Eco-friendly and organic menstrual products

Most people know that disposable plastic is an environmental problem. Still, most products we buy are packed in plastic. Your tampons and pads are probably no exception. Considering the avarage menstruating person menstruates about 2,500 days in their lives, it’s not such a bad idea to switch to eco-friendly and organic menstrual products. This means that both the products and the packaging are durable, organic, and/or eco-friendly.

What are eco-friendly and organic menstrual products?

If you care about sustainability, we have good news for you: there is an increasing number of menstrual products available that is eco-friendly and organic. These products differ from regular products in many ways, for example in terms of material, packaging, and whether or not you can reuse them. The avarage person who menstruates uses between 5,000 and 15,000 menstrual products. According to Women’s Environment Network, regular pads consist of up to 90% plastic, polypropylene, polyester, and polyethene. Per pad, that’s about four plastic bags. So if you want to live a sustainable life, it’s a good idea to start using organic menstrual products. Eco-friendly and organic products are products that are reusable and are free of plastic and chemicals. If reusable products are a bit too much for you, you can also choose products that are biodegradable or recyclable. Some are even suitable for disposal in the organic waste bin.

Reusable eco-friendly, organic menstrual products

Washable pads of organic cotton

Washable pads are increasing in popularity. They’ve been available for a long time, but many people have just started discovering them. A washable pad looks like a regular pad with wings, but instead of a sticky side, there are press studs or Velcro on the side to attach the pad to your panties. You can wash the pad with water after use and temporarily store it in a wet bag. This is a special bag with a zipper and a waterproof coating. If you have multiple pads in your wet bag, you can put the bag in the washing machine. Tip: Rinse your washable pads with cold water. This prevents stains.

Washable tampons

Washable tampons are special pieces of fabric that you can roll up and secure with a string. These tampons are often made of organic cotton and aren’t wrapped in plastic. Because you can wash the tampon, it is much more sustainable than a regular tampon. Like with washable pads, it’s best to rinse washable tampons with cold water and then put them in the washing machine.

Menstrual underwear (period panties)

There is special menstrual underwear you can wear during your menstruation period. Period panties consists of various layers that can absorb blood. The outer layer is waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about leakage. Period panties can absorb two, or two and a half, tampons worth of blood. Thinx and Cheeky Wipes are two of the most well-known brands that offer menstrual underwear. Another option is Period Aisle, which offers genderneutral menstrual underwear, since not every person who menstruates identifies as female. Like reusable pads and tampons, period panties can be stored in a wet bag, can be rinsed with cold water, and can be washed in the washing machine.

Organic menstrual products made of (unbleached) organic cotton

Eco-friendly menstrual products like washable pads are often made of organic cotton. This is cotton that is grown without using pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. Organic cotton has various benefits. It’s healthier for people working on cotton fields, as they don’t get into contact with toxic chemicals. The land will also be more fertile and doesn’t need as much water. Perhaps you also only want to use products that are not treated with chemicals. There are menstrual products available that are 100% natural and organic. Regular tampons are made of bleached cotton for example. The cotton fibers are treated with hydrogen peroxide (they used to use chlorine). Manufacturers are not obliged to mention this on the packaging. So find brands who don’t use any chemicals, like Yoni, who will clearly communicate what materials are used to produce their menstrual products.

Reusable menstrual cup

A menstrual cup is a sustainable menstrual product. It’s a synthetic cup that you can insert in your vagina. It is placed against the cervix, so the blood flows directly into the cup. You can wear a menstrual cup for up to twelve hours. Then you can rinse it with water and insert it again. The only thing you need is a faucet or a bottle of water. When your period ends, you can place the cup in boiling water to clean it. The cup is eco-friendly because it doesn’t involve any disposable plastic and it doesn’t contain any chemicals. You can use one cup for ten years, so you don’t have to spend any money on it for ten years after purchasing it. There are various brands that offer menstrual cups. Which size is right for you depends on your age and whether or not you’ve given birth vaginally. Putacupinit.com has a useful quiz that you can take to find out which cup is right for you. One of the newest cups is the soft Saalt menstrual cup. It is made of softer material: silicone. This also makes this cup perfect for people who think regular cups are too uncomfortable to wear, people who experience intense cramps, or people who have a sensitive uterus. The brand Beppy (known for their sponge tampons) offers soft and flexible menstrual cups with removal loops.

Reusable menstruation disc

Menstruation discs have been available for a long time, but they weren’t reusable, which made them unsuitable for this list. However, that changed when the Intimina Ziggy Cup was introduced. This is a menstrual disc that can be reused. It is longer than a regular cup and also more flexible. The best thing about this disc is that you can have sex while wearing it.

Reusable applicator

Many people use applicators to insert tampons. These are made of plastic or paper. Because they’re considered medical waste, applicators can’t be recycled. That’s why the founders of DAME created a unique product: a reusable tampon applicator. This is the world’s first tampon applicator that can be used again and again, your whole life long. It comes with a travel wallet, so you can even store and clean the applicator when you’re on the road.

Recyclable products and packaging

There are organic menstrual products that are partially or completely recyclable. The products created by Yoni for example are made of 100% biodegradable cotton. The pads made by Vuokkoset are also biodegradable. They’re 100% organic and free of chlorine, colouring agent, and plastic. You can put them in the organic waste bin after use. The tampliner by Callaly is a relatively new invention. This is a tampon and pantyliner in one and is made of organic cotton. You can insert the tampon and place the mini-liner between your labia. This way, the tampliner offers double protection. The mini-liner and the tampon are attached to each other with a virtual applicator: a biodegradable membrane. It keeps your fingers clean and wraps up your tampon after use.