The subject of female hygiene merchandise is never mentioned, however it’s a vitally essential concern for about half of the world’s inhabitants. Each tampon and sanitary pad has a significant environmental impression—from the assets 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 may need to take into account extra environmentally sustainable choices for managing your interval, and discover non-toxic, eco-friendly female hygiene merchandise.
Why Select Sustainable Interval Merchandise
The Landfill and Litter Difficulty
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 almost 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 probably releases poisonous chemical substances and microplastics into the atmosphere 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 not correctly deal with it. In consequence, single-use menstrual merchandise are the fifth-most continuously collected gadgets in seaside clean-ups, making up about 6% of all litter.
Unbiased exams 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 Difficulty
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 little thing from the uncooked materials extraction, to the manufacture, transportation, use, and waste administration, standard 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 primary environmental impression of standard 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 can 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 essential supply of chemical publicity in girls.”
—Dr. Chong-Jin Gao, New York State Division of Well being
Something that is available in fixed contact along with your pores and skin will enter your bloodstream and be carried all through your physique. For this reason nicotine, contraception and different medicated patches work so nicely. That is additionally why it’s finest to not put something in your pores and skin that you just wouldn’t eat.
Sadly, in accordance with multiple studies and scientific reports, standard 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 recognized. 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 resist 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 brought about outcry and product remembers in France, Canada, and Argentina.
- Bisphenol A (BPA), present in most sanitary pads, which has been discovered to disrupt the operate 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 recognized 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 atmosphere after use and disposal. A recent study discovered {that a} single standard 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.
- Unstable Natural Chemical compounds 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.
How one can 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 defend public well being and the atmosphere. The one factor you are able to do to keep away from these potential hazards is to read labels and choose alternatives you might be positive 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 on your pockets, your well being, and the well being of the planet. Listed here are essentially the most sustainable interval care selections, so as of environmental worth and value.
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 standard merchandise, and are available in quite a lot of absorbencies.
They’re freed from irritating dyes, fragrances, plasticizers and all of the dangers that include these elements. Selecting licensed natural cotton, chlorine-free tampons, liners and pads reduces the quantity of harmful toxins and pesticide air pollution in our surroundings, and in your physique.
On the draw back, though they include safer, extra sustainable elements, there may be plenty 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 operate identical to disposable sanitary pads. They often snap or velcro round your panties (like wings), and are constructed from delicate 100% natural cottons and flannels that may be washed by hand or within the washer.
Washing pads each month does take some water and power, however it takes far lower than the water and power required to fabricate, transport and get rid of disposable pads.
You will discover 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 material, and keep away from microfiber and fleece materials close to your pores and skin, that are fabricated from plastic.
Higher Alternative: Interval Underwear
The most recent product accessible 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 plenty of liquid and odors with out being cumbersome or uncomfortable. Some interval underwear can take up 4–6 tampons or pads value of fluid whereas holding you dry and clear!
Interval panties are available in numerous colours, sizes and shapes for each physique, and quite a lot of absorbencies as nicely. Some will even deal with bladder leaks and post-partum discharge. All you have 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 snug and leak-proof as it may be.
On the draw back, a current research uncovered that the high-tech artificial material liners utilized in 65% of period underwear tested positive for PFAS, a cancer-causing, endocrine disrupting, “eternally chemical” you positively don’t need close to your delicate pores and skin or out within the atmosphere.
These superior liners are what permit interval panties to soak up a lot liquid whereas nonetheless remaining dry, snug 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 can be made with an natural cotton or bamboo high material within the crotch, and are particularly labeled “PFAS-free.” Be certain that 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.
Finest Alternative: Menstrual Cups and Discs
The menstrual cup, first invented within the 1930’s, has gained plenty of reputation resulting from current Poisonous Shock Syndrome (TSS) scares and growing consciousness concerning the presence of poisonous chemical substances in standard interval merchandise.
Reusable menstrual cups and discs are often fabricated from 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 instances extra liquid than tampons. Since there is no such thing as a threat of TSS, menstrual cups and discs might 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) affords mess-free interval intercourse! And since they don’t have any dangerous chemical substances or residues, they will even be inserted whenever 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 in various sizes, and every model is slightly totally different in dimension and form, so that you may must attempt a couple of to get the best match. Menstrual cups and discs clear up with cleaning soap and water, and might 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 along 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 selection 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 getting into the market as menstrual cups and discs grow to be extra widespread.
Search for 100% pure medical-grade silicone menstrual cups and discs. Your cup shouldn’t have any scent whenever 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!
