Where has the last year gone?? I blinked and suddenly it’s a new one. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older and this is normal, or if it’s just been the last three years with quarantine and all the stress that’s been happening in the news—but man, does time seem to fly. With the new year now upon us I thought touching on a health related sustainable journey relating to women’s health is appropriate; so let’s chat about environmentally friendly period products. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not fully sustainable or zero-waste in this arena yet, but there are a lot of things that need to be considered when making a decision like this.
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Table of Contents
WHY TF are we talking Period Products?
Pads, tampons, discs, cups, absorbent underwear. Light, regular, super, super-plus. Scented, non-scented. In-store, online. There is no single answer, or one-sized fits all solution. Every body is different. And honestly, there seems to be a new women’s health/product business opening every week.
When you add additional questions like:
- What is the best product for myself?
- What is the product made of?
- What are the health considerations?
- How is it disposed?
- What is the impact on the environment?
It can lead to an extensive amount of research. Combine that with the fact that period products were basically unspoken of until this past generation and there have been a lot of false marketing claims in period product history and today there are suddenly so many products to wrap our heads around, let alone finding one that might be good for both our bodies AND the environment.
Let’s disclaimer this shit right now by acknowledging that every BODY is different, every PERIOD is different. What works for me, my sister, friends, or even you might look very different. I’m slowly working my way towards a waste-free period, and I’m mostly there, just not entirely yet—there are a lot of factors at play, including: comfort, usability/learning-curve, health, coverage, availability, cost, and THEN sustainability and environmental impact. I will always advocate for my health (and yours) first, and then the health of our planet second. But I am not a medical provider and all opinions in this post are just that—opinions.
Because if we aren’t here and in good health, how can we help our planet to thrive and live it’s best life?
Period Products and the Environment
During my research I found some scary (at least to me) information about what I putting in my body, because that’s where tampons live-inside our bodies. I wasn’t okay with the toxins and pesticides I was finding were in the cotton being utilized. In fact some tampons can contain known carcinogens, fragrances, and other synthetic materials such as rayon, plastic, and carbon disulfide.
In addition, I learned tampons absorb more than just menstrual blood, they absorb all of our vaginal lubrication as well. Without the natural lubrication, your vaginal pH can change leading to Yeast Infections and/or Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)—both of which are unpleasant. Tampons are expensive, oftentimes have plastic parts, and end up directly in a landfill.
By the numbers, periods generate:
- 200,000 (or more) metric tons of waste ANNUALLY
- 500-800 YEARS for the plastic applicator/wrappers to decompose
- 5,000 – 15,000 PRODUCTS in a women’s lifetime
- 400 POUNDS of packaging in a women’s lifetime
The plastic applicators/packaging ends up breaking down into micro plastics that pollute rivers and oceans, contaminating the water supply. And manufacturing the products takes a ton of resources from sourcing the cotton, dying it with chlorine-bleach, and creating the packaging.
I needed something better.
All opinions below are my own. I’ve either used the product and/or company linked below OR I indicate below that I haven’t utilized either the product or something from the company, but their message and products align with the sustainability, earth-friendly journey we are all on.
Types of Sustainable Period Products
Honestly, for a millennial the number of periods I’ve had in my lifetime are a fraction of most others my age. My first period was at thirteen, and then at seventeen my parents decided I needed to go on the birth control shot, Depo Provera. I was on the shot for 8 years without a period before I found a doctor who would remove my fallopian tubes—more on that another time. And so I’ve only had a couple years of normal periods since I stopped getting the Depo shots. So, definitely not an expert, but I’ll walk you through the products I’ve used and where I’m at in my quest for a sustainable, waste-free, and HEALTHY period products.
Re-usable Menstrual Pads
When I got my period, my mother decided Menstrual Pads were the product I would use; I swear it was because she honestly believed tampons would take away my virginity or something like that.
Ohmyfreakinggod, do I HATE (with a PASSION) menstrual pads. I don’t know if it was just my teenage emotional brain but they were gross, constantly leaked, and I always felt like I’d basically peed myself. And the “super-plus” absorbency I needed was un-sightly in some of my pants. Talk about a teenage nightmare.
Now, (and probably the first period product ever!), reusable pads are making a comeback. I, unfortunately, can’t speak to the efficacy or usability of these as I don’t personally use any type of pad. As far as eco-friendly concerns, I would try to avoid any reusable pad that has additional plastic in it (sometimes seen as TPU/polyurethane), or other synthetic materials such as polyester. And I would aim towards organic cotton that is not dyed or bleached.
Plastic-Free Tampons
I started buying myself tampons at fifteen as soon as I got a job. More secure, less leaks, no bulky diaper feeling. A bit of a learning curve trying to teach myself how to insert it correctly. I bought a kind with a cardboard applicator. Even at 15 throwing away 8-12 plastic applicators a day seemed absolutely senseless. And the tampons were made of cotton, so that’s natural, right? It didn’t seem like I was harming the environment too much at that point.
From 17 to 25, I was on Depo without a period and those years were absolutely glorious—you know, minus the side effects. Jeesh, I really don’t think some (obviously not all) medical providers tell you everything a medication, especially a hormonal one, can do to your body. That shit is fucked up.
Following the removal of my fallopian tubes, it took about a year for my period to come back. At that point in time, I was soooo busy and my period was so heavy and unpredictable that I was ALWAYS running out of tampons. So, like any millennial, I took to the internet for research on subscription services so I didn’t run out and have to scramble.
The amount of information and products was overwhelming. There were tampon subscription services from women-led companies that looked like fantastic products that I wouldn’t have to worry about ever running out. Many of these new tampon companies were boasting 100% organic cotton with no mystery ingredients or chemicals.
THIS STOPPED ME IN MY TRACKS. I had always thought my tampons were made with only cotton. What had I been using for years? I had no idea why I didn’t think of this, but some cotton tampons have trace amounts of pesticides and herbicides in them, among other possible toxins. Some brands may be bleached with chlorine to obtain the clean white color. In addition to that, most brands have a plastic applicator and plastic packaging.
Okay, at this point, I was looking for a 100% organic tampon without dyes, fragrances, plastics and with a subscription and a sustainability mission—well that would be icing on the cake, but a girl could dream.
Eco-friendly tampon choices have so many options. First, you’re going to want a 100% Organic Cotton tampon that is not bleached or dyes. Then you get to choose which eco-friendly applicator appeals best to you, your sustainability goals, and your life; options here include: Reusable (yes, reusable applicators—not tampons), Biodegradable, Cardboard, or even no applicator. There is a product for every body out there.
Menstrual Discs and Cups
Further research led me to menstrual discs and menstrual cups. These could be utilized for up to 12 hours, weren’t prone to toxic shock syndrome, and actually helped promote vaginal health by not absorbing the normal vaginal fluids like cotton tampons do. The normal vaginal fluids help keep everything clean and balanced.
Discs (at this point) were not reusable, BUT the added benefit was that I could have mess-free period sex with the boyfriend. Cups were reusable for up to 10 years according to some sources, making them more sustainable, but they seemed to have a steep learning curve. So I went with a subscription of menstrual discs.
Is it possible for a period product to be LIFE-CHANGING?! The menstrual disc is inserted generally the same way as a tampon and springs open in place without any effort. I can wear it (on most days) for about 12 hours—sometimes only 8 on heavy days. THIS made my life sooooo much better. Running from plane to plane for work-related travel was hard enough without having to worry about my tampon needing changed every hour.
FUN FACT: you can not easily change your tampon in an airplane bathroom (if the bathroom is even operational).
With the discs, I actually noticed a lot less cramping during my periods as well. And honestly, the disc is so comfortable, I forget it’s there ALL the time. Imagine having a period where you don’t constantly think about your period??
The subscription service I used is FLEX Discs. For $14 a period I don’t have to worry about leaks, if I’ll run out of product at the most inopportune time, or if I can/cannot have sex that week.
I use two or three discs a day vs maybe 6 or 8 super tampons. The discs are not recyclable, or all natural/compostable, but they have drastically cut down on my period waste. No wrapper, applicator, or tampon in the trash for me (you really shouldn’t be flushing those).
FLEX provides each disc individually wrapped in COMPOSTABLE paper packaging and the plastic bag they come packaged in is recyclable in my area. Win-Win. In fact, the FlexFit’s website indicates: Flex was created to give those who bleed sustainable period products that prioritize comfort, support an active lifestyle, and lend a hand to Mother Earth.
The caveat is: the removal learning curve is quite…messy. In fact, FLEX recommends you remove your first couple discs in the shower to mitigate any messes. Even now, after three or so years of utilizing the menstrual disc, I still think removal can be a little messy on my really heavy days. I’ve learned to not remove it in a public bathroom stall, if I can help it. Having access to a sink during/after removal is my saving grace on the heavy days. My bidet (you can read about that here) helps me feel fresh and clean after removal as well.
I was so confused that there wasn’t a reusable menstrual disc; the concept seemed simple enough in my head. As I slowly started switching some bathroom items out for sustainable counterparts, I did buy a FLEX cup. One silicone purchase to cover ten years of period waste seemed like the perfect solution. Plus the FLEX cup comes with a unique pull-tab that allows for tampon-esque removal.
I absolutely wasn’t sold, but I was able to use the cup on my lighter days without any issue. The disadvantage: the cup doesn’t allow for mess-free period sex.
If you want TMI: I was having issues getting the cup to pop open/inserted correctly all the time. And my pelvic muscles are apparently quite strong and will squeeze the cup at random times. This breaks the seal/suction and then causes leaks—hence why I hadn’t been able to utilize the cup on my heavy days—which is like half my period. But with the cup, I was able to cut back a little on the number of discs that I did use! Every little win for the environment counts, I promise!
ANNND now FLEX has a reusable silicone disc that is made of medical grade silicone. I’ve been using the reusable FLEX disc for about a year now and it is absolutely the most amazing thing in the world! My period is finally WASTE-FREE. It’s so comfortable, I almost forget it’s there. It’s easy to fold in half with the notch design and it slides right in with just a little push to get it behind my pubic bone.
Empty, Rinse in Cold Water, Wash with Mild Soap, and Repeat. No plastic, no chemicals, all the appropriate fluids stay where they are supposed to. And sex…whenever I want 😛
And while many companies and source site that the reusable cup/discs can be used for many years if properly cared for, it seems like recommendations are to replace every 2-3 years or if any wear/tear is noticed on the device. I’ve had my reusable FLEX Disc for about 10 months now, so approximately 10 periods. By the minimal numbers, I’ve {so far} saved:
- 300 TAMPONS = 6 tampons/day x 5 days x 10 months from going to landfill (about $100)
OR
- 100 DISCS = 2 {not reusable} discs/day x 5 days x 10 months (about $100)
And I spent $35 for somewhere between 2 – 10 years of a waste-free period with the Reusable Flex Disc. Easiest decision ever.
Period Underwear
The advent of absorbent period underwear has never personally appealed to me; however, for the sake a of comprehensive overview of all types of eco-friendly period products, this one has made the list since the undies can be worn instead of pads/tampons/cups/discs, etc. In essence, the pad and your underwear have been combined. Since they are combined, there is no more leakage around the pad and you don’t have to worry about the pad moving around on your underwear.
While period underwear does replace some of the other period care products, making it more eco-friendly then some other options, it does have some other considerations. First, if this is the route you choose, try to choose a brand/pair that does not have any additional plastics (even recycled ones); this is your most sensitive area and plastics and other synthetic materials should be avoided, if able.
Reducing your Waste with Eco-Friendly Period Products
That’s a lot of information and only one person’s point of view; summed up nicely into: we all have very different bodies, needs and desires. And with that, there is a period product that works for each of us. When looking for a product, consider your lifestyle, the health of you and your vagina, and then think of how to get more eco-conscious from there.
- Menstrual Pads: consider cutting waste by using plastic-free reusable pads.
- I haven’t utilized any type of reusable pads, but there are a ton of reusable pad options on Etsy
- I also haven’t used these ones from Viv for your V, but they are disposable, plastic-free, and biodegradable in 150 days
- Tampons: for your health consider switching to organic cotton that is neither bleached nor dyed. You can reduce your period footprint by looking for a company with minimal packaging and moving from a plastic applicator to either a reusable one or a cardboard/no-applicator experience.
- I haven’t used this product, but this one has an applicator made from the sugar cane plant
- Menstrual Cups: look for a reputable company whose product is made of medical-grade silicone. Ensure you read the company’s sizing and cleaning guide prior to purchasing and give yourself a little grace with the learning curve.
- I personally own and have used the one from Flex; the pull tab on their cup is what sold it for me. It is comes in one size and is beginner-friendly
- Viv also has menstrual cups. Theirs has a ring tab for easy removal and they have two different sizes (small and large)
- Menstrual Discs: if disposable, look for minimal packaging. If looking for a reusable disc, look for medical-grade silicone and sizing/cleaning instructions prior to purchasing.
- Here is the reusable disc from Flex that I use every month since it came out. It is my favorite period product (if you can have one of those)
- I used the non-reusable Flex disc prior to the reusable one coming out and it is honestly the most comfortable disposable product I’ve ever utilized
- If you’re wanting a disc that a little better for the planet than the standard Flex Disc, Flex has recently launched Flex Plant+ which only uses medical-grade polymers that are 40% derived from sugarcane plants
- Wearables: I have no recommendations for wearables except to avoid plastics and make sure you following the manufacturing guidelines for cleaning.
Have you considered the waste generated from your period? Comment below the period products you have found to be the most beginner and environmentally friendly!