At the age of twelve, when my period hit me in my guts, I was caught off-guard. You see, my mother never thought to educate me about it beforehand, and my twelve-year-old brain told me “BLOOD! PAIN! ALERT! YOU WILL DIE.”
To say that I was petrified would be an understatement.
But now I’m aware.
I also realize my responsibilities. I was watching a documentary on climate change, and how the landfills are getting overburdened with all the plastic waste we create. Plastic doesn’t decompose, and burning it is not a solution. So, I tried to reduce my consumption of plastic; swapped the cutlery, carried a cloth bag around, and even carried a water bottle everywhere. But when my time of the month would hit, I would end up using the same pads which my mother had taught me to use.
Yes, the ones you wear too.
They’re locally available, cheaper but highly toxic for you and the environment. I knew I had to do something about it, but the comfort of familiarity would always stop me. What if the other products weren’t as good?
But how would I know if I never tried? So I went into the shop and got myself a packet of organic tampons. The first try was slightly uncomfortable, but then I researched and realized I was wearing it incorrectly. Once I wore it correctly, it was a game-changer – so comfortable and easy to use. No rashes or bulky feeling.
After even more research, I realized that there are several alternatives out there. So here I’ve curated a list to help you make a sustainable and organic switch as well!
1. THE CUP
A menstrual cup is a type of reusable feminine hygiene product. It’s a small, flexible cup made of rubber or silicone which you insert in your vagina and is available in different sizes and shapes.
PROs-
Cost-effective
Is safer than tampons (no chances of toxic shock syndrome!)
Holds more blood than pads or tampons
Eco-friendly
Can be worn with an IUD
CONs-
Might not suit everyone due to their vaginal structure.
2. ORGANIC (biodegradable) TAMPONS/ PADS
While the conventional tampon is made from a combination of non-organic cotton (often grown in fields where pesticides are used) and synthetic fibers such as rayon, which helps increase absorbency and reduce odor, organic tampons and pads are made from organic cotton and only organic cotton — no insecticides, pesticides, and no artificial fragrances or dyes (they are also vegan). So, not only will you be rash-free but it’s so much better for you as chemicals used to cover (plastic) conventional tampons are linked to cancer-causing agents! YIKES.
The only drawback of organic pads or tampons is that they are a little less absorbent and need to be changed at regular intervals.
3. PERIOD PANTIES AND CLOTH PADS
Period panties look and feel just like normal underwear, but they have a special layer that helps prevent blood from seeping through. They are reusable and comfortable to wear. But there is a catch – they’re not yet capable of handling heavy flow. So you can keep them for the lighter days.
Cloth pads are made of cotton & promote well-being through the menstrual cycle, as well as being affordable. Cloth pads can prevent thousands of non-biodegradable sanitary waste around the world each month since it takes 500+ years for a plastic pad to decompose. However, cloth pads can or may feel a bit bulky on heavy flow days. But they still have the advantage of not causing rashes.
This brings us to the end of my list! I hope this helped you to understand sustainable period options and at least pushed you to think of switching to eco-friendly menstruation. Do your research to find what might suit you!
You can find a number of offline and online stores offering these products, links to some of
which have been mentioned below for your reference!
3. https://aakarinnovations.com/anandi/ (helps women in rural India!)
Ultimately, it’s all about the choices we make. The options are endless and there’s always at least one perfect product for everyone. Finding an eco-friendly period product most suitable to you is like finding your soul mate; a little hit and try here and there but when you find them, you never let go.
Author – Srishti Guleria
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