Bambini is an ongoing column that features Bamboo’s favourite eco parenting ideas and products, for children of all ages.

Going green has become good business, especially in the baby and kids sector. We talked to Joseph Chua, owner of HipMommies.ca, about how hopping on the sustainability bandwagon—and making the move to greener pastures—is impacting his business.

BM: HipMommies.ca started off carrying strictly mainstream products. What prompted the decision to offer green items?
JC: Last year, the HipMommies team went to an annual industry trade show to search for innovative products. Retailers are always looking for what’s new, and we really wanted to find fresh lines that would get people excited. We immediately noticed the common trend of eco-friendly products at the show, and it opened our collective eyes. The cloth diaper specifically peaked our interest, since we’ve heard for years about how much waste comes from disposables. What I also found engaging is that these products are not only drawing on the eco-friendly factor, but they have a modern, fresh concept and design that people are instantly drawn to.

BM: Since you’ve started incorporating eco-friendly products, how has the response been?
JC: After the show, we started distribution for an existing, popular cloth diaper line and are now about to release another line that is rapidly rising in popularity called Charlie Banana, and the response has been unbelievable! Everyone wants to lessen their burden on the environment, sure, but they also recognize the direct benefits of using environmentally friendly products for baby. Cloth diapers are cheaper in the long run, especially if you have multiples, and using them means baby is not only much more comfortable, they’re not exposed to the plastics that disposables are made from—a major factor parents are now taking into consideration.

BM: What are your future plans for carrying sustainable products?
JC: At the moment, we’re devoting a lot of time and attention to Charlie Banana. The designs are adorable, and I think parents who aren’t fully up to speed with cloth diapering will love the fact that these diapers have the option of adding a biodegradable insert to be changed out after they’re used. Another product we’re excited about is their reusable swim diaper, which puts an end to the extremely wasteful and expensive disposable versions.