What happens to the diapers that are returned to Thirsties? Is that it? Is the diaper doomed to lay in a landfill when they still have life in them?
In most cases, the answer is NO! We care too much about our diapers and mother earth to let that happen! (Of course, the ones that are dead do have to be disposed of.) If you don’t understand my humor, please let me know.
We at Thirsties believe not only in providing the customer with a useful, affordable, and quality product, but we also believe in sustainability. One of the ways in which we do that is repairing the returns (if possible), and donating to those who need them.
If you have submitted a return with Thirsties before, you would receive a response like this:
“We sincerely apologize for your flawed Thirsties item, and we are happy to help! Your satisfaction is very important to us.
We are replacing your item/items. Included in the package will be a prepaid label. Please use the prepaid label to send us our defective item. We will repair the item if possible, and donate to supply needy families with diapers and accessories.
No need to buy a mailer or special envelope to return your item to us. Our Eco Enclose mailers are made to use twice, so simply use the second adhesive strip to close the Eco Enclose mailer, and leave in your box for your mail carrier to pick-up.”
Although we get back less than .5% of sales in returns, it still adds up to a large amount considering how many we sell.
Most of our returns go back to the sewers who repair them, and then we donate them to our local County Health Department to be dispersed to needy families.
Our returns for worn Aplix take a lot of time to fix, and they go to LCDSF!, who generously makes the repairs and donates to needy families.
We are so glad to be able to be recycling used diapers, and passing them on to those who can use them!
Written by Sonya Choron 1/20/12

That’s an awesome policy! So good to know the returned products are put to good use.
This is just another reason to support your amazing diapers and company!
That’s really cool! Thanks for sharing.
Loved reading this
Always wondered!!!
Great policy. Good to know they are not just done!
So great to know that you are so generous with your fabulous products!
Wow, I love that you guys do this! Eco-friendly and charitable.. awesome.
Love the local tie to donations. What a help for families in your area.
Wow… I never would have even thought about the returned diapers! Good ideas guys!
That makes me even happier to support your company!
One of the resons we use cloth is to be “green”. Glad to hear they don’t sit in a landfil after they are returned.
I love the diapers, but I love the company even more knowing that there is so little waste and the returns are given to people who can really use them!
Your company is awesome! More reason for us to support it!
Great to know! I actually had been wondering what happened to the slightly “off” products you are so quick and gracious to replace!
What a terrific practice!
Very good policy…share with those in need. I have 2 thirsties wraps and i tend to grab them most during the day. the ones i have are aplix and would like to eventually give the snaps a try.
That is great that you donate the ones that you are able to fix. Great policy and awesome customer service.
Thank you for posting about this. This is a great program from a great company
That’s awesome that you donate them!
Love the fact you donate the loved dipes!
That’s great that you donate them!
You should resell some of them! I try to get all my diapers used to save even more on cost.
Thats great!
How awesome that you donate them! Another reason to love Thirsties!
I LOVE that you donate the diapers! I knew I liked this company
This makes me think even more of your company. I had often wondered what happens to returned diapers. And what a blessing cloth diapers must be to those to whom you donate them! I am glad to see a company who cares about individual people.
this is so amazing!! i wish more diaper retailers did this!! could really change the world
Awesome! What a great way to re-use the diapers!
I love when companies do charitable things. One more reason to love Thirties!!
I love knowing that I am buying diapers from a company that actually really does care!
Thanks for helping needy families and the Earth!
That’s really awesome!!
So glad you do that!
I think it’s great that you do your best to repair diapers so that they can be donated!
that’s a great way to deal with returns!
thanks for this information! glad to hear you don’t just trash them! yeah for donating them to families in need!!!
I just received a replacement diaper and am putting the defective one in the mail today to return. I was so impressed with how easy it was to get a replacement and love that the defective one will be going to someone in need (after it’s fixed, of course!). Just another reason I love Thirsties (although my favorite reason is that it’s based in my hometown – who would have thought!).
That’s awesome!
That was really cool to learn about. And I totally get the “dead diaper” thing…we had “dead Barbies” at our house growing up.
That’s awesome! I love a company that cares!
So great that you’re donating to needy families. Especially if a diaper only needs a quick fix — hate for something so useful to go to a landfill!
This is so awesome!! I am glad your company is being so Green! Thanks for being a great resourse for all moms!
We have had Thirsties wraps for almost 4 years, through two kids, and they are losing their waterproof-ness. The tabs still hold great and the elastic is still tight. Is there a way to get them waterproof again? I’m still holding on to them hoping their is a way to fix them. Kudos to them lasting as long as they did!! It says alot about the quality of your product.
I seriously love you guys. I wish every business operated with such a big conscience!
never thought ab it, but that is great!
This post makes me extremely happy! I am so glad there is a company out there that really believes in their product (and sustainability) as much as Thirsties. I am glad that the returns go to good use!!
I’m glad they find a good home where they are needed.
This is awesome! Thanks for being so generous and providing diapers to those in need.
Great to know – thanks for posting this!
That’s an awesome policy! Do you ever donate to low income families that are not local?
That’s awesome, great company policy!
Very interesting!
That is so cool! I wish somewhere near us offered something like this. The only thing our local places offer are disposables.
that’s such a great policy. O’m happy to know they get used still.
Love that you guys have such a giving spirit! Great to see in a company!
Is that a PINK duo fab fitted?! Where can I get one???
The return, repair, donate policy is one of my favorite things about this company
Thats so awsome you guys are so good about default products. Greart customer service!
What a great way to give back. Thank you making great products in the US at affordable prices!
I love to hear that you donate these to needy families. This makes me all the more happy to use your products.
Thirsties has awesome customer service! It makes me love the diapers even more
This is one thing about your company that I have always loved!
That is awesome! It’s good to know that they aren’t just tossed!
Thanks for giving back to the community. It helps to know that EVERYONE get’s to use cloth diapers, no matter what kind of financial situation you are going through.
Its wonderful that you donate them and they are put to good use. Way to go!!
I’m so glad to hear that not only do these not get thrown out immediately, but that families who may struggle to buy diapers (cloth or otherwise) get a chance to try out your fluff!
What an amazing thing to do for the families that are really in need!
I loved reading this! I had a return and wondered what happened to it. I’m glad to know that some needy mom is probably using it now!
It’s always good to know that companies are giving back. You get what you give : )
It is so great to learn what happens with the returns. I had a few covers that had a snap defect on the rise snaps. I was so happy I got new covers almodt immediately….and I get the satisfaction of knowing a needy family will recieve those returns and get the help they need! Awesome.
Hello Maia,
Sorry, we do not carry the Duo Fab Fitted in pink. That is a sample diaper that was made. We do have the Orchid color, which is more lavender.
~Sonya
That is wonderful!
That is awesome! Thanks for the post!
I love that you guys give returns to families in need. I have always thought that cloth diapers can change a family in need’s life. I was a single mom with my first child, and I will tell you, it was hard. Having to buy diapers on top of everything else made things really tough. It usually meant less food. I have to admit that as a young mom, and college student, I once even had to steal a pack of diapers out of desperation. If I had had cloth diapers then, life would have been a little easier….I love knowing that you are contributing towards making life easier for a mom out there in the same situation I was in. Thank you!
So glad you have connections to needy families who can use them! Can your customer makes referrals? Thanks for the info.
So good to know, thanks! Thanks for working hard to reduce waste and give to others at the same time.
This is a great policy. I know there are so many people out there who could use a little extra help.
I am glad to hear even more great things about a company with a great product.
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