The best sustainable period products, approved by GLAMOUR's eco-conscious editors
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Before I discovered sustainable period products, I loathed spending (read: burning) £20 every month on single-use tampons and disposable pads. In fact, I once spent 20 minutes on a date explaining the concept of ‘Girl Tax’ — the added costs of any social occasion for a make-up wearing, menstrating woman.
But my conscience didn't love that I had to call on these plastic period products every month either. In case you didn’t already know, it takes a tampon longer to degrade than the lifespan of the person who wears it. We should also mention that more than 500 million period care products are estimated to go into landfills every month.
Luckily, there's a burgeoning number of sustainable menstrual products on the market which can help offset our flow's impact on the environment, from the best period pants, made from a super-absorbent, leak-proof and odour-eliminating fabric, to reusable sanitary pads and multi-use tampon applicators.
But it's all well and good knowing what your options are, but within the category, which are the best? Having seen every cycle for the last three years as an opportunity to test a variety of sustainable period products that have skipped the single-use plastic — from absorbent thongs to period swimwear, reusable pads and, of course, menstrual cups — I feel qualified to declare which are worth starting a monogamous relationship with.
Being honest about periods is the first step to change.
Ahead, the best eco-friendly period products for 2025, approved by GLAMOUR editors:
Perhaps the most readily-available of all eco-friendly period products, period pants have been gaining popularity over the past couple of years. And fast. They're just like your normal cotton underwear, but they feature a super-absorbent, odour-eliminating and moisture-wicking gusset, which means you can breathe freely in them for up to 12 hours.
Thanks to brands like Modibodi, Fluxies and Wuka, you can now pick up period pants in a range of styles to suit your preferences, budget and flow – from high-waisted briefs to thongs, period swimwear and seamless undies with no VPL. So. Good.
The best menstrual cups can stay in for up to 12 hours before being emptied and cleaned, making them one of the most effective sustainable period products on the market. Picture this: a small, funnel-shaped cup with a stem, typically made from rubber or silicone, which is flexible enough to be bent and inserted into the vagina. It shouldn't feel uncomfortable, and simply works by catching your flow.
How long you can wear one for is all dependant on how heavy your period is – but they can be left in for up to 12 hours, making menstrual cups especially handy at nighttime or if you're not able to reach suitable changing facilities.
They shouldn't leak, and have the added benefit of posing no risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), which, although rare, is associated with regular tampon use.
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If you're really set on using your classic applicator tampon – remember that the most damaging part to the environment is the plastic applicator you insert it with. So, look towards sustainable British fem-tech brand like DAME, whose mission is to stop billions of period products ending up in our oceans.
We'll continue with the DAME example: since their launch, they've saved over 2.5million applicators from being thrown away. They launched the world's first reusable applicator tampon, which comes with a zipable carrying pouch and six tampons. You use it just like your normal single-use tampon applicator, but once you've inserted the tampon, you can simply rinse and wash the applicator, and it'll be ready for the next time! Oh, and it fits all tampon sizes, from a light tampon to a super-plus tampon.
If you're struggling to get on any of the above, reusable sanitary pads could be the perfect solution. Reusable sanitary towels have been revolutionising the world of eco-friendly period products since they first went mainstream, providing a sustainable and cost-efficient alternative to their single-use counterparts, which you've been relying on for so long.
They're generally made from bamboo or organic cotton, and work in exactly the same way your bog-standard sanitary pad does. Take the DAME reusable period pad set, for example. The core of these pads is made from a polyamide, polyester and lycra wicking layer that draws moisture away from your skin in seconds, while the top and bottom outer layers are made from super-soft natural fibres that stay comfortable against your skin (lyocell, organic cotton).
You need to change them every 4-8 hours depending on your flow, and they can be washed – after being rinsed with cold water – in the washing machine.
Featuring 100% organic, biodegradable cotton, tampons like Flo's Organic Tampons are a more sustainable choice. They expand width-wise for increased comfort and superior leak protection, and are 95% plant-based and 100% recyclable. Even better, 5% of the profits of your purchase go to charities supporting girls and women in need.
Best for nighttime flow and heavier period days, organic cotton pads like those by &SISTERS are made with sustainably-produced, natural and organic cotton, which makes them totally biodegradable. They're pH neutral, which is great for sensitive skin, super absorbent and, thanks to the protective wings, have a really secure fit.
