I dread to count the number of times I’ve been in a lecture, the office or out and about and have had to run to the nearest shop to buy emergency supplies. From cramps to mood swings, being a person who menstruates is quite frankly tricky enough without worrying about whether the products you’re using are kind to the planet.
However, if we’re being honest, most menstrual products are an environmental disaster – and they are very rarely disposed of correctly. Sanitary towels are estimated to be made of up to 90% plastic, making a pack of pads the equivalent of four plastic bags. You might have seen the photos of London’s ‘fatbergs’ – the worst offender being a 130 ton solid mass of tampons and other sanitary products occupying the city’s sewers. Shockingly, a tampon takes longer to biodegrade than the average lifespan of the woman who uses it.
So, to remedy this problem, we’re sharing some of the best and most sustainable period products and subscription services on the market – so you have one less thing to worry about during your time of the month. Whether you wear tampons or towels or are ready to make the switch to a mooncups or period pants, we’ve got you covered.
DAME
The world’s first climate-positive period brand, DAME encourages its customers to bleed red, but think green. The founders were on the path of setting up another period product startup when they realised they’d ‘sleepwalked into a toxic industry’. So, they changed direction and now offer a selection of reusable products, from applicators to pad sets and an organic tampon subscription. The brand has also focused on people who rely on using an applicator by creating a reusable tampon applicator that’s compatible with all tampons.
TOTM
If you want to get products delivered in sync with your cycle, then TOTM (AKA time of the month) is the one for you. Its period-care products are made with organic and biodegradable materials and use 100% organic cotton grown without toxins or pesticides. All its products are super soft and comfortable to wear and are great for anyone with sensitive skin.
Modibodi
Period pants are the new kid on the block, but they’re quickly becoming very popular. A great zero-waste alternative, Modibodi period pants encourage you to break up with disposables forever. You might not like the idea at first, but try to be open-minded. The pants are leak-proof and liberating, and there’s a whole range of different collections depending on whether you want something slinkier, or if comfort is the goal.
Eden Menstrual Cup
Not everyone is comfortable wearing them, and the cost of them can be off putting. However, Eden’s menstrual cups are really reasonably priced and an excellent option for those looking to try out a cup for the first time. They’re designed to be flexible and adapt to your body’s natural shape, so you don’t have to worry about any accidents happening. The brand has a no-waste ethos, so all packaging is 100% recyclable.
Daye
Daye has put together a convenient and short quiz to help you decide which of its period products are right for you. Perhaps you experience painful cramps and would benefit from CBD infused tampons, or maybe you have a lighter flow, and a smaller pack is enough. It’s quick to take, and the tampons are all made with bio-based sugarcane applicators and lab-tested, organic and sustainably sourced cotton.
Flo
It’s slightly mind-blowing that many period products on the market are made using fragrances, toxins and even chlorinated bleach. When you shop with Flo, you don’t need to worry about any of that. Alongside its period range, the brand offers bladder products and condoms with 5% of profits going towards fighting period poverty.
INTIMINA
The brand making mooncups cool, INTIMINA makes cups in various shapes and sizes to suit your body and needs. From compact cups to classic cups and flat cups that can be worn during sex, the brand has also taken into account anyone with a heavier flow, higher cervix and first-time users too.
WUKA
One of the first period underwear brands to hit the UK, WUKA suggests that the average person who menstruates will spend £161.46 on pads or tampons every two years while switching to a pack of period pants will cut that cost in half. WUKA has also been campaigning to scrap the luxury tax on period underwear and is urging the government to price period pants as an essential product instead.
&Sisters
&Sisters tampons and pads are cruelty-free, vegan and soil-association approved so no pesticides. Every product is made from organic cotton and 10% of all profits go towards women’s health, education and economic empowerment projects.
There’s a sustainable option for everyone so you can quell your eco anxiety and focus on your own health and wellbeing while on your period, instead of panicking about the planet.