CALLING ALL THE PEOPLE with periods who are looking for sustainable alternatives to single-use period products!
For the longest time I accepted that I’ll probably have to buy tampons and pads every time my cycle started for the rest of my life, but in 2018 I discovered these things called period cups, cloth pads, and period underwear.
Of course these reusable alternatives go unnoticed because one, they’re not marketed as much as single-use period products, and two, using single-use period products are convenient and habitual. However, once you start using a zero-waste alternative, you’ll never want to go back.
There are a few different products you can try if you’re interested in reducing your tiny environmental footprint (and saving a bit of money):
Cloth Pads
My go-to are usually cloth pads. The only “downside” to these is you have to wash them after they are soiled (I personally don’t mind this slight inconvenience). You have the option of hand-washing them with some natural soap or soaking/ squeezing them out until your next laundry day.
I purchased my reusable pads on amazon. However, if you have the resources to purchase from a local business or eco-friendly online shop, do that!
Period Underwear
Period underwear has been a fairly new investment for me.
So far I find period underwear really convenient especially if you’re a fan of pads and you lead an active lifestyle (this way you don’t have to worry about your pad moving around and being an annoyance).
I purchased my period underwear on amazon, but again, if you have the resources to purchase from a local business or eco-friendly online shop, opt for that.
Period cups
I’ve personally never tried period cups, however, I’ve heard good things from friends who prefer period cups over reusable pads/underwear. So if you aren’t a fan of reusable pads/underwear, period cups could be a good fit for you.
After each use, all you have to do is pour out the collected menstrual blood and wash the cup. I’ve seen videos of people placing the cups in boiling water after their cycle for sanitation/cleaning.
I hope this post inspired you to replace single-use period items with a sustainable alternative!
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