REASONS TO BUY
Good absorption
Better leak protection
Durable
Some eco-friendly practices
REASONS TO AVOID
Not as comfy
Possible irritants
Pampers Pure Review
Greenish diaper with a good overall performance but some greenwashing concerns despite true benefits for the environment and baby
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Wendy Schmitz ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ June 2, 2023
Contributions From: Juliet Spurrier, MD
RELATED: The Best Disposable Diapers
Our Verdict
The Pampers Pure diaper is part of Pampers' “green” line of diapering products. While it is more transparent than other Pampers brand diapers and seems to have a more thoughtful design with the environment in mind, it also seems to have some potential greenwashing at play. This concern stems from misleading and conflicting statements about materials and ingredients. This diaper includes a “light fragrance” and a lotion on the top sheet but is manufactured using a totally chlorine-free process. It also offers good absorption and better leak protection, making parents think it could be a good choice if name-brand and green are the goals. Still, we would recommend a higher scoring top-ranked disposable diaper. There are similarly priced options with more to offer.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Wildly popular, Pampers is possibly one of the most well-known diaper brands owned by Proctor and Gamble. Their design of the modern-day disposable diaper is one of the oldest out there, being first developed in the 1950s by Victor Mills, a Proctor and Gamble researcher. The initial design of the diaper was very simplistic and bulky. With the additions of elastic leg gussets, tape closure tabs, and new absorbent core material, Pampers have been evolving through the years to be the diapers we know today.
Pure performed well in our tests for absorption, with filter paper test results showing better than average ability to lock away moisture from your baby's skin.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Likes
Pampers Pure scored about average compared to the other diapers in our disposable diaper review. Its ability to absorb liquids quickly and lock them away is better than much of the competition. It also has better leak performance, with fewer leaks during testing and reported by other users. Both of these metrics are critical to diaper functionality, so a higher score here is a big plus.
Pure is the first green diaper from Pampers, boasting slightly more eco-friendly practices and healthier components. And it is more durable than most diapers in the lineup with few reports of faulty tabs or leaking SAP.
Pure is soft and comfy with materials that do not chafe or bind, but there are options in the lineup that are more comfortable.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
In true Pampers fashion, the Pure diaper is soft inside and out. The leg gussets are free of scratchy and pokey material. The stretchy side tabs allow for a snug fit without sharp corners digging into the baby's belly. However, it is still average compared to the group, so we like it, but it isn't the best.
The Pure diaper is not as pure as most parents might want, with added fragrances and lotion that could act as an irritant to sensitive or newborn skin.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Dislikes
While this Pampers option is the greenest in the Pampers lineup, it still has some serious problems. With a totally chlorine-free manufacturing process, it appears to be off to a good start, but it doesn't use renewable resources like bamboo or offer much for baby's skin. This diaper includes a lotion on the top sheet that sits right next to the baby's skin, and it also has an added fragrance the company calls a"light fragrance." Light or not, fragrance means added chemicals and potential irritants that the company does not have to disclose by law. It also uses dyes on the back sheet and the wetness indicator. So if your goal is to limit the potential for skin irritants, it isn't a great choice. The company boasts certifications for allergies and whatnot, but even a trip to the accreditation company's website doesn't yield any information on how the certification is determined. This lack of certification transparency possibly indicates potential greenwashing is afoot. We wish that Pampers would just say what is and is not in the diaper and skip the marketing fluff that is designed to confuse or mislead. Overall, we don't think the Pure diaper is all that Pure given the intentional additives for smell and feel.
Pampers Pure is greener than other Pampers options, but it still isn't as green as competitors that scored better overall.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Pampers Pure?
The Pampers Pure scored well overall, with impressive absorption and leak protection in our tests. We think it is a durable diaper and love the totally chlorine-free manufacturing process. However, this diaper has some potential greenwashing problems, and while it might be greener than other Pampers, it still uses dye, fragrance, and lotion in the diaper, which could be a problem for sensitive skin and certainly begs the question of how “Pure” the diaper really is. So, despite a greener production and good absorption, we'd choose a similarly priced green diaper that is free of common irritants and offers more transparency without the marketing hype.
What Other Disposable Diaper Should You Consider?
If you want a great green diaper, Eco by Naty is the one for you. This diaper has impressive absorbency and offers more for being eco-friendly. If the durability or price of Eco by Naty is giving you pause, Hello Bello Premium is a possible contender. While not marketed as a green diaper, this option has a fair price and impressive absorption and leak protection test results. Also, it offers more consideration for eco and health than Pure, without overselling its place on the green spectrum.
Side-by-Side Comparison
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