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
RELATED: The Best Disposable Diapers
The Skinny
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.
Editor's Note: The Pure diaper received an update on May 19, 2023. This update included the testing of 13 new disposable diapers and how they compare to the Pure.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Pampers Pure | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  | |  |  | |
| Price | $0.38 List $0.39 at Amazon | $0.56 List $0.56 at Amazon | $0.27 List $0.18 each at Amazon | $0.33 List | $0.31 List $0.31 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Good absorption, better leak protection, durable, some eco-friendly practices | Super absorber, great leak protection, comfy, durable, free from chlorine, fragrance, and lotions | Excellent absorption, great leak protection, comfortable, durable, inexpensive | Great absorbency, few leaks, very durable, fragrance and lotion-free, TCF | Better absorption, good leak protection, comfortable, durable |
| Cons | Not as comfy, possible irritants | Expensive, primarily available online | Not eco-friendly, uses coloring/inks | Uses inks | Not eco-friendly, disappointing health attributes |
| Bottom Line | Greenish diaper with a good overall performance but some greenwashing concerns despite true benefits for the environment and baby | This super absorbing diaper offers great leak protection, comfort, and nods to the environment and baby's health, but it will cost you | A high-performing diaper that works well and has a reasonable price, but isn't as eco-friendly as you might want | Absorbent, durable option with good leak protection and impressive considerations for health and eco-friendliness | Cozy with great absorption and leak protection at a lower price, but eco-friendliness and health attributes are disappointing |
| Rating Categories | Pampers Pure | Parasol Clear and Dry | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Snug & Dry |
| Absorption (45%) | |||||
| Leakage (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (20%) | |||||
| Durability (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Pampers Pure | Parasol Clear and Dry | Kirkland Signature | Hello Bello Premium | Huggies Snug & Dry |
| Type of Diaper Green/Traditional | Green | Green | Traditional | Green | Traditional |
| Chlorine-Free ECF/TCF | TCF | TCF | ECF | TFC | Not Listed |
| Fragrance-Free | No - Light Fragrance | Yes | Yes | Yes | No - Strong baby powder scent |
| Biodegradable | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | No | Not listed |
| Contains SAP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Miscellaneous Materials Details | Premium cotton, polypropylene, polyethylene and polyester blend | Made with "Drylock" technology, which means less wood pulp is used for core of diaper | Made with Plant Based Materials (At least 23%+ by weight) | TCF fluff pulp from sustainably managed forests, a high-performance Super Absorbent Polymer, polypropylene/polyethylene/polyester nonwoven fibers, plant-derived PLA nonwoven fiber, spandex strands, and an elastomeric fill | Wood Pulp Sodium Polyacrylate Polypropylene Polyethylene Adhesives Polyester Polyrurethane elastics |
| Wetness Indicator | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stretchable side wings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stretchable Back of Diaper | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eco-Awards & Certifications | Accredited as safe by Skin Health Alliance | Nordic Swan Eco Label, PEFC Forest Sustainability, PETA Cruelty-Free and Vegan, Original Excellent Dermatest , FSC, ROHS compliant | Good Housekeeping ~ "2022 Parenting Awards" New York Magazine ~ "Best Diaper Subscription" ptpa.com ~ "winner" |
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| Dye-Free | Inks (made without disperse dyes) | Uses water-based inks | Not listed, does have a print | No | "Printing inks are used to provide a decorative design. The colorants and pigments we use are evaluated to ensure they are safe and non-sensitizing." |
| Lotion-Free | Skin protecting lotion made with Vegetable Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Stearyl Alcohol | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not Listed |
| Latex-Free | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
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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.
Performance Comparison
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 best 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.
—
Juliet Spurrier, MD & Wendy Schmitz
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