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As a Geography grad, I love the recent rise of zero-waste period products. Because why should the planet suffer, as well as us? Yep, a recent study suggested that more than 45 billion single-use sanitary pads and tampons are used every year, with 500 million ending up in landfills. Because a tampon takes longer to degrade than the lifespan of the woman who wears it — and the average woman will use over 11,000 disposable, one-time-use period products in her reproductive lifetime.
We should also shout out Fatberg: the 130-tonne solidified formation of waste, made of fat, grease, rags and, sadly, flushed sanitary waste, that was infamous for blocking London sewers back in 2017. For context, it weighed roughly the same as 11 (!) double-decker buses and took weeks to break down with shovels and high-powered jets.
Thankfully, in a bid to avoid another ecological scandal, countless brands are working to bleed us dry of single-use period products, instead working to create zero-waste period products, including reusable period pants, period swimwear, menstrual cups and machine-washable sanitary pads to replace the plastic variety.
Being honest about periods is the first step to change.
Take Freda, a brand which sources sustainable, ethically-sourced materials that don't compromise on hygiene or performance: “Our products contain no chemicals, without compromising on protection," reads the website. "We always put our customers' needs first, while constantly pushing for more sustainable packaging, ingredients, and production.”
Organic cotton breaks down more easily and therefore poses less of an environmental problem. It's all down to the fact that certified organic tampons — for example, those by TOTM or Flo — don't contain the synthetic materials found in other branded tampons, including rayon, plastics and artificial absorbents, which are largely non-biodegradable.
But there is now an array of alternatives to tampons for period-having people. Menstrual cups have emerged as one of the most convenient, because as well as being comfortable and undetectable, they can hold up to 32ml of blood for up to 12 hours. There are economic benefits too, considering one menstrual cup can last you up to 10 years.
Other options include period pants (and specifically period pants for teens), period swimwear and reusable sanitary pads. "Choice is everything," says Celia Pool, cofounder of DAME, a provider of (award-winning) sustainable period care. “There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for women when it comes to menstrual products. There are different needs and requirements, even within one person's cycle. You might want to wear your cup or pad during your lighter days, and your tampon during times when you are active. Or the other way round.”
Dame does exactly this, giving women and people with vulvas the choice to use tampons and applicators, if they want to. Traditional plastic applicators take 500 years to decompose — and the women of the world use 10 billion of them every month. DAME uses antimicrobial technology to produce BPA-free, leak-free, medical-grade tampon applicators that can be reused for life. "The bottom line is that you can care about the environment and use tampons - the two need not be mutually exclusive," says Pool.
For those yet to make the switch to period pants — FYI, I did two years ago and haven't looked back — they are just like your day-to-day underwear, but with the added benefit of being able to absorb blood, discharge or urine, thanks to the fact they're lined with an absorbent, moisture-wicking and odour-eliminating gusset. You can bleed freely in them for up to 12 hours, whether you're going to work, to the gym — or even for a swim, thanks to period swimwear.
As for the existing pollution? One woman hoping to put an end to this is Ella Daish, who launched a kickass petition calling on manufacturers to remove plastic from menstrual products. She's already secured over 100,000 signatures and counting. “It all started rather normally one cold, cloudy day in February; I was enjoying the brief rays of sunshine, looking out for cats to fuss, whilst posting letters on my postal route in Wales,” says Daish, speaking exclusively to GLAMOUR.
"However, something was preventing me from appreciating this, and that was the continuous sight of rubbish during my round; it seemed worse than ever with bag after bag of waste strewn across the pavements. After thinking about how much waste was being disposed of across the UK, I realised that change must happen.
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"So, I began to think about what waste I could reduce in my own life. The following week, when my period began, it dawned on me just how much plastic waste I was creating during my menstrual cycle. Moreover, after some research, I was shocked to discover just how much plastic some menstrual pads contain — up to 90% — which is equivalent to four supermarket bags!
“Not only do they contain so much plastic, but the volume at which they are being produced and disposed of was a real concern to me, especially as they take over 500 years to decompose. More worrying still, the people I discussed this issue with were totally unaware of the plastic content of these products. So it became clear to me that I wanted to raise awareness of this issue and take action to get manufacturers to end period plastic. Subsequently, this compelled me to start an online petition to ‘Make all Menstrual Products Plastic Free’.”
Mind-blowing menstrual intel, right this way.
She continues: "With the problems of single-use plastic gaining huge media attention, it is now clear more than ever that it is hurting health, wildlife and the environment. This has naturally put this topic at the forefront of many people’s thoughts, making them consider the role of plastic in our lives, the waste it produces and the damage it causes worldwide.
"With many companies offering plastic-free versions, it is evident that these products do not need plastic in them, and so it is crucial that these mass-produced products become plastic-free so that they inflict minimal damage. It is thus apparent that whilst the use of plastic is appropriate in certain circumstances, it is certainly not essential for our period products.
Daish adds: “In the future, I would like to see all mainstream disposable menstrual products change to become plastic-free worldwide. By signing the petition, you are calling upon manufacturers to take responsibility for the unnecessary plastic they use whilst raising awareness of this important issue. And the great news is, by going green on your flow, by opting for plastic-free alternatives, you can make real change happen!”
Meet the experts:
| Celia Pool | Co-founder of DAME. |
| Ella Daish | Environmental campaigner, founder of the #EndPeriodPlastic campaign and @ecoperiodbox. |
