Terra’s mission is to use the best ingredients Mother Nature has to offer, combined with cutting edge manufacturing technology and human innovation to create the best performing and most sustainable baby products. Even though our diapers are 85% plant-based, they don’t sacrifice functionality or performance! Check out this video: https://www.terragentle.com/pages/transparency. Honestly, the video speaks for itself! Terra Diapers absorb more liquid and dry faster than any other diapers on the market, and they happen to be made with better, more natural ingredients too!

We currently offer FREE sample packs of all sizes of our Diapers and Training Pants, as well as our Pure NZ Water Wipes. All you have to pay is shipping. You can choose up to 2 sample packs of diapers, training pants, or one of each, and one pack of wipes. You can find them here.

At Terra, we want to be at the forefront of sustainable products that are convenient, gentle, and actually work, without taking a large toll on the environment. Unfortunately, at this time, just like all other disposable diapers, Terra Diapers are not biodegradable or compostable. There are two challenges to reach this goal. The first is that there are still components in all diapers that are made of plastics that won’t degrade in a timely manner. The second is that as soon as there is human feces in a diaper, it’s considered a biohazard and cannot be put in a home compost. There are very few composting facilities in the US that are properly licensed and equipped to handle the composting of products that have come in contact with human waste. Since this is not feasible for most people in the US, our diapers have not been officially tested to be considered compostable at this time. We are actively working on replacing the non-biodegradable components in our diapers with plant-based components and hopefully one day in the not-too-distant future we’ll reach that goal. At that point, in theory, a diaper with only urine in it could be compostable. However, any diaper with fecal matter in it would still have to be put in the regular trash, unless there is access to an industrial composting facility that accepts diapers. That being said, you can check out this video of an experiment our team conducted in New Zealand showing how the diapers decompose in landfills: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnkZ1K-30tY.

Terra Diapers are made with 85% plant-based materials, and our mission is to reach 100% plant-based in the future as new materials become available. The performance of our diapers is our guiding star, and we are not willing to sacrifice performance by using materials that don’t meet our requirements of superior absorption, instant dryness and preventing leaks. Unfortunately, it’s not currently possible to create a diaper that does all those things, without using some non-plant-based materials. Even if a diaper is made with more plant-based materials, if it doesn’t perform well, it has no value, so we are continuing our mission until we find plant-based materials that will work as well, or better than our current materials…stay tuned!

Ingredients:
Topsheet: We use an incredibly soft proprietary polypropylene, as it performs better and wicks away moisture faster than any other material currently available. The combination of our moisture wicking Topsheet and our 360 super Absorbent Core results in a completely dry Topsheet against the baby’s skin in less than a minute. This means no sitting in a wet diaper, which causes diaper rash to develop. While we just launched in the US in 2023, Terra has been sold in New Zealand for 4 years and there has never been a single complaint about diaper rash from Terra Diapers. Our Topsheet material is similar in functionality to the material used in modern athletic wear like the popular “momiform” leggings. Cotton is a wonderful material as long as it’s dry, but there is a reason athleisure wear is no longer made of cotton… it takes forever to dry!

Plant-Based Absorbent Core: The fluffy core that helps absorb liquid is made from wood pulp sourced from the US. The wood pulp is made from FSC Certified sustainably grown and harvested forests. High-quality Japanese SAP (super absorbent polymers) is added to the pulp and wrapped in tissue paper.

Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP): The most important ingredient in any diaper is the Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP), as that is what absorbs the majority of the liquid. SAP comes in many different quality grades, which means there is a dramatic difference in cost resulting in most diaper manufacturers using less, lower quality SAP. Terra only uses the most premium quality Japanese SAP that can quickly absorb up to 20 times its weight, which helps our diapers absorb liquid faster and perform better than any other diapers we have found! Therefore, it’s fair to say that the SAP truly is the “secret sauce” for diaper performance, and it confirms the old saying that “you get what you pay for”!

Plant-Based Waterproof Breathable Barrier: This layer is made from 100% plant-based PLA, which is a thin film derived from non-GMO corn starch. This layer has micro-pores that are small enough to stop liquid molecules from passing through to prevent leaks, but big enough to let air through, which helps reduce the heat and moisture inside the diaper to keep babies dry. You may feel slight heat and moisture on the outside of the diaper soon after your baby urinates. This is not urine leaking, the heat you feel is from the urine being absorbed into the diaper. The moisture on the outside of the diaper is water vapor coming through the micro-pores, which helps reduce the moisture on the inside of the diaper. It's similar to a humid day, where it feels kind of wet outside, but it's not actually wet, just moist air.

Plant-Based Backsheet: The Breathable Backsheet, or the soft outer cover, is made from 100% Bamboo Fiber, NOT Bamboo from Viscose. Many diapers use Bamboo Viscose, which goes through a harsh chemical process during manufacturing. Our 100% Bamboo Fiber is manufactured through a mechanical process where no chemical treatment is necessary. See FAQ below in the Wipes section about the difference between Bamboo and Bamboo Viscose.

Plant-Based Leg Cuffs: Our double leg cuffs are not only stretchy for a comfortable snug fit around baby’s legs, they are also super soft. The stretchiness comes from plant-based natural rubber and the moisture barrier is made from bamboo fiber and polypropylene.

Plant-Based Wetness Indicator: Our wetness indicator is made from natural wax that changes color when exposed to moisture.

Frontal Tape Fastening System: (Only found on Diapers, not Training Pants) For a secure and comfortable fit that allows the baby to move around, we use a hook and tab fastening system that is made of polypropylene. The tabs are securely attached to the diaper to avoid any pulled tabs and destroyed diapers, and they can be fastened and unfastened as needed.

Food Grade Ink: All ink used on both the diapers and the packaging are tested to be food grade.

Plant-Based and Recyclable Packaging: The packaging for our diapers is made from 100% recyclable craft paper made from FSC Certified mix wood chips and post-consumer recycled corrugated paper. The moisture barrier on the inside of the craft paper is made from rice and is sealed using rice glue which allows the packaging to be fully recyclable.

Plant-Based Case Pack – Our cardboard case packs are fully recyclable and made from FSC Certified cardboard and post-consumer recycled paper.

No, Terra Diapers do not contain any of those ingredients. Babies' skin is extremely sensitive, up to 5x thinner than adult skin and much more absorbent, so we ensure Terra products are free from harmful chemicals. You can read our Intertek Test Report here which confirms no harmful chemicals are used.

We understand this is a hot topic for many customers and we want to be as transparent as possible about our ingredients. We know it seems like a simple question that should have a simple answer, but please bear with us as this is a much more complex issue with LOTS of conflicting and confusing information out there.

Historically pulp bleaching was done by using Elemental Chlorine, but the byproduct from this process was Dioxins, which are toxic compounds that had negative effects on the environment around and downstream from pulp mills. To solve this environmental issue, the Environmental Protection Agency issued new rules in the 1990s and the industry changed their process to ECF by eliminating the Elemental Chlorine and instead using Chlorine Dioxide. Despite the similar names, Chlorine Dioxide is COMPLETELY different from Dioxins. Thanks to continuous improvements, the ECF bleaching process is now an environmentally safe and effective process that thankfully has reversed the earlier damage caused to the environment.

Around the same time the EPA issued their new rules in the 1990s, the TCF process was developed in Sweden to meet very strict Swedish environmental regulations. This process uses neither Elemental Chlorine nor Chlorine Dioxide and instead uses hydrogen peroxide, ozone and oxygen to achieve the bleaching. This eliminated Dioxins as a byproduct. Initially many believers thought the TCF process would completely take over as the future manufacturing and bleaching process for wood pulp. However, today only around 4% of global wood pulp production uses the TCF process. The reason for this is that the ECF process has evolved to be perfectly safe. Sweden is a large producer of wood pulp and despite being in the forefront of environmental regulations, no more TCF mills have been built, while a number of new ECF mills have been built since the previous environmental concerns from ECF mills have been solved.

It turns out that the TCF process has a number of drawbacks, the biggest is that it requires more energy and also results in a lower yield from the process, which means more wood has to be harvested and processed, contributing to even higher energy use. Because of these drawbacks, it cancels out any environmental benefits compared to the ECF process. This also contributes to higher costs and has made new TCF mills uncompetitive.

In the name of full transparency, Terra Diapers are made with American made ECF pulp sourced from sustainably managed, FSC certified forests. We have had our diapers independently tested and they are confirmed to be chlorine free. You can see all of our test certificates on our Transparency page. The information regarding no chlorine detected in our products is on page 11 of the Intertek Report.

While we understand there is a lot of “noise” out there from bloggers, influencers and others on TCF vs. ECF diapers, we encourage you to look for true scientific sources of information. Dioxins are found throughout the environment in soil, water and air, but the highest levels (more than 90%) of human exposure is actually through food, so the concern and internet hoopla about TCF and ECF diapers is largely a non-issue.

Sources:

Pulp Bleaching Fact Sheet

A comparison of the methods for bleaching chemical pulp. ECF versus TCF

Comparison of ECF versus TCF Bleaching

Common Diaper Ingredient Questions: Modern Disposable Diaper Materials Are Safe and Extensively Tested

The effect of the transition from elemental chlorine bleaching to chlorine dioxide bleaching in the pulp industry on the formation of PCDD/Fs

Environmental performance of modern ECF bleaching

Yes, the pulp in diapers made with either the ECF or TCF method are totally safe. The discussion around TCF or ECF is truly an environmental issue, not a health or safety issue, even though some companies and bloggers want you to believe that. The original concern was with dioxins in general and especially dioxins released into the environment from the Elemental Chlorine bleaching process. However, as mentioned above, this issue has been virtually eliminated thanks to modern ECF pulp processing technology and today’s experts actually disagree about which method is currently the most environmentally friendly. According to the European BAT/BREF document for Pulp and Paper, the two technologies are considered equal from an environmental perspective.

Based on this we have come down on the side of ECF as a safe and clean process with today’s modern processing technology. The TCF method is good, but it comes with the drawbacks of higher energy usage and the need for more wood being harvested, both contributing to global warming. With both TCF and ECF being totally safe for use in diapers, we believe the future of global warming is a bigger danger to our babies and toddlers, and therefore reducing energy usage and keeping more forests is more important for their future.

It’s hard to believe just how fast Terra Diapers dry without seeing a real-life demonstration! We poured 8 oz. of liquid (which is way more than a toddler in a size 4 diaper would produce overnight) in a size 4 Terra Diaper and the TopSheet dried completely in just 45 seconds. To confirm our incredible findings, we had SGS (the world's leading independent testing, inspection and certification laboratory), conduct the same test, and they verified our results. You can also watch our Diaper Absorbency Test comparing three diaper brands here.

Yes, Terra Diapers are designed for sensitive skin and are free from any harmful chemicals. They have been clinically tested by an independent organization, the Dermatest Institute in Germany, and they received the highest rating of “Excellent,” even for sensitive skin. You can read the Dermatest report here.

Yes, all Terra Diapers and Training Pants have a plant-based wetness indicator.

Just like adults, all babies are shaped differently, and Terra Diapers may fit differently based on your baby’s unique body composition. It’s better for a diaper to be too big than too small, so if your baby is in between sizes, we generally recommend sizing up. However, based on customer feedback, some parents say Terra Diapers tend to run slightly on the bigger side. The diaper should fit snug and high around the waist, while still allowing enough room to slide a finger into the waist band. The fastening tabs should not overlap, and you want to make sure the leg cuffs are snug around your baby’s legs with no gaps and the ‘ruffles’ are pulled out. View our size chart here.

IMPORTANT TIP: for boys—you want to always make sure things are pointing down to prevent leaks! 😉

Yes, as you can see here Terra Diapers can absorb more than 48 oz. of liquid without leaking, which is way more than a baby would pee, even overnight. We had this information verified by SGS, the leading third-party independent lab. If a Terra Diaper is too big, or too small for your baby, it could cause leaks. Just like adults, all babies are shaped differently, and Terra Diapers may fit differently based on your baby’s unique body composition. It’s better for a diaper to be too big than too small, so if your baby is in between sizes, we generally recommend sizing up. However, based on customer feedback, some parents say Terra Diapers tend to run slightly on the bigger side. The diaper should fit snug and high around the waist, while still allowing enough room to slide a finger into the waist band without the fastening tabs overlapping. The leg cuffs should be snug around your baby’s legs with no gaps and you can run your finger around them to make sure the ‘ruffles’ are pulled out and not folded in. IMPORTANT TIP: for boys—you want to always make sure things are pointing down to prevent leaks! 😉 View our size chart here to find the correct size based on your baby's weight.

Unrelated to size and fit, if you happen to be holding your baby right as they urinate, you may feel slight heat and moisture on the outside of the diaper. This is not urine leaking, the heat you feel is from the urine being absorbed into the diaper. The moisture on the outside of the diapers is water vapor coming through the micro-pores in the diaper's plant-based waterproof breathable barrier, which helps reduce the moisture on the inside of the diaper. It's similar to a humid day, where it feels kind of wet outside, but it's not actually wet, just moist air. We promise this is a good thing, as it reduces the heat and moisture on the inside of the diaper to keep your baby dry and help prevent diaper rash.

If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to us and our team will be happy to help.

All ink used on Terra products and packaging is food-grade. You can see our SGS report here. While we know some parents like fun prints on their children's diapers, we like to be as minimalistic as possible, while concentrating our efforts on the performance of the diapers.

Yes, we never conduct or commission testing on animals, or use ingredients from suppliers that conduct animal testing.

Yes, we know 48 oz. is a ridiculous amount of liquid, but we wanted to test to see what Terra Diapers are capable of! We also had SGS, the leading third-party independent laboratory, conduct the same test and they verified our results. Hopefully this calms your fear of leaks happening, especially overnight or during long car or plane rides!

The only difference is that Terra Training Pants are ONLY available in our larger sizes (Sizes 4, 5 and 6) and they are made in the “pull-up” style similar to underwear, with no front tape fastening system. Otherwise the construction and functionality is the same. We have found some parents prefer Terra Diapers for overnight use, even if they use Terra Training Pants during the day, as the fit of the diapers can be adjusted for complete protection overnight.

Diaper rash can be caused by many factors, including diet, teething and spending a long time in a wet or soiled diaper. While we can’t control the issue of diet and teething, we can promise your baby will not spend a long time in a wet diaper with Terra Diapers! As independently tested and verified, Terra’s Topsheet, which is the part that touches the baby’s skin, dries in 45 seconds or less, which means no diaper rash from sitting in a wet diaper. A good testament to this is that in Terra’s home country of New Zealand they have not had a single complaint about diaper rash since launching the products over four years ago!

Terra Diapers are developed and designed in New Zealand. Our premium raw materials such as our US made FSC-certified chlorine-free wood pulp, Japanese high-quality SAP (Super Absorbent Polymers) and non-GMO corn starch are shipped to our owned and operated Terra factory in China where they are manufactured with our proprietary machinery so we can ensure the highest quality control standards are maintained at all times.

We have three varieties of wet baby wipes, as well as dry wipes. The Cloth we use for all our Baby Wipes is made of 100% Biodegradable FSC Certified Bamboo Fiber (NOT Bamboo Viscose) and 0% Plastic. NOTE: Try pulling on other brands of baby wipes—if they rip easily, they most likely have plastic in the cloth.

The Liquid in our wet wipes starts out as pristine New Zealand water. Then it goes through a reverse osmosis purification process, which actually makes it cleaner than drinking water! Our wet wipes contain only either 2 or 3 ingredients, all of which you can easily pronounce!

Terra Water Wipes only have 2 ingredients: 99.7% Pure New Zealand Purified Water and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein.

Terra Kiwifruit Baby Wipes are made with 99% Pure New Zealand Purified Water, Kiwifruit Extract and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein.

Terra Manuka Honey Baby Wipes are made with 99% Pure New Zealand Purified Water, Organic MG650+ Manuka Honey and Hydrolyzed Soy Protein.

Hydrolyzed Soy Protein is a natural preservative made from Japanese non-GMO soybeans, which has been proven in laboratory testing to provide long-term protection against any microbial growth well beyond the 3 year expiration period for our baby wipes.

Terra Water Wipes provide a natural cleanse for your baby with just two ingredients. Terra Kiwifruit Wipes contain a hint of kiwifruit extract which is rich in vitamins and provides natural moisturizing and cleansing benefits for your skin. Terra Manuka Honey Wipes contain a hint of NZ locally sourced Organic MG650+ Manuka Honey, which is known for its moisturizing and anti-inflammatory effects, perfect for delicate, sensitive skin. We also offer Terra Dry Wipes that can be used dry, or you can add water or your favorite cleanser to create your own chemical free wet baby wipes.

Terra Baby Wipes are manufactured in our new, state of the art plant in Auckland, New Zealand, home of the Terra brand.

Bamboo is one of the most versatile and sustainable materials available today. It is abundant, renewable and fast-growing without fertilizers or pesticides, making it an excellent choice for a wide range of products, including eco diapers and baby wipes.

It is important to note that all bamboo products are not created equal! Some bamboo is processed using harsh chemicals to create viscose from bamboo, which can have a negative environmental impact. To truly benefit from the eco-friendly properties of bamboo, it is best to choose products made from 100% natural bamboo fibers, which is what we use for Terra Diapers and Baby Wipes. Check out our blog post on the benefits of bamboo, and the differences from bamboo from viscose.

We are transparent about the ingredients used in the liquid AND the cloth of our baby wipes, and you can easily pronounce all of them! Try looking at the ingredients of other baby wipes. You may be surprised! Not only are our Terra Baby Wipes natural, with 0% plastic, chemicals, fragrance or optical brighteners, they are also made with textured, cross-woven 100% FSC certified bamboo fabric for extra strength and durability to help clean up even life’s biggest messes!

If you compare Terra Baby Wipes with other baby wipes, Terra wipes actually don’t look as white as others since we don’t use a bleaching process.

No, we do NOT recommend flushing Terra Baby Wipes, or any brand of baby wipes, even if they say they’re flushable. Flushing baby wipes can cause major plumbing problems in your home and your community’s sewer system.

While a majority of baby wipes are made of fabrics made from oil-based plastic materials, Terra Baby Wipes are made from 100% plant-based bamboo fabric and are therefore biodegradable and compostable. However, there are some caveats to composting baby wipes. If there is human feces on the wipe, it’s considered a biohazard and should not be composted. If there is no human feces on the wipe, it’s fine to be composted and depending on the compost environment, will totally break down in 4-6 weeks.

All baby wipes expire. If unopened, our wipes last up to 3 years. You can find the expiration date on the back of each pack of our wipes. Once open, it’s best to keep them stored in a cool, dry place they will last for a month or more if closed properly in between each use. As Terra Wipes are made from mostly water, they will dry out over time. If they dry out, you may notice they turn slightly yellow—just like when paper touches water, it changes color slightly when it dries.

Terra Baby Wipes are a generous 8” x 7”, and the fabric is textured and cross-woven for extra durability. While many other baby wipes that are made of plastic easily rip, Terra Baby Wipes are strong in both directions.

As a new brand, we're in the process of growing our list of retailers across the US and Canada. You can find all of our current retailers on our Where To Buy page.

Please reach out to our Customer Care team here.