Sustainable Menstruation: Better for our Bodies and our Planet

In this week’s waste reduction venture, I tackle everyone’s favorite topic—menstruation! Alright, so I know it might not, in fact, be a popular topic for public discussion, but as anyone who has ever menstruated knows, the process can be messy, uncomfortable, and unpleasant. In trying to function while actively shedding the lining of one’s uterus, us menstruaters have turned to a plethora of products, which aren’t always exactly eco-friendly.

Two of the most commonly used menstrual products include tampons and pads. According to an article on Planet-friendly Periods in Stanford Magazine, in the US alone, approximately 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons are discarded each year. Upon their disposal, these products either end up in landfills, clog sewers, or end up in our oceans where they can take over 20 years to break down and pose a threat to marine animals who can unwittingly ingest this refuse, leading to health complications or even death. From the product itself, to its applicator, to its packaging, mainstream disposable menstrual products have undoubtedly been a boon to the plastic industry. 

And it’s not just our planet these products are harming. 

Many pads and tampons are made using synthetic materials such as rayon or SAPs (super absorbent polymers) that are often bleached with chlorine to give them a pristine white appearance. Byproducts of the bleaching process include dioxins and furans, which have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, and reproductive toxicity. Pesticide residues linked to cancer have been found in products made from traditionally-grown cotton (as opposed to organically grown cotton). And undisclosed fragrance ingredients found in scented varieties of pads and tampons often contain chemicals which have been known to cause cancer, endocrine disruption, and allergic reactions. 

These incomprehensible, unfamiliar, and toxic chemicals have no business coming in contact with one of the body’s most sensitive and absorptive regions. As explained by Made Safe (which certifies products as being safe for both humans and the environment), pads and tampons are regulated as ‘medical devices’, so there is no government requirement that ingredients be disclosed, which makes it difficult to avoid using products that contain these chemicals.  

On average, people with periods will spend 2400 days over the course of their lifetime menstruating, according to an article on menstruation in National Geographic . (For an enlightening history of menstrual management, I highly recommend reading the article). Using single-use, plastic-based menstrual products to absorb those 2400 days worth of blood creates a significant amount of waste. 

As if the burden of menstruating wasn’t enough, people with periods now have to deal with the added pressure of burdening our ecosystems with all this waste. 

However, there are numerous alternatives to the single-use, plastic-based, harmful menstrual products that have thus far pervaded our modern period culture. [A note: this post is not meant to shame anyone who decides to continue using conventional menstrual products—you do you—but is instead meant to educate and inform on options that exist for managing your period more sustainably, should that be something that appeals to you]. 

These options include:

Using reusable products, such as reusable pads, menstrual cups or period-capturing-underwear:

With an arsenal of just ten reusable cloth pads, you can expect these products to last upwards of 5 years. Cloth pads made from organic cotton or bamboo have the additional benefit of shielding your sensitive parts from chemicals typically found in disposable products. You can keep thousands of disposable products out of the landfill and our environment. And, you can buy cloth pads in a variety of patterns and prints to match your style. Have more questions about reusable pads? Check out this helpful Reusable Pad FAQ to learn more. 

Menstrual cups are another reusable option with an impressive longevity of up to 10 years with proper care. These small, flexible cups made of medical-grade silicone are inserted into your vaginal canal, where they seal and stay in place, collecting your menstrual blood. Every 12 hours you remove the cup, empty its contents, rinse, and reinsert.

The prospect of using a menstrual cup can be admittedly daunting. Like many of my peers, I grew up using disposable menstrual products. With heightened awareness as to the waste I was generating in my daily life, my period waste was an inescapable blot in my quest for greener living. At the start of summer, I decided it would be a fun quarantine project to acclimate myself to the wonders of sustainable menstrual care, ordering an affordable $6 cup called The June Cup online. Menstrual cups typically cost around $30.

According to a USA Today business article, people with periods spend, on average, $150-$300 annually on disposable menstrual products. Even if you replace your menstrual cup every year, that still amounts to significant savings. 

I’ll admit, my first time using the cup was rather daunting. However, luckily there are a plethora of online resources, guidelines, and videos to help orient you to using a menstrual cup. Four months and four periods later, I completely love my menstrual cup and will never return to the wasteful ways of disposable menstrual products. An added bonus: my second month using the cup I was in the midst of a backcountry hiking adventure. Not having to pack out bags of soiled disposable products was a welcome change, and after using my cup successfully in a backcountry setting, I felt truly invincible!

I am now fully committed to my menstrual cup, but in addition to cloth pads, some companies are offering period underwear which have a special layer that prevents blood from seeping through. As with reusable pads, you throw these suckers in the wash after use, and you’re good to go. Check out Good Housekeeping’s list of 7 Best Period Panties (if you are able to overlook the unforgivable use of the word ‘panties’). 

Again, although these options tend to come with a higher price tag upfront, you’ll save money in the long run by not having to purchase products every month. 

In addition to utilizing the reusable menstrual products detailed above, you can also reduce period-specific waste by choosing tampons without applicators.

 

Choosing tampons and pads made from natural fibers also reduces the amount of toxins and plastics you are subjecting both your body and the environment to. 

Lastly, there is also the option of using birth control (such as IUDs or the pill) to eliminate periods altogether. Talk to your doctor or gynecologist to discuss your options and determine what, if any method, is best for you. 

There’s also the option to free bleed, often utilized as a movement to normalize menstruation in society or out of financial necessity and lack to access of menstrual products. Check out this Healthline article on free bleeding

to learn more. 

Of course, menstruation is steeped in misogynistic bullshit that creates feelings of shame surrounding what is a natural biological function, making those of us with periods feel the need for discretion. Along with the sustainable menstruation movement comes an increase in open discussion and acceptance of this biological process, which can be as waste-free as it is natural.

Just like snowflakes, every vagina is unique, so what works for one menstruating human may not work for everyone. 

Periods might not always be fun, but at the very least, with sustainable options in the form of reusable cloth pads, menstrual cups, and period underwear and the lower-waste options of applicator-free tampons and products made from natural fibers as well as the product-free options of skipping your period or free bleeding, they can ultimately be healthier for our bodies and our planet. 

If you’re someone who menstruates, what are your thoughts on sustainable period products? Do you use cloth pads, menstrual cups, period underwear? Feel free to drop your advice, product recommendations, viewpoints, and grievances in the comments section below. 

As always, best of luck on your path toward greener living.