For many of us, most months of our lives as women, our bodies undergo the natural process of shedding its uterus wall. Let’s be frank, periods aren’t fun and they definitely don’t feel good. But there is one thing you can feel good about whilst enduring cramps your Aunt Flow brings with her, eco-friendly sanitary products.

• Not quite fond of the idea of organic pads and reusable cups? Let me give you the facts.
• In her reproductive lifetime, the average woman in the UK uses over 11,000 disposable menstrual products.
• Every year tampons and pads create more than 200,000 tonnes of waste.
• Did you know that some sanitary pads use the equivalent amount of plastic as four plastic bags?
• In fact, pads are about 90% plastic.

Shocking right? I have a lot of qualms with the commercialisation of periods and sanitary products in general, but what I find the most frustrating is the waste produced and the consequent damage to the environment that results from an otherwise natural and biological process.

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If that wasn’t enough for you; research has shown that many disposable menstrual products aren’t good for your body. They are often bleached white to improve how they look (who even cares). The process of bleaching creates a chemical called dioxin that has been linked to causing reproductive issues, immune system suppression and even cancer. Sometimes tampons can leave behind microscopic fibres, causing cuts that can lead to the spreading of bacteria that causes Toxic Shock Syndrome, which can be fatal.  Periods are already a messy business; why would you want to risk anything with your delicate down below?

Whether you use pads or tampons, there is definitely a more sustainable way to manage your period. Check out these eco-friendly alternatives, and before you are grossed out, remember that around 50% of the population has periods. That means a lot of waste, that we can do something about.

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