Sustainability & Periods

Ah, that old chestnut….. Sure they’re not fun, but for people who have periods getting to grips with making your period more sustainable is an important way of managing your environmental impact.

Heads up! If you do not have a period, don’t just skip this read and do something else – being period aware and knowing how to make them more sustainable is still an important aspect of your sustainability journey and you never know when you may need to help someone else in a different situation to your own.

Having a period currently has a side impact of creating a huge amount of waste. Most menstruation products are disposable, plastic and cannot be recycled, increasing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill and polluting our oceans. For a long time, periods have been a huge taboo in society and rarely talked about, but now with greater awareness about the environmental, economic and health impacts of having a period, more sustainable alternatives are being created. Here are some ideas you could try to make your period a little more environmentally friendly…….

*Note: It is your period and your body, not every idea will work for you and it may take time before you fully convert. For example, you may want to try using a certain alternative menstrual product at home first, or at night, before you feel comfortable and confident enough to wear it out. Even swapping out the disposable products you would have worn at home will make a difference, so be kind to yourself and only do what you are comfortable with ♥

• Don’t flush! – Never flush sanitary products down the toilet. These items cause sewer blockages which can mean that some items escape the system and end up in the sea, beaches etc….
• Choose reusable – there are many emerging products for periods that can be reused such as menstrual cups (Menstrual Cup Benefits | Why Mooncup?), reusable pads (Bloom & Nora – Award Winning Reusable Sanitary Pads (bloomandnora.com)) and reusable tampons/applicators (Reusable Tampon Applicator & Organic Tampon Set | DAME – DAME. (wearedame.co)). While these options at a bit more expensive when you first buy them, the amount you save by not buying disposables every month is worth it.

• Eco-conscious – choose products that have better eco credentials, such as plastic-free, organic cotton, recyclable or biodegradable. Some brands include Flo (Flo Organic Eco-applicator Tampons Regular & Super 14pk | Boots) and Grace and Green (Organic & Eco Friendly Period Products — Grace & Green (graceandgreen.co)).
• Tampliners – if you find yourself having to double up on products and create double the waste, then these two-in-one products from calla.ly might be for you (About organic cotton tampliners | Callaly period products). Less waste and more comfort.

Find out more here…..

• Fact-Sheet-Environmenstrual.pdf (wen.org.uk)
• Plastic-Free Periods | City to Sea | Better for your body, and the planet
• How tampons and pads became unsustainable and filled with plastic (nationalgeographic.com)
• Eco-Friendly Feminine Hygiene Products | Organic & Plastic Free Materials (peacewiththewild.co.uk)

Hopefully these ideas have given you more thought on how to own your period so that it is a better experience for your body and our planet. Let’s cut the waste and the stigma, and take back the choice over our periods.