Yesterday I was delighted to have my eco-tip featured as part of Delight.com’s month long Earth Day Celebration. Now through April 22, they’re featuring a new eco-friendly product each day on Delight.com, and on their blog they’re posting a different daily tip from green bloggers. My tip was something I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned here before, because it can be a sensitive subject for some people, but it’s also something I feel very passionate about!
Reusable menstrual alternatives are a great way for women to make their bodies and the planet more healthy. Traditional drugstore brands of tampons and pads are packed with chemicals, and while reusables may take a little getting used to, many women (myself included!) find them much more comfortable than the mainstream products.
Reusable pads are available in many shapes and styles: Party in my Pants, Lunapads and GladRags are all established and well-respected brands. A quick search of the term “menstrual” at Etsy.com can bring you plenty varieties of handmade pads,
or you can find instructions online to make your own if you’re the crafty type. (Here’s one of many step-by-step tutorials found online.)
For day to day use, I recommend keeping two small plastic sandwich bags or containers in your purse — one for clean pads and one for used pads. Just rinse when you get home and throw them in your regular wash.
Reusable cups like the DivaCup and the Keeper are made from latex rubber and medical grade silicone respectively, are the perfect alternative for girls who prefer tampons. Simply empty and rinse out the cups — you’ll never have to worry about being without a tampon again! Not only will you prevent more waste from going into the landfill with these reusables, you’ll save money over the long-run and keep your body safe from nasty chemicals!
Here’s a couple of handmade pads found on Etsy that I’ve personally tried and really like:
Tamarack offers lots of pads and liners in different sizes and fabrics.
epicerma’s Moonpads are available in varying lengths and many of them are made from organic cotton.
I know this is sort of a weird topic, but these alternatives are SO much healthier for both you and the planet. If you have any questions about the practicalities and their use, feel free to ask! Also, Party in my Pants has a really helpful FAQ on their site.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
just chiming in to say how much i love my diva cup! i’ve been using it for years now, and not only is it eco-friendly and convenient, but wow does it save you a lot of money on tampons! it pays for itself in just a few months. plus you get much more in tune to your own body and its functions, which so many women are so removed from. it takes a little getting used to, but i wouldn’t use anything else now.
I just found your site and have been reading through you previous posts. This is so great! We live in Biloxi (on Keesler) and when we first moved down here, I didn’t think there was a big art community or interest in being green. I love how wrong I was. I have been using luna pads for a long time and have recently been buying from sellers on etsy. I love using my diva cup as well. Reusable pads are so much more comfortable than disposable kinds. I wish I would have known about them sooner.
I really look forward to reading regularly, and going back and discovering more from your previous posts!
Ashlee, it’s great that the green movement is growing, even in unexpected places!
Glad to see you included the diva cup. It changed my life. I love it and highly recommend it not only for the eco benefits, but it lessened my cramps and just made my period so much less an imposition on my life.
I am all TMI here, but if you try it, you will want to share it with other women too!
I’m glad you turned me on to the cloth pads a while back. I still haven’t bought any to try, but I’m pretty excited about them.
There is also a brand called Natracare that makes 100% certified organic tampons and pads that don’t use any chemicals.
I’ve always wanted to try the other alternatives mentioned here – but worried about what to do when out for the full day.
Lo, thanks for the tip!
As for what to do when you’re away from home all day, the Party in My Pants site gives a great tip in their FAQ on how to fold up the pads easily when you’re on the go: http://partypantspads.com/faq The DivaCup site also has a great FAQ that answers the question on what to do when you’re out in a public restroom: http://www.divacup.com/en/home/faqs/
Basically it takes a little adjustment from your normal routine, but honestly it’s not that much different from using traditional pads or tampons.