Coterie The Diaper

Fragrance in a product worn against covered, often irritated skin for hours at a time — close to worst-case conditions for a contact allergen. The French safety agency ANSES recommended eliminating fragrance from diapers entirely, and two once-common diaper fragrance allergens are now banned in EU cosmetics. Fragrance-free isn't a preference here; it's the evidence-backed choice.

Substances that can move from the product onto skin: hot-melt adhesives and their tackifier resins, printed pigments, and the lotion applied to the liner. Rated per substance — most are low-concern, but this is where quality differences between makers actually show up.

The fibres and films against the skin — fluff pulp, cotton, polypropylene, the absorbent polymer. Reassuringly, this is the part of a diaper with the strongest safety record: these polymers aren't absorbed through skin. A good score here is expected; the real questions live in the other components.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — 'forever chemicals' that persist in the body and environment for years. Used for water- and stain-resistance; linked in studies to immune and developmental effects.

Independent third-party verifications (USDA Organic, FSC, EPA Safer Choice…). Informational only — having none never lowers a score; verified claims can raise it.

What manufacturing leaves behind rather than what goes in: the pulp-bleaching route (totally-chlorine-free vs chlorine-dioxide), residual monomer in the absorbent polymer, trace PAHs. French agency testing found these — not the plastics — were where diaper risk thresholds were exceeded. Rarely disclosed on any panel, so this mostly scores through process certifications.