Tips and inspiration
- Disposable menstrual pads and tampons contain plastic that can’t break down as well as harmful chemicals such as pesticide and bleach residues. Luckily, there are many sustainable alternatives to choose from, including menstrual cups and discs, reusable pads and period underwear.
- Menstrual cups and discs collect rather than absorb blood. They can be worn for up to 12 hours and can be cleaned and reused.
- Menstrual cups sit in the vaginal canal and create a leak-free seal, while discs sit below the cervix and against the pubic bone to keep them in place. Whether a cup or a disc is best for you depends on your anatomy, how heavy your period is and personal preference. Check out this comparison blogpost or take this quiz to help you decide.
- If you’re looking for something similar to disposable pads, try reusable pads or period underwear. There are lots of options to choose from, and they come in different levels of absorbency. To clean them, rinse with cold water after use, then pop them in the washing machine with your laundry.
- If reusables don’t suit your lifestyle, 100% organic cotton pads or tampons are single-use products that are a little better for the environment than traditional options. To avoid excess plastic, consider choosing applicator-free tampons or opting for a reusable applicator.
- Start slow, you don’t need to make the switch all at once. For example, you could try using period underwear on the light days of your period or in combination with tampons or a cup until you feel comfortable and find the products that work best for you.
The big picture
Menstrual pads and tampons produce 28,000 tonnes of waste annually in the UK.
Use this calculator to see how much waste, money and carbon you could save by switching to reusable products.
Why is this action beneficial?
Reduces waste
Reusable products can be washed and used again, keeping thousands of single-use items from ending up in landfill or being incinerated.
Saves money
Though reusable options may come with a higher upfront cost, you can use them for up to 10 years and so save hundreds of pounds over time compared to buying disposables.
Reduces pollution
More than 3,000 tonnes of single-use menstrual products are flushed annually and end up polluting waterways. This leads to microplastics and harmful chemicals leaching into the environment and harming wildlife.
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