Alternative period products

The taboo around the topic of menstruation resulted in a lack of innovation for over 80 years. Luckily, recent years have seen a lot of development and new inventions, which we will happily introduce you to.

Organic tampons/compostable film

• There are biodegradable tampons and pads that are certified and made from organic cotton. The tampons are bleached using chlorinefree bleach, are vegan and have a compostable film. The pads are also vegan, and cruelty-free. For example, in Germany you can find such products made by the following brand: Fairstainable bluten - einhorn • The tampons by the Female Company in Germany are produced CO2neutrally and are plastic-free.

Some brands that offer organic tampon options:

• The Female Company • Fairstainable bluten - Einhorn

Sustainable cloth pads

Switching to organic period products can eliminate discomfort and make your period much more manageable. Washable and reusable cloth pads, which you can secure to your underwear with buttons, are faithful companions, letting you live your life as on any other day of the month. These sustainable cloth pads are made mostly out of cotton, a breathable fabric that allows for air flow, creates a difficult environment for bacteria to grow and prevents odour and itchiness caused by synthetic material, and hence present a soft and comfortable alternative to disposable pads. The pads are a game-changer for periods, as they are available in beautiful patterns, designs and shapes for all sizes, dependent on what you feel most comfortable with and what reflects you best. Additionally, you can choose between regular or heavy

absorbency pads with multiple cotton layers and waterproof base layers, depending on your menstrual flow.

While sustainable cloth pads might seem expensive at first, once you have invested in them they last for several years, as you can wash and reuse them several hundred times. This low-maintenance alternative to conventional period pads is no foreign invention but can be traced back to previous generations, and provides a convenient way of keeping hazardous plastic chemicals away from your skin, while simultaneously helping the earth in every way possible.

Brands that offer a variety of shapes and colours:

• Cyclo • Glad Rags • Aisle

• LuLand Shop

Menstrual cup

When it comes to forgetting about being on your period, the menstrual cup might be the most popular reusable period product. Although the name might suggest it, we are not talking about a conventional cup you would drink your coffee from, but rather a smaller bell-shaped cup made out of soft silicon for medical use, with the purpose of collecting your menstrual fluid rather than absorbing it (hence the term ‘cup’). It eliminates irritation and dryness, and ensures that the natural pH-balance is kept intact as it does not absorb natural and necessary vaginal secretions.

Anyone who has already used tampons will probably not have difficulties using a cup after a short period of practice, as it is inserted in a similar way, and there are different sizes of cups depending on the size and shape of your vagina. Nevertheless, it is completely natural to have initial reservations, which is why this instructional video might

When inserted correctly, the cup sits below the cervix in the vaginal canal, creating a vacuum that keeps menstrual blood from coming into contact with air, making it ultra-hygienic and antibacterial. Another significant advantage is that a menstrual cup can contain 3 - 5 times as much blood as a regular tampon, giving you the freedom to do whatever you want to, wherever you want to – whether you feel like sleeping all day, swimming across the Atlantic ocean or dancing all night in the middle of the Sahara Desert – without period interruptions. The last and probably most convincing advantage of the menstrual cup is its environmentally friendly value. One menstrual cup replaces about 1 600 tampons and pads, does not release any harmful chemicals, is reusable for up to 5 years and hence presents a budget friendly long-term alternative to conventional period products that saves tons of waste from landfill.

And here are some brands that can help you make the switch:

• OrganiCup • Menstrual Cup • Mooncup • Cyclo

Period pants

Finally there are period pants, probably the newest development in the field. These are normal-looking underpants with the superpower to absorb menstrual blood or other bodily fluids, for people who have to deal with incontinence (so still potentially useful after menopause). The pants contain 2 - 3 layers to prevent humidity, bacteria and bad smells, as well as leaking. The manufacturing companies (mostly female-led!) seek to make them as thin as possible, and testimonials suggest that they don’t feel much different to ordinary underwear. Depending on the type, they can cover up to five tampons, and they come in all kinds of shape and materials. The sustainable part about them is that they are, like normal underwear,

washable, and reusable for at least 2 years. Depending on the product, the user just has to rinse the pants at the end of the day and throw them into the washing machine (for extra eco-friendliness, using a washing bag to prevent any synthetics from entering the water system). And even when their effectiveness fades after a few years, they can still be worn as normal underwear! Like many sustainable alternatives, the initial costs are higher than buying single-use sanitary pads, starting at 30€ and going up to 60€ per pair. But calculated over time, they have money-saving benefits, not to mention the health and comfort aspects. Moreover, most brands are fair and sustainable, so you don’t have to worry about the production methods.

Here are some brands:

• Kora Mikino

• Ooia

• Modibodi

• Thinx

• Pourprées • WUKA

Don’t forget to inform yourself via the respective websites of the correct washing procedure, and the expectations you can have!

Free bleeding

The utmost sustainable solution would probably be “free bleeding”, a technique requiring lots of practice and knowledge about one’s own body. When performed successfully, the person feels when it is time to go to the toilet, and does not need any period products. 9

9 More to read: www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/how-tampons-pads-became-unsustainable-story-of-plastic www.digital.hbs.edu/platform-rctom/submission/the-ecological-impact-of-feminine-hygiene-products/ www.organicup.com/environmental-reasons-to-switch www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/zero-waste-periods www.utopia.de/ratgeber/menstruationsschwamm-so-wird-er-angewendet-und-gereinigt www.menstruationstasse.com www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/menstrual-cup#advantages www.moodyv.com/shop www.8list.ph/reusable-cloth-pads/#read-more www.menstrualcupreviews.net/reusable-menstrual-cloth-pads