This article will explain the biodegradability of Aveeno baby wash. Other targeted aspects will include:
- What is the biodegradability status of Aveeno baby wash?
- What is Aveeno baby wash made of?
- Is Aveeno baby wash made with sustainable agriculture practices?
- How sustainable are Aveeno baby wash bottles?
- Does Aveeno baby wash ensure the ethical rights of the workers?
- FAQs
Is Aveeno baby wash biodegradable?
Aveeno baby wash is made from oat extracts, a natural and plant-based material, and therefore, Aveeno baby wash is considered biodegradable. However, the Aveeno baby wash bottles are not biodegradable but are recyclable instead.
As regards the ingredients, many harmful ingredients are avoided such as triclosan or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Most of the products that make up Aveeno baby wash are natural. But some, such as acrylates, fidget the eyebrows as these are considered non-biodegradable.
The production of Aveeno baby wash is done while considering environmental impact. Many practices such as crop rotation, low heat farming, and crop optimisations are done to ensure that the yield is maximum but the impact is minimal.
As regards the packaging, it is not biodegradable but is rather recyclable. Aveeno baby wash bottles can also be reused which is a great step. It is claimed that by 2025, all the Aveeno baby wash packaging will be reusable, recyclable and even compostable.
What is the biodegradability status of Aveeno baby wash?
To determine if a product is biodegradable or not, there are two factors that need to be considered:
- The time taken by a product to degrade in a natural setting
- The environmental impact of that product
These factors can be determined by assessing the type of materials used to make any certain product. Aveeno baby wash, as claimed by the manufacturers, is made from natural oat extracts.
The rule of thumb when it comes to biodegradability is that natural materials are more prone to the process of biodegradability. Therefore, it can be said that Aveeno baby wash is biodegradable since it is made from natural extracts.
Biodegradability is the breakdown of waste into simpler materials by the action of microbes. These microbes include bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, and even yeast.
The reason why natural materials are more prone to be degraded by microbes is that these materials have natural and nutritional content in them which can be used as food by the microbes.
Now, let us talk about the containers or bottles of Aveeno baby wash. The bottles of Aveeno baby wash are made from plastics. Plastics are petroleum-based products and are not biodegradable.
It is estimated that some plastics such as PET (polyethene terephthalate, a commonly used plastic) may require up to 450 years to degrade.
Therefore, to wind this section up, it can rightly be stanced that although Aveeno baby wash is made from natural extracts, its bottles are made from non-biodegradable plastics.
What are the common materials used to make Aveeno baby wash? (9 ingredients)
As expressed, the materials used to make any product can tell a lot about the product and also it is possible to prognosticate its environmental impact.
In that regard, let us rummage over the most commonly used materials of Aveeno baby wash and assess their environmental impact. Aveeno Baby is wash is made from:
- Water
- Glycerin
- Sodium benzoate
- Citric acid
- Fragrance
- Acrylates
- Sodium Lauroamphoacetate
- Cocamidopropyl Betaine
- Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
It is thus observed that most of the materials used to make Aveeno baby wash are natural and bluntly inert to the environment. However, the list of ingredients does raise a number of concerns.
For example, the producers of Aveeno baby wash have not given any details on the ingredient Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride which is used to maintain viscosity. It may be possible that this ingredient may have an environmental impact.
Further, the use of acrylates also raises concerns. Acrylates belong to a class of synthetic polymers that are non-biodegradable. The ingredients may cause the issue of pollution and toxicity and therefore, the manufacturers must address these concerns to have the full faith of the buyers that have a special regard for eco-friendliness.
However, let us now also focus on the positive side of Aveeno baby wash. When it comes to ingredients, there are two factors or aspects that need scrutiny. These are:
- The ingredients that are added
- The ingredients that are avoided
We have assessed the first aspect of Aveeno baby wash. Now, let us also consider the ingredients that are avoided by Aveeno baby wash. These include:
- Triclosan
- Microbeads
- Phthalates
- Formaldehyde
- Harmful preservatives
It must be commended that Aveeno baby wash does not include the use of harmful ingredients such as triclosan or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives because there are a number of degradative effects of such ingredients not only on the skin but also on the environment.
Is Aveeno baby wash made with sustainable agricultural practices?
Since Aveeno baby wash is claimed to be made from oat extracts, it is important to scrutinise how green or sustainable the Aveeno baby wash production is.
In that regard, there are a number of claims that are made by the manufacturers of Aveeno baby wash. It is said that the following steps are ensured to make the agricultural practices of Aveeno baby wash to be in line with environmental interests.
The following efforts are done to ensure sustainable agricultural practices for Aveeno products:
- Use of non-GMO products
- Use of food-grade ingredients
- Use of eco-friendly practices such as crop rotation
- Use of low heat during production
- Careful expenditure of energy during logistics
- Optimisation of crop growth and yield
It is claimed that the materials used to make Aveeno baby wash are extracted from oats that are non-GMO and food grade. Further, oats are grown in cooler areas that use low heat. This is done to optimise crop efficiency.
Also, those areas are selected to grow the oatmeal where there is a required amount of temperature, humidity, and other external conditions this is done to ensure maximum optimisation of the process and minimum environmental impact.
A number of uses and beneficial agricultural practices are also used such as crop rotation. These practices lead to a number of benefits such as:
- Decreased soil erosion
- Decreased use of pesticides and insecticides
- Increased organic nature of crop
- Reduction in plant diseases
When it comes to farming practices, one aspect that needs to be discussed is the energy required to transport the yield to factories and production centres.
Most of this energy is derived from petroleum-based products that are responsible for increased carbon footprint and environmental anomalies such as global warming, unprecedented weather changes, deforestation, et cetera.
Although the production of Aveeno baby wash also depends on non-renewable sources, there are some efforts done to reduce the impact. This includes the use of both rail and truck to minimise energy use.
How sustainable are Aveeno baby wash bottles?
We have talked about the sustainability and biodegradability status of Aveeno baby wash, now let us assess what are the environmental impacts of Aveeno baby wash.
There is both good and bad news here. The bad news is that Aveeno baby wash bottles are made from plastics.
Plastics are synthetic polymers that are made from products derived from petroleum and fossil fuels. When plastics are used, this means that contributions are made to environmental anomalies such as global warming and the greenhouse effect.
Also, the problem is not just with the production of plastic. The problem also is with the disposal of plastic. Most plastic is non-biodegradable. This means that it will remain in the environment for many hundred years and will cause environmental problems and cause havoc to waste management systems and endeavours.
That is why, there are a number of ways in which Aveeno baby wash bottles are harmful and degradative to the environment. There are, however, steps that can be taken to avoid these impacts. One of them is to use biodegradable plastics made from plant sources instead of conventional plastics.
Now, let us focus on the good news. The good news is that even though Aveeno baby wash bottles are non-biodegradable, they can be reused and recycled.
In fact, this is exactly what is done. Recycling is the reusing of products or materials after slight modifications and may offer the following advantages:
- Better waste management
- Better resource management
- Less use of raw materials
- Decreased carbon footprint
- Decreased use of agrochemicals and fertilisers
- Decreased GHG emissions
- One of the best ways to deal with non-biodegradable ways
As claimed by the manufacturers, Aveeno baby wash bottles are made from recycled materials. It is also claimed that more than 80% of Aveeno baby wash bottles are made from recycled materials.
Also, Aveeno baby wash bottles can be refilled or reused in selected cities. This is even better than recycling because while recycling uses some energy, reusing a product uses no energy at all. What it does require is a green mindset and a sense of responsibility.
Also, it is claimed that by the end of 2022, all the Aveeno baby wash bottles will be recyclable and by 2025, all the Aveeno baby wash packaging will be reusable, recyclable and even compostable.
Does Aveeno baby wash ensure the ethical rights of the workers?
This is another very important yet forgotten question. Many of the present-day consumer products are made in developing countries where the workers are subjected to the victimisation of injustice and deprived of rights.
This leads to ethical concerns and is also included in one of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals including Goals 1,3,8 & 5. The victimisation of workers may be done through:
- Unfair wages
- Harassment
- Torture
- Unequal treatment
- More working hours
- Gender inequality
Aveeno baby wash producers ensure that its workers are not subjected to any of these injustices. That is why the producers of Aveeno baby wash carefully select their suppliers after ensuring that there are no human rights violations in any way.
Conclusion
It is concluded that Aveeno baby wash is made from oat extracts, a natural and plant-based material, and therefore, Aveeno baby wash is considered biodegradable. However, the Aveeno baby wash bottles are not biodegradable but are recyclable instead.
As regards the ingredients, many harmful ingredients are avoided such as triclosan or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Most of the products that make up Aveeno baby wash are natural. But some, such as acrylates, fidget the eyebrows as these are considered non-biodegradable.
The production of Aveeno baby wash is done while considering environmental impact. Many practices such as crop rotation, low heat farming, and crop optimisations are done to ensure that the yield is maximum but the impact is minimal.
As regards the packaging, it is not biodegradable but is rather recyclable. Aveeno baby wash bottles can also be reused which is a great step. It is claimed that by 2025, all the Aveeno baby wash packaging will be reusable, recyclable and even compostable.
Frequently Asked Questions: Is Aveeno baby wash biodegradable?
Does Aveeno baby wash harm wildlife?
Yes, as of now, the production of Aveeno baby wash is not associated with the Forest Stewardship Council to ensure no harm is done to the wildlife. However, it is claimed that by 2025, the association will also be made.
Which plastic is used in baby wash bottles?
Baby wash bottles are made from polypropylene or polycarbonate. The former is comparatively safer as the latter may contain BPA (a hormone disruptor that also raises developmental issues in babies).
References
- Aveeno. Our Sustainability. Retrieved from: https://www.aveeno.com/our-sustainability
- Aveeno. Caring for sensitive skin and the planet. Retrieved from: https://www.aveeno.co.uk/sustainability-caring-for-sensitive-skin-and-the-planet
- Brede, C., Fjeldal, P., Skjevrak, I., & Herikstad, H. (2003). Increased migration levels of bisphenol A from polycarbonate baby bottles after dishwashing, boiling and brushing. Food Additives & Contaminants, 20(7), 684-689.
- Gibson, R. L. (2007). Toxic baby bottles. Environment California Research Center & Policy Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Singh, N., Hui, D., Singh, R., Ahuja, I. P. S., Feo, L., & Fraternali, F. (2017). Recycling of plastic solid waste: A state of art review and future applications. Composites Part B: Engineering, 115, 409-422.
- Tokiwa, Y., Calabia, B. P., Ugwu, C. U., & Aiba, S. (2009). Biodegradability of plastics. International journal of molecular sciences, 10(9), 3722-3742.
- SDG, U. (2019). Sustainable development goals. The energy progress report. Tracking SDG, 7.