ago, it is not 100% free of chlorine compounds. It creates a risk of trace contamination with dioxins—highly toxic chemicals that can accumulate in the body. If you want zero risk of chlorine residues, you must buy TCF diapers.

Why This Matters

Dioxins are forever chemicals. They don't just wash away; they accumulate in fat tissue and stay in the body for years. The World Health Organization links them to reproductive and developmental problems, hormone disruption, and cancer.

Babies are the most vulnerable. Their systems are rapidly developing, and they wear diapers 24/7 for years. A 2019 study by the French agency ANSES found that some diapers contained dioxins and furans above safety thresholds, specifically pointing to the bleaching process as a likely cause.

"Chlorine-Free" marketing is tricky. Many brands splash "Chlorine Free" on the box but actually mean "Elemental Chlorine Free." This is a legal loophole. They aren't using elemental chlorine gas (which is terrible), but they are still using chlorine dioxide (which is "meh").

What's Actually In The Bleach?

The "fluff pulp" in a diaper's core is wood. To make it soft, white, and absorbent, it has to be bleached. There are three ways to do this:

• Elemental Chlorine (Bad) — Bleached with chlorine gas. Creates high levels of dioxins. Banned in most places.
• Elemental Chlorine Free / ECF (Caution) — Bleached with chlorine dioxide. Reduces dioxins significantly but does not eliminate them. This is what Pampers, Huggies, and now Honest use.
• Totally Chlorine Free / TCF (Clean) — Bleached with hydrogen peroxide, oxygen, or ozone. Zero chlorine. Zero dioxins. This is the gold standard. Safest Diaper Brand

What to Look For

Green Flags:

• "Totally Chlorine Free" (TCF) — The exact phrase you want.
• "Hydrogen Peroxide Bleached" — A safe TCF method.
• "Unbleached" — Rare, but safe (usually looks brown/beige).

Red Flags:

• "Elemental Chlorine Free" (ECF) — Still uses chlorine derivatives.
• "Chlorine Free Processing" — Often a euphemism for ECF.
• "Whitened without Chlorine Gas" — Specific wording that admits they use other chlorine forms.

The Best Options (TCF Verified)

Many popular "clean" brands have quietly switched to ECF to save money. Here are the ones that are still truly Totally Chlorine Free.

The "Fallen" Brands (Switched to ECF)

These brands used to be TCF or are often confused for it, but currently use ECF (Chlorine Dioxide):

• Honest Company (Switched late 2023)
• Millie Moon (Switched recently)
• Hello Bello (Always ECF)
• Dyper (Uses ECF bamboo pulp)
• Seventh Generation (Most lines are ECF)
• Pampers Pure (ECF)

The Bottom Line

1. Check the label. If it doesn't say "Totally Chlorine Free" or "TCF," assume it's ECF.

2. Don't panic. ECF is safer than old-school bleach, but TCF is the only way to avoid dioxin risk entirely.

3. Upgrade if you can. If your budget allows, switching to a TCF brand like Coterie or Kudos removes this risk factor completely.

FAQ

Is "Elemental Chlorine Free" safe?

It is considered "safe" by industry standards, but it can release trace dioxins. For a "crunchy" standard of safety (zero risk), we recommend avoiding it.

Did Honest Company switch to chlorine bleaching?

Yes. In late 2023, Honest Company switched their supply chain to ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) pulp. They are no longer TCF.

Does Pampers Pure have chlorine?

Yes. Pampers Pure is an ECF diaper. It is free of elemental chlorine, but uses chlorine dioxide in the bleaching process.

---

References (26)

1. 1. latchingwithgrace.com
2. 2. dyper.com
3. 3. thecleanlivingnurse.com
4. 4. wholebunchclub.com
5. 5. gimmethegoodstuff.org
6. 6. wholebunchclub.com
7. 7. thegoodtrade.com
8. 8. mamavation.com
9. 9. yeswellness.com
10. 10. coterie.com
11. 11. fluffloveuniversity.com
12. 12. oreateai.com
13. 13. ivyandfields.com
14. 14. alppibaby.com
15. 15. kiddicarebaby.com
16. 16. researchgate.net
17. 17. essentiallydestinyy.com
18. 18. thrivemarket.com
19. 19. youtube.com
20. 20. consciousdiapers.com
21. 21. reddit.com
22. 22. coterie.com
23. 23. thequalityedit.com
24. 24. reddit.com
25. 25. terragentle.com
26. 26. terragentle.com