Over 35 Zero Waste and Eco-Friendly Period Products
o.b. Organic Tampons with Plant-Based Applicators.
o.b. Organic Tampons with Plant-Based Applicators.
Let’s the honest, as women our periods are a bit of a drag. And it adds insult to injury that they also wreck havoc on our environment because most period sanitary products on the market are not designed with eco-friendly materials.
The average woman will dispose of 11,000 sanitary items in a lifetime, most of which contain plastics and are not biodegradable. Many of these disposed products end up in landfills and our oceans.
The good news is there’s a growing market for both eco-friendly and zero waste period sanitary products. For all my frugal savvy gals, investing in these products will actually save you a lot of money in the long run. It takes an average of 3 period cycles for these products to pay for themselves.
In this blog post you’ll find over 35 eco-friendly and zero waste period products you can incorporate into your monthly routine.
Menstrual cups are like the new designer items, they now come in such chic colors and packaging. When you insert these cups they capture all the blood without any paper or plastic mensural products, which makes them a zero waste product. They can be worn for up to 12 hours, which means you can wear one all day or through the night.
You can safely and comfortably wear a menstrual cup for all kinds of activities including swimming, active exercises and sleeping. While you can’t have sex with the menstrual cup, you can have mess-free sex with a similar product known as the menstrual disc.
Menstrual cups are best for women with heavy period flows. You can do a mix-n-match method and use menstrual cups for your heavy days, and then period panties for lower flow days. The internal pressure from the suction actually helps with cramping without any medication. Because the menstrual cups hold the blood inside, it keeps the vaginal canal from drying out like tampons. This actually helps maintain healthy pH levels which gives you less irritation.
While menstrual cups are safe, it is important to follow the cleansing intrusions to avoid any unwanted bacteria. You can even purchase a cleansing soap made specifically for menstrual cups that you use between each 12-hour shift. After each period you should sterilize your cup by boinging it in water so that harmful bacteria doesn’t begin to grow while it sits in storage for 3 weeks.
Below I have my favorite menstrual cup brands. Each cup is made slightly differently from the shape to the materials used. If you tried a cup and it wasn’t comfortable, give another brand a try to see if it better suits your anatomy. It takes about 3 periods to truly get into the swing of it, so don’t give up right away if you’re struggling the first time.
When you begin shopping for your first menstrual cup, the size will vary based on your motherhood status and your age. Women who have given birth vagionaly will require a larger size for a snug fit. You want to make sure you have the correct size to avoid leaking. Also, many women over 30 require a larger size cup as well.
A pro tip for easy insertion is to use water or a lubricant jelly for a smoother slide into the vagina without chafing. There’s many insertion instructional videos online, but in my opinion the best one is from Saalt.
Lunette Menstrual Cup
The Lunette Menstrual Cup is made of soft, medical grade silicone and comes in many bright colors. They’re made in Finland with the highest quality standards - all cups are chemical, latex and BPA-free.
Saalt Menstrual Cup
The Saalt Menstrual Cup is considered to be one of the more premium brands, they even sell it at trendy retailers such as Anthropologie. Both the product and the packaging is so modernly designed, you’ll actually look forward to your period!
Intimina Lily Menstrual Cup
The Lily Menstrual Cups have a loyal following because of their unique silhouette and the ability to fold down as small as a tampon for insertion. It has a more angled shape that mirrors a woman’s anatomy. It comes in two sizes for the perfect fit.
More Safe Menstrual Cup Brands:
From Intimina.
Zero Waste Reusable Menstrual Discs
Menstrual discs are similar to the cups in that they collect the period blood and can be inserted for 12 hours at a time. The main difference between the two products is the placement inside the vaginal canal and vaginal fornix. In short the cup sits lower and the disc sits higher. You can find more detailed information here.
The downfall of menstrual discs is that some of the most readily available discs on the market are not reusable. They are made of a medical-grade polymer, which is essentially plastic and they have to be disposed in the garbage after each use. The Flex Disc and Softdisc are single-use products.
Luckily companies have been developing a more sustainable menstrual disc that is reusable. Unlike the menstrual cup, you can even have sex wearing these discs.
Lumma Unique Reusable Menstrual Disc
The Unique Menstrual Disc comes in 3 sizes depending on the height and size of your cervix (low cervix, medium cervix, high cervix). It comes with a built in silicone string for easy removal. It can be used during sex, and covers light to heavy period flows. It can be worn for 12 hours at a time.
Intimina Ziggy Cup
Although the name says “cup”, the Ziggy has a flatter shape similar to a disc. It’s made of medical grade silicone and is reusable for many years. It’s made of very soft materials for an extra comfortable fit, and it can be worn during sex.
Nixit Menstrual Cups
The Nixit Cups are another “cup” that function similarly to the discs. They are designed more flat and they don’t use suction to function like menstrual cups. It holds up to 4 tampons worth of fluid, can be worn for 12 hours, and you can have mess-free sex wearing one.
There’s no denying the convenience and ease of one-time-use disposable period products. And sometimes our periods happen during hectic times in our lives when we don’t have the privacy or bandwidth to use reusable period products.
When it comes to shopping for disposable period products, you can certainly still be a conscious consumer and make eco-friendly purchasing decisions. There’s period products on the market that use both organic and biodegradable materials and packaging. You really want to avoid products that contain plastics and harmful chemicals.
o.b. Organic Tampons with Plant-Based Applicator
The main problem with tampons is the perky plastic applicator that comes along in the packaging. The o.b. Organic Tampons comes with a biodegradable plant based applicator. The tampons are made of organic cotton, free from chlorine, dyes or fragrances. They’re available online at Target.
o.b. Applicator-Free Tampons
O.b. has been a bit of a pioneer in the eco-friendly period space for a long time now because they’ve been selling applicator-free tampons for many years. Instead of using a plastic applicator, you simply use your finger to insert the tampon. You can shop a wide variety of o.b. applicator-free products here.
Cora Applicator-Free Organic Cotton Tampons
Another period brand selling applicator-free tampons is Cora. Their claim to fame is their organic tampons are the purest and most comfortable ones on the market. The Cora online store is a one-stop-shop for women’s natural intimate products for periods, postpartum and urinary incontinence.
DAME.
At DAME. you’ll find two eco-friendly period products - the world’s first reusable tampon applicator and organic tampons which fit perfectly into the applicator. Most plastic tampon applicators are single-use and end up in landfills and our oceans. This perfect duo is a great solution, not to mention that the products are sleek and sophisticated which makes them fun to shop.
Seventh Generation Tampons with Plant-Based Applicator
Seventh Generation is another option for organic tampons with a 99% plant based applicator. The organic cotton is both healthy for women and the environment, no pesticides or chemicals are used in the process.
This is L.Organic Tampons, Pads & Liners
With This is L. Period Products you aren’t only doing a great thing for yourself and the environment, you’re also providing much needed menstrual products for women in need all over the world. L. period products are made with organic cotton, chlorine-free materials, no synthetics, dyes or fragrances.
Rael Organic Menstrual Products
Rael offers a wide variety of organic pads and tampons. These premium pads are super soft and cushy. The adhesive wings have a German engineered nontoxic glue specifically made for hygiene products. In some of their products the packaging is made of cotton instead of plastic.
Bamboo Babe Organic and Biodegradable Pads
Bamboo Babe is an Australian eco-conscious company who have created the dream pad. Made of bamboo and corn, these pads are completely biodegradable and compostable (even the packaging, wrapper and bag!). The bamboo materials are naturally hypoallergenic and anti-bacterial keeping foul odors at bay. They do ship to the United States.
I remember when period panties first hit the market and I honestly thought it was too good to be true. But it turns out that this ingenious product really does live up to all the hype.
The way period underwear works is there’s several layers of fabrics that are moisture-wicking and are able to hold fluid while still remaining leak resistance.
Period panties are best for period days that are medium to low flow, although there’s several heavy flow panties emerging in the market. For an average period you’ll need a set of 5 - 7 pairs of period underwear. Most period panties will last you throughout the day, about 8 - 12 hours. But it’s always good to have spares on hand in case you need them.
When you take off a pair of used period panties, you soak them in water to remove the blood. You’ll then launder them in a mild detergent on a gentle cycle. It’s important not to put them in the dryer because the heat will compromise the integrity of the fabric layers. Air dry in the sun and you’re good to go.
Thinx
Thinx is the original period panty and the most well-known on the market. They have a very large variety of cuts, colors, absorbencies and their sizes go up to 3XL. For very heavy overnight flows they have the Sleeper Shorts that can hold up to 4 tampons worth of fluid. If you’re on the fence about investing in period panties, Thinx offers a 60-day free trial and free returns.
Knix Period Panties
Knix offers a variety of underwear products including leakproof period panties. They have a variety of cuts and colors available. They also sell Period Kits that include 5 pairs of period underwear in multiple absorbencies for a discounted price.
Dear Kate Period Underwear & Activewear
Not only does Dear Kate sell period underwear in a variety of styles, they also sell Go Commando Yoga Pants. This is such a problem solver for women who are very active during their periods and need gear that will allow them to move freely.
Aisle Period Underwear
Aisle offers a variety of eco-friendly period products on their website, including a few styles of period underwear. While they don’t have as many options as the retailers listed above, one thing to mention is they do carry period Boxer Briefs for women who prefer not to wear feminine styles.
If you’re looking to gradually begin replacing your period products with more eco-friendly options without a dramatic change in routine, reusable period pads function very similarly to disposable ones. The main difference is you’re not tossing anything into a garbage. Instead you’ll be washing and drying out the pads after each use. Each reusable pad comes with snaps that secure around your underwear for a slip-free and comfortable fit.
The main pro of this method is that you don’t have to insert anything into your body if that makes you uncomfortable. The main con is that there may be a significant investment upfront because you’ll need to buy multiple pads which run about $20 each. The good news is that it’s one one-time purchase and then you’re set.
When you’re shopping make sure that the fabrics and liners used are made of 100% cotton (preferably organic) and free of any irritating synthetics, plastics or chemicals. When you’re washing them in laundry detergent, the best option is gentle and fragrance free brands that are labeled “free and clear.”
The reusable pad method is particularly good for young girls who are first getting introduced to their changing bodies and having periods. It’s much less invasive and the products come in fun colors and patterns.
On period days when you’re out of the house and need to change your pad, you’ll use “wet bags” to store the used pads until you can get home to wash them out. On Etsy you can shop for all kinds of reusable period wet bags with appealing designs.
Etsy
There are many small companies creating great eco-friendly period products, and many of them have pimped out their Etsy shops. Not only are you supporting these small women-owned businesses, you can really find great deals on high-quality products.
Some of the best zero-waste period companies on Etsy are:
Rael Organic Cotton Reusable Pads
Rael is a premium period products company that sells both organic disposable period products and reusable pads. Their pads are crafted with 5 layers of organic cotton moisture-wicking fabric. Each pad can be used 120 times and they’re reasonably priced at a 3-pack for $34 ($11.33 each).
Aisle Pads & Liners
Aisle was previously called Lunapads but they’ve changed their name and expanded the line of products they sell. Made out of organic cotton, they sell super maxi pads that can hold 4 tampon’s worth of fluid. They also have longer styles for extra coverage.
The Hello Cup Reusable Panty Liners
I’m a sucker for pretty much anything sold at Anthropologie, and that includes these oh so cute reusable panty liners. They’re small and compact for light period days, and the trendy prints will actually make you look forward to using them.
From Ruby Love.
The latest innovation to period products is high absorbency swimwear. Now there’s no reason you can enjoy pool and beach days on your period. You can wear these bathing suits without a tampon and swim freely in the water.
Because period swimwear is so new to the market, the swimsuit and bikini styles are still pretty simplistic. Minimalists will love the classic black styles!
Ruby Love Period Swimwear
Of all the retailers, Ruby Love has the most variety of styles and colors of period swimwear. You can find one-piece swimsuits, bikinis, swim dresses, skin suits and bodysuit rash guards. It’s one of the few retailers selling swimwear in bold colors.
Modibodi Period Swimwear
Modibodi keeps their swim wear simple with an all black or navy blue one-piece or bikini bottom. Their swimwear holds up to 2 tampons worth of fluid. Their sizes go up to 2XL.
AWWA Period Proof Swimwear
Currently AWWA only offers one style of period bikini bottoms and a matching top in black. The size goes up to 3XL.
Birth Control that Eliminates or Reduces Periods
Every woman has their own outlook on using birth control to reduce periods and alleviate menstrual symptoms. While it’s not for everyone, it’s worth mentioning that it’s an option available for menstruating women.
Birth Control Options to Stop or Reduce Your Periods:
Birth control pills that greatly reduce your period or get rid of it altogether are Lybrel, Seasonale and Seasonique.
For some women their periods will stop all together with an IUD.
Depo-Provera birth control injections often stops periods for women.
Period Products to Avoid
Valve Menstrual Cups
The newest type of menstrual cup to hit the market are ones with a valve. Meaning that instead of removing the cup to dispose of the blood, you can open the valve to drain the cup without removing it.
According to my research, this type of menstrual cup is not recommended for hygienic reasons. With the valve it gets too easy to go over the allotted 12 hours without removing the cup. For safety reasons, you must remove and clean the cup within the 12-hour window.
Another issue is if you’ve got a heavy flow with thick blood and clots, the valve may not be wide enough to drain the fluid. The first wave of users have reported that the valves can leak, the are difficult to open and close, and overall not very practical.
No major menstrual cup brands have tackled the valve, and you definitely only want to purchase such a product from a reputable company. Off-brands that sell menstrual cups could be using synthetics, plastics and chemicals that you wouldn’t want inside your body.
Sea Sponge Tampons
Sea sponge tampons are a more rare form of period products, and are not recommended. They are not known for being sterile and can contain harmful bacteria. There’s much better options available which are proven to be safe.
Avoid Any Period Products with Bleach & Plastic
Your goal should be to always have a chemical and plastic-free period. Unfortunately many of the popular period brands available in drug stores are riddled with bleached rayon, conventional cotton and plastics. The average pad contains the equivalent of four plastic bags (yikes!). Not only are these terrible for the environment, they’re also terrible for your body.
If you suffer from painful period cramps, period products with dioxins, furans and fragrances can make your discomfort even worse because they’re endocrine disruptors.
