Reusable menstrual products are better for our wallets, our health and the planet. Since starting my zero waste journey, I use a combination of a menstrual cup, period underwear and cloth pads. My only regret? Not switching sooner! 😜
Some benefits of zero waste period products:
Cheaper
After an initial investment, reusables save a lot of money. Each period costs about $5 in disposable tampons/pads (20 products x 25¢/each). That comes to $60 year and $2,400 over a lifetime. A $35 silicone menstrual cup or $10 cloth pad quickly pays for itself.
Healthier
Disposable sanitary products contain toxic chemicals like dioxin (a byproduct of the bleaching process), glyphosphate (a pesticide that's sprayed on 90% of non-organic cotton) and phthalates (endocrine disrupters present in fragranced products).
What’s worse, these toxic chemicals get a free pass into the bloodstream when they’re placed in a vagina. That’s because they don’t have to go through the body’s normal metabolic process and instead get absorbed directly through the vaginal mucus membranes 😱
More convenient
Unlike tampons and pads, which need to be changed every 4-6 hours, a menstrual cup can be left in for up to 12 hours. Plus, with reusables, you never have to worry about running out and having to run to the store 😉
More comfortable
Once you learn how to insert a menstrual cup, they're extremely comfortable. In fact, it's easy to forget you're on your period! And with period underwear, you don't have the bulkiness or chaffing that you can get from disposable pads 👍
Better for the environment
The average menstruating person uses over 10,000 disposable tampons or pads in their lifetime 😲 Tampons and pads create land and water pollution during the cotton growing process and the manufacturing process. Plus, they create a lot of landfill waste when they're discarded. And then there's the plastic. About 80% of tampons have a plastic applicator, which can end up in waterways when flushed down toilets. And sanitary pads use plastic for the waterproof backing as well as for the part that goes next to your skin. Reusable products, which last 10 years or more, significantly reduce pollution and waste.
Have you tried reusable menstrual products? Please share your experiences in the comments below!