New legislation in California aims to compel manufacturers to disclose the chemicals present in disposable diapers. The bill, which passed the California assembly with a 68-1 vote, is anticipated to proceed to the state senate in the coming weeks.
The proposed law would require companies to list all intentionally added ingredients and their specific purpose on a publicly accessible webpage by 2028. By January 1, 2029, this information would also need to be included on diaper packaging.
Diapers reportedly contain substances such as phthalates, lead, PFAS, quats, arsenic, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and "fragrance," which can encompass up to 1,200 compounds thought to be hazardous to human health. These chemicals are added for various functions, such as PFAS for moisture barriers or phthalates for plastic flexibility.
Advocates suggest that the passage of this legislation could exert significant market pressure on manufacturers to use less toxic ingredients. While New York currently requires some labelling, the California bill is described as going further in its disclosure requirements.