We are constantly working to cut down on the quantity of plastic we use in our daily lives. There are plastic-free substitutes for so many of our everyday objects, including period products, from coffee cups to shopping bags. Even though they are necessary, menstrual products are perhaps one of the worst sources of plastic pollution. Every year, about 1.5 to 2 billion menstruation products containing plastic are flushed into British toilets. Often, their trip will end with them floating around in the oceans or rotting in landfills.
Everyone is harmed by atmospheric pollution, including people, animals, and plants. And the main reason for that is because it takes hundreds of years for it to degrade, releasing harmful chemicals along the way. If your pads and tampons are made of plastic, even though you are throwing them away, they are still affecting the environment (and FYI, your average disposable period pad is made of 90 percent plastic). The only real method to live sustainably is to solely purchase items made without plastic.
A fifth of British women have purchased period underwear in the last year, and a third said they are interested in purchasing some in the future. Brands are stepping up, too, with more and more companies ditching plastic packaging and applicators. It’s fairly easy to find reusable tampons and pads, plastic-free menstrual cups, and period gym-wear, and they are the answer to feeling good physically and morally.
If you’ve been curious about how to have a plastic-free and sustainable period, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up some of the best eco-friendly period products.
