The subject of female hygiene merchandise isn’t mentioned, however it’s a vitally necessary situation for about half of the world’s inhabitants. Each tampon and sanitary pad has a significant environmental impression—from the sources and chemical substances that go into making them, to the waste created, to the much less seen prices of packaging and transportation.
Certainly, any product that’s principally plastic and put within the landfill after a single utilization is, by definition, unsustainable.
Right here is why you would possibly wish to contemplate extra environmentally sustainable choices for managing your interval, and the right way to discover non-toxic, eco-friendly female hygiene merchandise.
Why Select Sustainable Interval Merchandise
The Landfill and Litter Concern
The typical individual menstruating 5 days a month for 38 years will use roughly 11,400 disposable menstrual merchandise of their lifetime.
It’s estimated that just about 49 billion pads, tampons and applicators are discarded each year in North America alone. Roughly 85% of those single-use merchandise results in landfills, the place it doubtlessly releases poisonous chemical substances and microplastics into the setting for the lots of of years it takes to degrade.
Sadly, about 15% of this waste is deliberately flushed down the bathroom, the place it results in our rivers and streams, as a result of most sewer therapy techniques can’t correctly deal with it. Consequently, single-use menstrual merchandise are the fifth-most incessantly collected objects in seashore clean-ups, making up about 6% of all litter.
Impartial checks have discovered microplastics not solely from wrappers and tampon applicators, but in addition in some tampon strings and within the tampons and pads themselves. These microplastics get ingested by marine life like sea turtles, seals and whales, inflicting digestion blockage and dying.
Please don’t flush tampons, tampon applicators or different interval merchandise! They include microplastics that escape the sewer system and pollute our rivers and oceans!
The Air pollution Concern
In life cycle assessment (LCA) comparisons and studies of the environmental impression of menstruation merchandise, they’ve discovered that from cradle to grave, together with every part from the uncooked materials extraction, to the manufacture, transportation, use, and waste administration, typical female hygiene merchandise are very costly to the planet.
Typical sanitary pads, panty liners and tampon applicators are made with crude oil plastic. Sanitary pads are sometimes as a lot as 90% plastic! Tampons are usually constructed from bleached wooden and soy pulp (cellulose), plastic fibers, and a small quantity of GMO cotton.
The principle environmental impression of typical interval merchandise comes from processing uncooked supplies for tampons and pads, notably the plastic fiber and cellulose (wooden pulp) manufacturing. Nevertheless, this doesn’t low cost the huge quantity of oil, water, timber, soil and gasoline which might be depleted or destroyed within the packaging, supply and disposal of those single-use merchandise, too.
The Toxins in Typical Tampons and Pads
“Female hygiene merchandise are an necessary supply of chemical publicity in girls.”
—Dr. Chong-Jin Gao, New York State Division of Well being
Something that is available in fixed contact together with your pores and skin will enter your bloodstream and be carried all through your physique. This is the reason nicotine, contraception and different medicated patches work so nicely. That is additionally why it’s greatest to not put something in your pores and skin that you simply wouldn’t eat.
Sadly, based on multiple studies and scientific reports, typical tampons, sanitary pads, panty liners, female wipes, incontinence merchandise, and disposable diapers can include as many as two dozen poisonous chemical substances, together with:
- Dioxins, a byproduct of bleaching wooden and soy pulp to make rayon, are a number of the most poisonous substances identified. Even elemental chlorine-free bleaching (ECF) leaves minute traces of dioxin behind, which is regarding as a result of publicity is cumulative and poisonous within the tiniest portions.
- Glyphosate. In accordance the USDA, 94 percent of all U.S. cotton is genetically engineered to face up to spraying with glyphosate or Spherical-Up, a pesticide linked with cancer and endocrine disruption. Glyphosate (Spherical-Up) has been repeatedly present in tampons and pads worldwide, which has prompted outcry and product remembers in France, Canada, and Argentina.
- Bisphenol A (BPA), present in most sanitary pads, which has been discovered to disrupt the perform of hormones and endocrine glands, notably in fetuses and infants. BPA has additionally been linked to most cancers and coronary heart illness.
- Phthalates, which give tampon applicators and pads a easy end, are identified to disrupt hormones and disregulate gene expression. Elevated publicity to phthalates has been related to precocious puberty, endometriosis, feminine genital tumors, and ovulation issues.
- Polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester are plastics which might launch microplastics into the physique in addition to to the setting after use and disposal. A recent study discovered {that a} single typical tampon has the potential to launch billions of nanoplastics throughout use.
- Propylene glycol (PEG) makes interval merchandise softer to the pores and skin and extra absorbent, however it might be contaminated with ethylene oxide and/or 1,4 dioxane, that are each linked to most cancers.
- Risky Natural Chemical substances like Styrene, Chloromethane, Chloroethane, Chloroform, and Acetone, that are linked to most cancers.
These period product chemicals have been linked with several conditions, together with endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, untimely ovarian failure, uterine fibroids, fertility issues, breast most cancers, and obesity.
Given the common menstruator will come into direct contact with the chemical substances in tampons and pads for roughly 2,200 days of their life, it is smart to decide on the most secure, most eco-friendly interval merchandise doable.
The best way to Discover Sustainable Interval Merchandise
In a lot of the world, laws on the chemical substances and byproducts in female hygiene merchandise are too weak to adequately shield public well being and the setting. The one factor you are able to do to keep away from these potential hazards is to read labels and choose alternatives you may be certain don’t include toxins or hurt the earth.
Selecting a extra eco-friendly menstrual product for one’s month-to-month cycle could make a giant distinction to your pockets, your well being, and the well being of the planet. Listed below are probably the most sustainable interval care selections, so as of environmental worth and price.
Good Alternative: Natural Cotton Tampons and Pads
All pure, natural tampons, panty liners, and pads are constructed from non-GMO, licensed natural cotton, or generally natural hemp or bamboo. These tampons and pads work precisely the identical as typical merchandise, and are available a wide range of absorbencies.
They’re freed from irritating dyes, fragrances, plasticizers and all of the dangers that include these components. Selecting licensed natural cotton, chlorine-free tampons, liners and pads reduces the quantity of harmful toxins and pesticide air pollution in the environment, and in your physique.
On the draw back, although they include safer, extra sustainable components, there’s loads of oil, waste, useful resource and water utilization related to the manufacture, supply and disposal of any single-use, disposable female hygiene merchandise. Single-use something is simply not sustainable.
Some natural tampon and sanitary pad manufacturers to search for embrace Natracare, Organyc, Cora, and Seventh Generation. If you’re uncomfortable inserting tampons with out an applicator, you should buy a reusable tampon applicator, and cut back your waste even additional!
Higher Alternative: Washable Sanitary Pads
Washable sanitary pads are absorbent material pads that perform identical to disposable sanitary pads. They often snap or velcro round your panties (like wings), and are constructed from mushy 100% natural cottons and flannels that may be washed by hand or within the washer.
Washing pads each month does take some water and vitality, however it takes far lower than the water and vitality required to fabricate, transport and eliminate disposable pads.
You’ll find sewing patterns to make reusable pads here. You may also discover ready-made, washable menstrual pads by Gladrags, Rael, RovTop in addition to tons of unbiased crafters on Amazon and Etsy.
Search for natural cotton or bamboo high cloth, and keep away from microfiber and fleece materials close to your pores and skin, that are product of plastic.
Higher Alternative: Interval Underwear
The newest product out there for eco-friendly interval care is the “interval panty” or “interval underwear”—which is principally underwear with an absorbent, material sanitary pad sewn in. However in contrast to washable sanitary pads, these panties use high-tech materials that take up loads of liquid and odors with out being cumbersome or uncomfortable. Some interval underwear can take up 4–6 tampons or pads price of fluid whereas retaining you dry and clear!
Interval panties are available plenty of colours, sizes and shapes for each physique, and a wide range of absorbencies as nicely. Some will even deal with bladder leaks and post-partum discharge. All you might want to do is rinse interval underwear out in chilly water within the sink, after which wash them within the laundry machine with the remainder of your garments.
On the upside, for the common person, interval panties make having your interval about as comfy and leak-proof as it may be.
On the draw back, a current examine uncovered that the high-tech artificial cloth liners utilized in 65% of period underwear tested positive for PFAS, a cancer-causing, endocrine disrupting, “ceaselessly chemical” you undoubtedly don’t need close to your delicate pores and skin or out within the setting.
These superior liners are what enable interval panties to soak up a lot liquid whereas nonetheless remaining dry, comfy and form-fitting, so affected firms are working exhausting to take away PFAS from their merchandise earlier than they’re hit with extra fines and lawsuits.
Search for interval panties which might be made with an natural cotton or bamboo high cloth within the crotch, and are particularly labeled “PFAS-free.” Make certain to get a pair the place the liner has each back and front protection to stop leakage. These work higher for in a single day, too.
Manufacturers which have been independently examined freed from PFAS embrace Saalt, Innersy, The Period Company, Bambody, and Aisle.
Greatest Alternative: Menstrual Cups and Discs
The menstrual cup, first invented within the 1930’s, has gained loads of reputation as a result of current Poisonous Shock Syndrome (TSS) scares and growing consciousness in regards to the presence of poisonous chemical substances in typical interval merchandise.
Reusable menstrual cups and discs are often product of non-toxic, medical-grade silicone, and have a life expectancy of ten or extra years. This cuts the price of interval care enormously.
Menstrual cups and discs are inserted into the vagina like tampons or diaphragms, however they typically maintain three to 5 occasions extra liquid than tampons. Since there isn’t any danger of TSS, menstrual cups and discs may be left in twice as lengthy. Most individuals solely must empty and clear them twice a day, within the morning and night.
As an added bonus, the menstrual disc (not the cup) provides mess-free interval intercourse! And since they don’t have any dangerous chemical substances or residues, they’ll even be inserted once you’re anticipating your interval to keep away from any accidents. Many individuals additionally say that they expertise fewer menstrual cramps when utilizing menstrual cups.
Cups and discs are available various sizes, and every model is somewhat totally different in measurement and form, so that you would possibly must strive a number of to get the fitting match. Menstrual cups and discs clear up with cleaning soap and water, and may be sterilized within the dishwasher, although you should buy particular, non-toxic cleaners only for the job.
Menstrual cups will put you into nearer contact together with your physique and your month-to-month blood, and so they have a little bit of a studying curve to initially utilizing them. But when the menstrual cup works for you, it’s the most non-toxic, low upkeep, environmentally-friendly and cost-effective alternative for interval care.
You can find a wide selection of menstrual cups online here. Trusted manufacturers of menstrual cups and discs embrace Diva Cup, Pixie, Saalt, and Cora, although extra manufacturers are coming into the market as menstrual cups and discs change into extra in style.
Search for 100% pure medical-grade silicone menstrual cups and discs. Your cup should not have any odor once you obtain it, as silicone doesn’t offgas. Some cups and discs include carrying instances, washing provides, applicators, and different equipment, in case you like!
