Menstruators! What do you do to dispose of your used tampons, pads, and pantyliners? Wrap them up delicately in toilet paper and place it in the trash? Flush them down the toilet? Either way, you might think that the journey of these products are over. they’ve done their duty, kept you clean, and now they’re gone and out of your life. But in reality, their journey has just begun. Wherever those single-use product ends up after you dispose of them, the material they’re made of can last up to 500 years. These tampons and pads will outlive you by centuries, and while they’re at it, do a great deal of harm to the environment.
Because menstrual products are considered “medical devices”, there are no rules about disclosing the ingredients in menstrual products, and we aren’t entirely sure about what materials are going into the manufacturing of these single-use products. However, researchers have been able to get a pretty good idea about what goes into the creation of these lovely period products. Every pad contains enough plastic to equate four to five plastic bags, and cotton that is filled with pesticides. To top it off and make the pad a blinding white hue, it’s drenched in chemicals like chlorine, polyester, and bleach. I’m sure it’s already overwhelming enough to imagine what these chemicals and materials are doing to your body, but can you picture what happens to the earth and the sea when those products hang around for five centuries?
So how can we limit the pollution we create with these single-use products, without sacrificing our ability to keep our bleeding contained? Thankfully, plenty of reusable and environmentally-friendly products have been developed for just this purpose! There are menstrual cups, which have far more advantages than just keeping the earth clean. Additionally, your vaginal pH and beneficial bacteria stay in place. Tampons absorb all your vaginal fluid along with the blood, which may disturb the delicate pH and bacterial balance in your vagina. Keep in mind that some cups are designed to be disposable. Make sure you read the box label carefully before purchase to get a reusable one. There are also reusable versions of pads and tampons, and the currently-trending period-proof underwear!
Obviously, these greener alternatives aren’t as readily available as we’d like them to be, and many people still rely on their affordability. If you have the access to these alternative, know that making the switch will make a difference in the health of our environment, and consider donating reusable products to PERIOD or your local women’s center, so more menstruators can bleed without harming the environment!
