I'd love to know the answers to these questions too. I didn't realize the wipes were poly. So much for those! I'll switch to using washable wipes instead. I wish I'd known earlier.

Jenny's questions are good ones! I hope the following answers are helpful.

Q. I have been told that you dye your baby diapers to achieve the "natural" color, light brown/tan. Is this true? Is the dye a vegetable dye or other naturally derived pigment?

A. First, a bit of history. When Seventh Generation first introduced its baby diapers, they were made with UNBLEACHED wood pulp that had a brown color. To give the diaper a uniform appearance, the plastic parts of the diaper were tinted brown. Had we not done this, the diaper would have been white in some places, brown-behind-white in others, and generally unattractive. When the unbleached pulp became unavailable (because of the low volumes, the manufacturer only produced it once a year, creating a supply problem), we were faced with the question, should we continue pigmenting our diaper brown, or just pigment them white like everyone else?

In researching this question two factors played into our decision. First, all diapers are pigmented. Most are pigmented white, ours are pigmented white with some brown. An un-pigmented diaper would appear clear and colorless, like a plastic milk jug, with the absorbent pulp and other contents showing. Second, the brown color had become a "trademark" of Seventh Generation diapers. Our consumers recognized the color, and created a community around it. The diapers were a statement that the parent was concerned about the health of their child and the environment. For these reasons, we decided to keep the pigment in the diaper.

The pigment is not naturally-derived. We are not satisfied with this. We strive for continuous improvement in the environmental profile of our products, and are actively engaged in research to increase the "natural" and renewable content of our diapers.

Q. Why are your baby wipes made from polyester and not cotton or organic cotton?

A. Our baby wipes are made from a mixture of rayon (derived from wood pulp bleached using a totally chlorine free process) and polyester.  This mixture offers excellent performance properties and is free of chlorine-containing substances, preventing chlorinated hydrocarbons, such as dioxins, from entering our environment.
  
While we would prefer a wipe substrate made entirely from renewable materials, we have not yet identified a material that is both effective and renewable.  Many renewable materials, like cotton or organic cotton, are prohibitively expensive.  Indeed, if you want to use cotton to clean your baby, we recommend that you use cotton washcloths, and reuse them!  That is far better for the environment!

Q. What is the source of wood pulp in your diapers?

A. The wood pulp used in our diapers is harvested from sustainably managed forests and processed totally-chlorine free.  Presently, the forests are PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certified.  Our supplier is in the process of obtaining Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.

I'd like to know what the impact of a seventh generation diaper in a landfill vs. a tradidionally made disposable (ie. Huggies) is. Other than not using chlorine in fabrication, are there any other benefits to earth? Does it break down faster than other disposables or not?
Also, are your wipes flushable?

I am light green so I don't really know much on GREEN yet.
What is the big deal about the wipes being made of poly?
Is this not good for the baby or the Earth?
Also are you saying in the statement above the only reason you are not using organic cotton because it is too expensive?