Introduction
Sustainable menstruation refers to practices where environment-friendly alternatives to menstrual products are used, which do not produce waste.
About Sustainable Menstruation
Sustainable menstruation advocates promote the use of reusable products like menstrual cloth pads, menstrual cups, biodegradable sanitary pads, period panties and other such products to reduce the waste created by non-biodegradable materials. Sustainable menstruation is an active process of reducing the carbon footprint which is predominantly caused on account of non-biodegradable menstrual products.
Why Change?
In developing countries such as India, concerns are surrounding manual scavenging, where waste picking and segregation is done by hand, by people. A sustainable approach to menstruation attempts to tackle the issue of human rights and dignity of manual scavengers. There is some concern that by focusing on menstruation as a focus in discussions in waste, it further stigmatizes menstruation by blaming women for problems they didn’t create. In India, 6% of non-biodegradable waste is created by hygiene products including menstruation products, wipes and diapers.
Damages the Environment Adversely
The environmental impact caused by sanitary waste is one of the significant topics in discussions today. A plastic, industrially manufactured, disposable sanitary pad requires about 500–800 years to decompose. Thousands of tons of disposable sanitary waste is generated every month all over the world.
Serious and Deadly Health Conditions Using Pads and Tampons
Due to our packed schedules and on the move lifestyle, there are times wherein we don’t have the time to change our pads or tampons and this can lead to a rare but serious infection called Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).
Eco Alternatives
For people who have periods, deciding what products to use during menstruation is a big decision. Many people will pick up what’s readily available at the local drugstore, which tends to be standard tampons or sanitary pads. Unfortunately, these things aren’t great for the environment. But, not to worry, we’ve got you.
1. Reusable Menstrual Cups
What exactly is a menstrual cup? They’re an alternative to tampons that catches your flow while the cup is inserted. Unlike a tampon or a pad, it’s not absorbent. Throughout the day, you empty your cup, clean it properly, and reinsert it.
Advantages:
- Menstrual cups can cut down on a lot of waste, they require to be cleaned thoroughly with water and they’re good to go.
- Cups can hold more blood than other methods, leading many women to use them as an eco-friendly alternative to tampons. And depending on your flow, you can wear a cup for up to 12 hours.
- It’s much more affordable as compared to prices of pads or tampons.
- It’s a one-time investment, the estimate of the lifeline of a menstrual cup is 1 year which beats the cost of having to buy pads/tampons now and then.
If you’re not a fan of using an insertion product, period “panties” might be the perfect fit. Essentially, these are pairs of absorbent underwear that catch your flow, no other products needed. They’re more expensive than a standard pair of underwear, and depending on your flow, you’ll likely need several pairs per cycle, to make time for washing and drying.
Disadvantages:
- Getting used to the insertion of the cup.
- Familiarising yourself with the kind and size of the cup for you depending on your flow.
- Messy.
- May cause irritation.
2. Period Underwear
If you’re not a fan of using an insertion product, period “panties” might be the perfect fit. Essentially, these are pairs of absorbent underwear that catch your flow, no other products needed. They’re more expensive than a standard pair of underwear, and depending on your flow, you’ll likely need several pairs per cycle, to make time for washing and drying.
Advantages:
- Comfortable.
- Easy to use.
- Fights odours.
- Disposable.
Disadvantages:
- Washing off the flow.
- Limited styles.
- Changing in public.
- Quite expensive.
3. Reusable Pads
Most of us are familiar with disposable sanitary pads, as they’re often available in drugstores, supermarkets, etc. However, reusable pads are an eco-friendly alternative to all of that waste. How do they work? Cloth pads are most similar to sanitary pads, in that you put them in your underwear and they absorb your flow.
Advantages:
- Good for your body since they’re free of plastic, adhesives, fragrances and chemical gels.
- Light on your pocket.
- Comfortable.
- Made especially for your flow.
- Variety of colours and patterns.
Disadvantages:
- It takes time to wash and dry the pads compared to throwing away disposables.
- Cloth pads can stain.
- You have to bring your cloth pads home with you if you change them while out.
4. Menstrual Disc
Similar to the reusable menstrual cups, Softdiscs, sometimes known as “soft cups”, is inserted into the vagina and are meant to collect your flow without absorbing it. Soft discs may be an excellent alternative for people who are uneasy with the maintenance and hygiene required of reusing a menstrual cup, or who want to test how a cup feels before taking the plunge.
Advantages:
- Easy to insert and remove, once you have practice.
- Since a disc isn’t inside the vaginal canal, it’s very comfortable and you hardly feel it when inserted in the correct position.
- It can be worn up to 12 hours and holds four tampons worth of fluid.
- Doesn’t leak.
- Can be worn during workouts, swimming, sleeping.
Disadvantages:
- Messy.
- Hard to change while outdoors.
- Risk of TSS.
BATTLE OF THE FOUR
| Menstrual Cups | Period Underwear | Reusable Pads | Menstrual Discs | |
| Price | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Comfort | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Style | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Risk of TSS | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shift | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
Some of my personal favourite sustainable menstrual product brands:
Menstrual Cups
Period Underwear
Reusable Pads
Menstrual Discs
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