Shoppers often focus on the price and appearance of routine purchases like feminine hygiene products. You may already trust one or two brands to address your monthly needs, but do their products align with your sustainable values? These are a few factors to consider when shopping for eco-friendly, non-toxic feminine hygiene products.
Look for Sustainable Product Factors
Thanks to the popularity of greenwashing, anyone can make the packaging on their products look eco-friendly. However, not all products are good for the planet. These factors indicate your desired products actually support your sustainable lifestyle:
1. It Contains Natural Materials
People commonly prefer tampons with plastic applicators compared to cardboard alternatives. Unfortunately, the plastic could release microplastics into cotton tampons or pads, which cause gastrointestinal issues by crossing cell membranes after entering the bloodstream. Plastic also struggles to decompose in landfills, so it ultimately pollutes the environment after each single-use product lands in your trash can.
2. It Doesn’t Include Toxins
Although your OB-GYN can catch precancerous growths during your routine pap smears, it’s crucial to be proactive about reproductive health issues in other ways. Cotton fields undergo pesticide and fertilizer treatments before getting additional chemical washes during tampon and pad production. The process sanitizes the products, but also introduces new chemicals into the mix.
A recent study found higher levels of mercury in people who used tampons compared to those who only used pads. The American Chemical Society also recently reported the existence of forever chemicals known as PFAS in feminine hygiene products. Toxin-free or organic labels are easy ways to avoid purchasing these products that could harm your health before they release chemicals into the environment in landfills.
3. It Uses Eco-Friendly Packaging
Many brands now use post-consumer waste packaging with recycled materials. They also engineer biodegradable envelopes and boxes with materials like corn starch. This information should be readily available on each feminine hygiene company’s website, but you can always call their customer service line, if you can’t find the details independently.
Compare Eco-Friendly, Non-Toxic Feminine Hygiene Products
Once you know what to look for in your monthly menstrual supplies, it’s time to compare your options. These are the most popular eco-friendly, non-toxic feminine hygiene products you can use in the coming weeks.
1. Washable Period Panties
You likely already wash your sweaters in cold water and use a gentle cycle for satin pillowcases. Use the same intentions to wash period panties in a separate load. Companies make them with moisture-wicking fabric that controls dampness and smell.
You’d only need to change into a new pair every 12 hours during heavier menstrual days. It may be a favorable compromise, if you’re ready to stop using single-use applicators and toxin-filled cotton products.
2. Reusable Pads
You can find reusable menstrual pads in stores or make them at home. Regardless of your preference, this type of product could be the best solution for your feminine hygiene needs. Reusable pads should be washed in a separate cycle and they’ll be ready to go whenever you need them. You could even select fabric from eco-friendly brands to make your pads more sustainable.
3. Toxin-Free Menstrual Cups
Menstrual cups are another alternative to single-use pads and tampons. You can wash and reuse them as often as indicated on the packaging. Brands that excel in biodegradable products even make the cups with organic rubber to avoid extra chemicals, even though standard chemicals pass safety inspections when tested for health effects.
4. All-Natural Tampons and Pads
Organic pads and tampons use all-natural cotton and biodegradable treatments during production. You won’t encounter the same leftover chemicals that endanger the environment after each product’s use. This option may be more costly than traditional tampons and pads, but it’s a more sustainable version for those who prefer conventional feminine hygiene products.
Consider Upgrading Your Feminine Hygiene Products
The monthly supplies you use to meet your feminine hygiene needs should meet your sustainable lifestyle standards. Look for these factors to determine whether you need to switch your preferred brands. Depending on your interests, you can also try new product types to make your routine even more eco-friendly.
