{"id":14590,"date":"2022-04-19T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/sustainability\/?p=14590"},"modified":"2022-04-08T17:08:32","modified_gmt":"2022-04-08T16:08:32","slug":"period-problems-part-1-of-2-sustainable-products","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/sustainability\/period-problems-part-1-of-2-sustainable-products\/","title":{"rendered":"Period Problems Part 1 of 2: Sustainable Products"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Take a moment and think about your last period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the sake of brevity, let\u2019s say it was actually the mythical seven days long, start to finish. Maybe you used disposable pads, and for a medium flow period, got through 4 in a day. That\u2019s 28 pads for the week; likely at least 2 packs. So, in a year, that\u2019s 336 pads, or 28 packs. That\u2019s 336 pads currently sitting in landfill, because that\u2019s exactly where they end up. They\u2019re not recyclable, they\u2019re not compostable \u2013 the only thing you can do with a used menstrual product is throw it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what makes things worse is that the average menstrual product will take 500 \u2013 800 years to decompose in landfill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think about how many people you know who menstruate. Think about how many people on the planet <\/em>menstruate. Frankly, I can\u2019t picture the total menstrual products they would get through each year, let alone in their lifetimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image description: nine shrink-wrapped disposable tampons lined up on a blue background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s estimated that the average menstruater gets through 12,000 menstrual pads or tampons in their life (likely even more if we include post-menopausal incontinence). Let\u2019s make this something you can picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re buying packs of 20 at \u00a35 a piece, you\u2019ll be spending \u00a33,000 over your lifetime on menstrual products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On trash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll be spending even more if you buy the seemingly-more affordable 12 packs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what do you do about this? It\u2019s one of those problems you never really saw coming. You were born, you were raised, you bought your packs of tampons when the time came along just like everyone else, and you didn\u2019t really put much thought into why or what the effect of that action would be. Because, frankly, it\u2019s a necessity. You were never not <\/em>going to bleed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, you\u2019ve got options. Unfortunately, most of them involve spending a little more money now to avoid spending a lot more money later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firstly, you might actually like <\/em>the disposable menstrual product thing. Some people do. That\u2019s fine. You\u2019ve got options. One of them is OHNE<\/a>, which sells plastic free and biodegradable disposable products. They\u2019re also selling period pants, but more on that later. Another option is DAME<\/a>, which specialises in eco-friendly tampons made with reusable applicators and organic cotton \u2013 that means 88% less water is used than in non-organic cotton. These options mean that if you\u2019re still sending your waste to the landfill, it\u2019ll degrade a lot faster, but it also means they\u2019re compostable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for less wasteful alternatives, however, there are plenty. <\/em>Reusable period products have grown in popularity over the last few years, and while I\u2019ve yet to see a reusable tampon \u2013 although DAME has a reusable applicator<\/a> \u2013 reusable pads are becoming commonplace. Cariona<\/a>, Floweret<\/a> and The Eco Woman<\/a> all provide pads made from \u2013 usually organic \u2013 fabric, with companies like The Bamboo Pillow<\/a> going further with organic sanitary products made from bamboo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image description: a hand holding a pink silicone reusable menstrual cup, on a red background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Diva and Mooncups, too, are reusable \u2013 to save you from that excess waste – and can be found in more sustainable alternatives<\/a> than those you might find in your local pharmacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there\u2019s period pants. There are two types: one that is made with a slot to hold your menstrual pad (originally created by PantyProp<\/a>), and the more common design, underwear that absorbs the blood and doesn\u2019t need to be protected by a tampon or pad. This latter type has been growing in popularity in recent years, although it was originally invented in the 60s and dubbed as a \u201cprotective petticoat\u201d. More recently, they made it big through companies like Dear Kate<\/a>, which aims to help with leakage, and THINX<\/a>, with underwear that aims to replace tampons altogether. The latter is even part of the Products Made Better<\/a> program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, options. And plenty of them. Ones that will both help the environment and help you spend less on your monthly necessities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personally, I have a small collection of mixed-brand reusable pads in different sizes that I can subsidize with OHNE\u2019s subscription service of biodegradables when needed \u2013 but even that took some time to acquire due to the price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answers aren\u2019t perfect, but they never are \u2013 you do what you can, when you can, and you\u2019ll hopefully come out the other side doing just that little bit better for the planet you live on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re interested in learning more, here\u2019s your further reading:<\/p>\n\n\n\n