Well, here is a delicate subject. When it comes to going green, you’ve heard the same tips a zillion times- Switch off the lights when you leave the room! Turn off the tap when you brush your teeth! bla..bla.. How about some new and unexpected ways to go green? Here are a few ideas to help you green your feminine hygiene- during ‘that’ time of the month:
MENSTRUAL CUP
Many women are not familiar with menstrual cups. A menstrual cup is a small silicone or rubber reusable cup that you insert into the lower part of your vagina to collect menstrual fluid and tissue. They can be worn for up to 12 hours without needing to be emptied. DivaCup, Lunette & the Instead Softcup are some of women’s most favourites. Most menstrual cups are made from medical grade silicone and can be found in clear or coloured.
SKIP TAMPON APPLICATORS
Some applicators are plastic; others are cardboard. The best options are those without an applicator that you insert yourself, like o.b. tampons or Maxim. I can tell you from personal experience; it is extremely easy to insert a tampon without an applicator. Just wash your hands with soap and water before inserting, and then again after. Another benefit of no-applicator tampons: they’re small and easier to carry in your purse, pocket, or wallet.
BUY FRAGRANCE-FREE HYGIENE PRODUCTS
Most fragrances in personal care products are made from phthalates, questionnable chemicals that have been linked to a variety of health problems. You don’t need perfumed tampons; as long as you don’t have any leaks, there shouldn’t be any odor. If you do have a leak, the artificial fragrance won’t really cover it up.
SEA SPONGE TAMPONS
Yes, they’re really the sea sponges that grow on the ocean floor- after they’re harvested, have the outer shell removed, and are cleaned, cut, and shaped. It works just like a traditional tampon, without the waste. Sea sponges are also free of chemicals used to bleach traditional tampons and pads.
TRY REUSABLE PADS
Traditional sanitary napkins and panty liners get wrapped up and thrown in the trash. One reusable cloth menstrual pad, which consists of a foundation pad and an easy-to-remove liner, can last for five years. The downside is that they’re inconvenient if you’re not at home where you can easily launder them without much fuss.
WEAR PERIOD PANTIES
I am not talking about the “special” underwear (filled with menstrual stains hidden in the back of your drawer), I am talking about underwear specifically designed to be warn as a backup with your normal sanitary pad/tampon or menstrual cup routine. They have special absorbent layers with black inner lining to not show stains. Imagine how many panty liners you can save from the landfills!
QUICK TIPS:
- Washable, reusable cloth pads are worn like regular pads…with the caveat that you have to wash each one after each use.
- Use organic cotton tampons.
- Buy fragrance-free tampons or pads
How do you feel about your period? Have you ever tried a reusable menstrual cup like The DivaCup or cloth pads? How did they work for you? Share below! And cheers to having a “green” period!