How to have a more eco-friendly period

How are periods impacting the environment?

To understand the rationale for considering alternatives to offer more sustainable periods, it's important first to understand how plastic is used in period products and the wider impact of this.

Hannah Samano, founder of Unfabled, the UK's first cycle-care company, says there is strong evidence that single-use products (products that are designed to be used once then destroyed) are responsible for a great deal of waste.

"In Britain, people are still flushing these items down the toilet. It's been estimated that 1.5-2 billion tampons, applicators and pads are flushed every year. This waste then enters the sea, causing harm and even killing sea creatures, such as marine turtles and sea mammals, every single day."

Since the middle of the 20th century, many tampons and pads have contained widely varying amounts of plastic in their basic design. It is sometimes argued that the incorporation of plastic 'improves' the design of the product, but it could be unnecessary.

However, to reduce the amount of plastic in period products, there are many factors to take into consideration. Minimising plastic in period products involves delving deeper into the reasons why it was used in the first place and exploring factors such as culture, shame and science.

The history of plastic in period products

Before the advent of tampons, menstruation was dealt with by whatever people could get their hands on and repurpose. They used pad or tampon-like objects such as leftover scraps of fabric, soft strips of bark, or whatever else was available and absorbent.

The first tampon with an applicator was invented in 1933 by Colorado-based general practitioner Earle Cleveland Haas. The initial design involved a cardboard applicator for each tampon, a design feature that can still be found in period products today.

Dome-tipped plastic applicators were introduced in 1973, by which point tampons were already used by more than 70% of women in the US alone.

As for pads, they began to incorporate a base of thin, flexible, leak-proof polypropylene or polyethylene in the 1960s. By the 1970s, designers had made plastic 'wings' to wrap around underwear and hold pads in place.

Plastic has greatly improved people's experiences with periods, making them more manageable, less uncomfortable and safer. But reusable products are growing in popularity. So, what are the alternatives to plastic period products, and how can they benefit the environment?

What sustainable period products are there?

Samano advises that the best way to have a more eco-friendly period is to get rid of disposable period products, but it's really important you find the right reusable product for you and your body.

"Many of us have heard stories of people who discovered menstrual cups then never looked back. But the fact is that period cups aren't for everyone. Perhaps some people have trauma or simply don't want to use internal products, which is fine. I'm personally a big fan of period pants, but reusable pads might be more your thing. It's all about knowing what works for your lifestyle so that you can make a switch that sticks," she says.

Menstrual cups

A menstrual cup is inserted into the vagina during menstruation to collect fluid. The cups are usually made of flexible medical-grade silicone, latex or a thermoplastic isomer. They are bell-shaped and have a stem or a string attached for removal. Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours depending on your flow, then washed and reused. A menstrual cup can last for up to 10 years if cared for properly.

Period pants

Meanwhile, period pants are underwear designed with various layers of absorbent materials that can hold up to two tampons' worth of menstrual blood. This design acts as a moisture barrier and can help to prevent leakage. They are praised for being leak-proof, comfortable, economically smart as well as environmentally friendly.

Some prefer to use them throughout their period, while others would rather rely on pants only when their flow is lighter. They are designed to look and feel like regular underwear but have extra layers in the crotch area. They should be washed by hand in cold water and can be used for 2-5 years if cleaned properly.

Reusable pads

As for reusable pads, they are shaped just like regular plastic pads. The wings wrap around your underwear and they have buttons that pop together to form a secure seal. Once your pad is in place, you can wear it for the length of time you would a normal disposable pad. You will know best when to change yours depending on your flow.

While they are absorbent, reusable pads should still be changed regularly. It's a good idea to carry a wet bag with you while out and about to hold the pads you remove throughout the day. They should then be thoroughly sanitised in cold water and soaked for 30 minutes.

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Missed periods

Missed periods can happen for many reasons. Most of the time there is no worrying cause. As long as you are sure you are not pregnant and you feel well in yourself there is no need for concern if you miss one or two periods. If you don't have a period for 3-6 months, or have other symptoms then you should consult a doctor. Sometimes periods in teenage girls start later than in others. If your periods haven't started by the time you are 16 (or 14 if you have not started developing in other ways such as getting pubic hair and breasts) then contact your doctor. Periods can also be infrequent, erratic or irregular. If you bleed between your periods or after sex, or after the menopause, you should discuss this with your doctor.

by Dr Rosalyn Adleman, MRCGP

Are single-use period products bad for the environment?

"On the flip side, not all disposable period products are bad," explains Samano.

"An alternative and easy way to have a more sustainable period is by switching out mainstream disposable period products for natural, biodegradable ones. You can buy pads that are made with 100% organic bamboo and come individually wrapped in biodegradable plant-based wrappers. You can also look for tampons with applicators made from sugarcane, with each of their tampons wrapped in water-soluble wrappers."

Are sustainable period products right for you?

It's important to point out that periods are a unique, personal experience for everyone. There are also many factors contributing to why people use single-use products. This could be personal preference and comfort, or a wider issue like period poverty. Therefore, not only are sustainable alternatives not suitable for everyone: in addition, they aren't always accessible.

The bottom line

Environmentally-friendly period products tend to be more costly in terms of upfront purchase price, and therefore might not be accessible to everyone.

"Menstrual cups cost between £17-£25 on average and can last up to a decade. So, in the long run, they are more sustainable and economical since menstruators spend up to £5,000 on their periods throughout their lifetime," says Samano.

She highlights that sustainable period products involve a higher initial cost due to their durability. Items like the menstrual cup and period knickers will last a lot longer than a store-bought tampon or pad.

"They are more expensive upfront but are more economical in the long term since you are then not buying disposable products every month. Sustainable period products can produce less waste and make for a cleaner planet."

Education and awareness

Samano suggests that to ensure more people can have sustainable periods, there needs to be better access to the products that serve the environment better. She says these items should be available in supermarkets and branded stores as a starting point if we want to achieve global sustainability at some point.

With the long-term cost of menstrual cups - for example, being, on average, 5% of the cost of pads and 7% of the cost of tampons - for people in poverty, savings of that magnitude could be life-changing. However, while they are more cost-effective, those struggling financially do not always have that sum of money in one go, and simply have to survive period-to-period.

Bloody Good Period (a charity working to combat period poverty) stresses the importance of education alongside period products. Users also need the knowledge and means to clean their cups and wash their underwear and pads. For example, those who are homeless do not necessarily always have access to water to sanitise them, which could result in infections.

CEO of the charity, Gabby Edlin, says solving period poverty is not going to be solved with 'a silver tampon'.

"It requires a multi-pronged, holistic approach that also improves access to education and understanding of our bodies as well as products themselves."

If menstrual cups were offered as a money-saving period product, she emphasises that people also need to understand where the cup sits, how to insert one and what feels right and comfortable.

"It isn't just about throwing cups at people and leaving them to get on with it."

Alternative ways to make your period more sustainable

"To create more sustainable habits around your cycle, learning about your body and what works for you is imperative to achieving optimum health," says Samano.

She says creating a sustainable structure around your menstrual health is a very productive way of making this time of the month more comfortable and manageable.

Some sustainable forms of self-care include:

• Meal prepping in the lead-up to your period to save on food waste.

• Eating plant-based snacks when satisfying cravings.

• Finding sustainable blends of herbs for tea to assist with cramps and bloating.

• Trying low-impact yoga or light exercises to distribute any pain.

• Sourcing natural rubber hot water bottles to ease cramps.