Eco Friendly Period Products. Which Should You Choose?
7 Minute Read
Womxn have been socialized to be discrete about something that happens to them every month, but today I’m bringing it front and center. Yup! We’re gonna talk about womxn’s periods. Men, this ain’t your blog post (unless you’re just curious . . . or want your lady to transition to using eco friendly period products).
I’ve used pads and panty shields since my very first period. To put it simply, they’re the perfect catalyst for chaffing, and make you feel like you’re sitting in a wet, smelly pool. Personally, I could never really figure out tampons, and after several failed attempts when going to the beach as a teenager, I just gave up on them. Some of you may be wondering why any of this is relevant to the environment. After all, isn’t menstruating ‘natural’? Well of course it is, but the trash created as a result ain’t so natural.
Disposable pads, invented in the late 1800’s, are made of cotton, cellulose (that’s often bleached), and plastic. When combined with menstrual waste (a.k.a. period blood), they’re very difficult and expensive to recycle, which means that those single-use pads will seek a tenured position as a landfill squatter, and will take centuries to decompose.
“In the US alone, there are over 85 million women of menstruating age, and according to the National Women’s Health Network, they contribute approximately twelve billion pads and 7 million tampons to [the] landfill each year” (Menstruation.com).
So what are the best options when it comes to eco friendly period products?
Allow me to introduce you to Period Panties! We’ve been dating for over a year, and we’re getting along grand!
Wait . . . WTF is a period panty? It’s a panty that has extra layers within it to collect your period blood. It looks and feels like a regular panty, but has all the benefits and coverage of wearing a pad without that ‘wet’ feeling, and more importantly, without any pads to throw away. This is the perfect solution for having a sustainable period because you simply wear the period panty as you would any other underwear and wash it when you’re done.
Oddly enough, I first learned about period panties on the New York City subway. I saw these rogue ads all over the subway platforms and stations. The company, Thinx, focused on breaking down the stereotypes and taboos associated with womxn’s periods. Their approach really resonated with me, so I decided to try one out. Admittedly, I was wary about how I would wash it, but it was surprisingly easy and not icky like I had anticipated. After that, I was convinced and ended up buying 3 more so that I wouldn’t have to buy pads ever again. Now I am proud to say that I have a 100% eco-friendly period!
Curious how it works? Thinx has different cuts and styles based on your flow. For example, you can use the thong for light days and a hiphugger for heavy days. Each of their designs states the tampon equivalent of how much it can hold, so you don’t have to guess which one will give you the coverage you need. I tried a few different styles and found that the threading on their lace panties tends to unravel a bit, so in the future, I will stick to the lace-free options. My personal favorites are the ‘boyshort’ and the ‘sport’ panties. They are comfortable, well-made, and the coverage is the perfect combination for my flow. Sustainable Period? Ummmmm . . . CHECK!
I know you probably have a million questions, so here’s a quick video to give you the low-down (with a dash of humor):
What about Tampons?
According to the National Center for Health Research, a womxn who primarily uses tampons will go through about 12,000 of them in her lifetime, and with approximately 43 million womxn currently using tampons in the US (SafeCosmetics.org), that’s an enormous amount of waste going to the landfill.
Now, some womxn simply prefer tampons to pads, and I totally get that. In the same way that I couldn’t figure out how to use tampons, some womxn don’t like the idea of sitting in their blood all day. If this sounds like you, then there is also an eco-friendly solution jussstt for you. Hello Menstrual Cup! Insert it just as you would a tampon and the cup collects the blood. You remove, empty, and clean it between each use, leaving you with an infinite supply of coverage.
There are several menstrual cups on the market, but two companies have really taken it to the next level in terms of design, safety, and comfort. AND they both focus on sustainable manufacturing and shipping to minimize their impact on the environment.
lunette menstrual cup is made of medical grade silicone. Its BPA free, vegan, and contains no latex. It lasts for several years, and pays for itself after only 3 period cycles. Their “mission is to have [an] honest and inspiring conversation about menstruation so that we can motivate period positivity—and change the world one cup at a time.”
lena menstrual cup is made in the USA “using locally sourced and tested materials. [Their] 100% post-consumer waste packaging is produced using bio-gas and is chlorine-free. It is certified by the FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) and printed using vegetable inks” (Lena). In terms of price, this is one of the more affordable menstrual cups without having to sacrifice quality—its also made with medical-grade silicone.
All of these alternatives require a little more cash upfront, but they literally pay for themselves within a few cycles, and will last for years.
How do I know which is right for me?
If you’ve always been a pad user, then period panties are the best way to transition to an eco-friendly period. They’re familiar and wont mess with your current period routine. On the other hand, if you’ve always used tampons, then a menstrual cup is probably the best option. You can also use a combination of the two. The most important thing is to feel comfortable, and if you can do right by the environment at the same time, then its a win-win. There’s also the option of using a reusable cloth pad, which is made of cotton (or organic cotton), and is essentially the same as using a disposable pad, except its reusable and can be thrown in the wash after use.
None of these options sound doable for me. What else you got!?!?
If none of these reusable options sound remotely doable for you, there are disposable options for having a more sustainable, less toxic period. Several revolutionary companies are creating pads and tampons that are organic, non-toxic and completely chemical free (unlike every mainstream disposable pad or tampon on the market . . . I’m lookin’ at you always and Kotex!). If this sounds more your speed, check ’em out here.
How the heck do I clean a period panty?
After reading this blog post, Alex (a pilates instructor, a mother, and kitesurfer) gave Thinx a try. Here’s what she thought:
How have Thinx changed your period?
Thinx made my periods more comfortable. Using tampons was always a pain (like literally), especially when it came to the end of my period. I also found tampons to be quite unhygienic. And pads always felt like I was wearing a diaper. Plus, they move around a lot, so I was always uncomfortable and constantly worried about leaking. But with Thinx, I feel much safer as nothing leaks, nothing hurts, and nothing moves. Perfect.
What peaked your interest about Thinx?
It sounded easy, uncomplicated and comfortable (and they are—easy, uncomplicated and comfortable!!) PLUS if it helps to reduce waste – winner winner chicken dinner! I also found the price absolutely fine. If you think about the about of money you spend on tampons or pads, you end up paying much more than if you had invested in a few pairs of Thinx.
Do you think changing to Thinx has significantly affected the waste you create during your period?
I create so much less waste by using Thinx! If you use tampons or pads for one week every month, and you change them approximately every 2-3 hours, then that’s waste you are creating . . . 8 times per day, 56 times per week, 672 times per year. But with Thinx, you buy them once and use them over and over again. Yes, there is the laundry, but we have to do laundry anyway! Changing to Thinx is not only personally beneficial, but environmentally speaking as well.
What’s the thing you love most about your Thinx?
They come in all shapes and sizes and you feel comfortable with them no matter where you go, what you do, or what you wear. You can go out in a dress, and you feel comfortable. You can go for a workout, and you feel comfortable. Or you can run around on the beach, and feel just as comfortable as if you were wearing anything else—there’s no leaking and no discomfort in any way. It’s just like wearing undies. In fact, its almost like you’re not on your period!
Have questions or comments about these eco-friendly period products? Drop me a line in the comment box.
Mama Eco – I love your informative and funny video (with bloopers, too!) about how to wash period panties.
Thank you!
Blair P.
Thanks Blair! It would be boring without a little period humor…don’t you think? 😉