Cochran Passes Bill Creating Enforceable Transparency for Diaper Ingredients

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — State Rep. Justin Cochran, D-Des Plaines, passed a bill Tuesday requiring transparency from diaper-makers as to the materials in their products.

“A kid’s diaper is the one thing they wear the most, and it’s the only thing they wear that doesn’t have a label on it that says what it’s made of,” Cochran said. “Kids are also some of the most vulnerable to things like allergens, chemicals and other potentially irritating materials. That’s why parents need to know what their kids’ diapers are made from.”

Cochran’s House Bill 4702 would require, beginning one year from its effective date, that all diapers sold in Illinois carry a plain and conspicuous label listing all ingredients in order of highest to lowest content—in addition to, not instead of, any other labeling requirements.

There would be a fine for anyone who fails to comply with the labeling requirement, based on an agreement reached with the industry during negotiations. But Cochran says it’s not about fines.

“At the end of the day, this is about centering families. The requirement here—list the materials that are in your diapers on the box they come in—isn’t burdensome or unusual, and regulating these companies isn’t the point.” Cochran said. “The point is giving parents the tools and the information they need to protect their children from allergens. The point is promoting greater safety for the youngest kids in our state and greater empowerment for their families. In my book, families come first, and if you’re not onboard with that, I’m more than comfortable saying that you don’t get to put your product on people’s kids.”