Better bleeding
Periods that don't cramp the planet
This week we’re rolling into class only to find our tracksuited gym teacher armed with tampons instead of volleyballs. Surprise! Today we’ll tackle how to balance menstrual health with the health of the planet. This week’s newsletter is mostly useful to people who menstruate, but if you don’t, you might stick around and learn something.
One person can throw away 11,000 disposable period products in their lifetime, weighing in at around 62,415 pounds. To make matters worse, many parts of the products are made of plastic and could easily hang around 1,000 years. In 2015, the Ocean Conservancy collected almost 28,000 used tampons and applicators from beaches in a single day.
That said, let’s pause to acknowledge that menstrual trash is only about 0.5% of our personal waste footprint. Containers and packaging from other products weigh in at 26%, so if this area is a non-starter for you for whatever reason, don’t worry about it. There are other ways to reduce your trash output.
But for me, a low-waste period has been an easy, entirely worthwhile change that’s reduced my impact, saved me over $1000, and meant I never had to mummify the crotch of my underwear and waddle to the store. In the big picture, it’s a small change, but who doesn’t love an easy win?
Menstrual cups
Back when I started using a Diva Cup in 2007, it came with a branded enamel pin. At the time, I thought this was bananas, and maybe it kind of is, but also: I have told so many people about my positive cup experience I might as well have worn the pin.
If you’ve worn tampons comfortably, cups are here for you! They require a little learning, but you’ll get the hang of it after a period or two. (For Kristen Bell, the Diva Cup was a trip to the Bad Place, but that response is luckily quite rare.) They’re a bit of an investment upfront (mine was $35) but can be kept for several years and will save you scads of cash in the long run. (Assuming $10/month on menstrual supplies x 4 years = $480. Ta da! $445 savings!)
Cups can hold up to five times the liquid of a regular tampon. People who aren’t in a superflow place can leave them in for up to 12 hours, which means you can have a long, restorative sleep without toxic shock syndrome nightmares.
To find the cup for you, you could take the Put a Cup in It Quiz or check out this very extensive comparison chart. (Some, even offer a money-back guarantee.) After your early thirties, even if you haven’t pushed a child out of your vagina, you’ll need to get a bigger size, I’m sorry to say. I indignantly resisted and needed a ripped-from-the-pages-of-YM beige shorts period disaster to learn my lesson.
Wash your cup with a dedicated cup wash or gentle soap and hot water, boil occasionally for 10 to 15 minutes, and if the brown stains are too much for you, soak it in a mix of half hydrogen peroxide, half water for it to look as good as new. Some cup manufacturers suggest replacing them every year or two, but if it works fine and hasn’t gotten funky, some could last up to a decade.
One last note for those with IUDs (the most eco form of birth control!): though a study from 2012 found no connection with expulsion and cup usage, it’s now acknowledged that a cup can dislodge your IUD. Don’t use a cup the first three months after insertion, be careful to always break the suction before removing a cup, and be mindful of your IUD strings, and you should be fine. I’ve been rocking this combo for many years with no problems, but there is a small risk there.
Reusable pads
For people who prefer something less internal, reusable pads are also having a renaissance. They now come in cute patterns and different thicknesses. I haven’t used these, but LunaPads, Treehugger, and Hannapad come recommended. (LunaPads also provides in donations to people in the global south, through their Pads4Girls program. And when you buy a mini starter kit from Hannapad in February, they donate another mini starter kit to Toronto charity The Period Purse.)
Because we all know blood stains can be stubborn, be sure to rinse and treat with stain remover as you use them.
For those handy with a sewing machine, sewing your own pads can also be a quick and easy project accomplished with materials at hand. No waste, no cost!
Period panties
Absorbent panties by companies like Thinx and Knix entered the mainstream in the last few years, and reports from friends indicate they’re an elegant solution. That said they’re pretty pricey, and a recent study out of Notre Dame found that Thinx contain polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals known to be toxic to humans. (The Thinx workplace was definitely toxic to humans, but that’s a different story.) The same study also tested LunaPads, who also make period underwear, and they were found to be PFAS-free. So if you’re going to invest, LunaPads might be a better option. This is, however, only one study, so it should always be taken with a grain of salt.
For days when a little spotting is a risk, I’m also a fan of regular black underwear, which can get the job done with no worries about staining.
If none of these reusable options seem doable for you, there are still other ways to green your red days:
For tampon users, go applicator free (it’s less daunting than it sounds), or choose a cardboard applicator that at least won’t become a fixture of the marine ecosystem.
Organic cotton tampons are likely more eco-friendly than conventional ones (which are made out of rayon), making them a slightly better choice.
If you’re using pads and liners, buy ones that aren’t individually wrapped.
For people in Toronto, technically your pads and tampons can go in the green bin. But pads are 90% plastic, so most of the material is just taking a detour on the way to the landfill. (The same applies to diapers, by the way.)
If you make the switch to reusables and aren’t through your cache of disposables, there are lots of great places to donate them.
The Period Purse gives period products to Toronto-area people in need.
Moontime Sisters brings menstrual products to remote First Nations in Northern Ontario and Saskatchewan, where a package of tampons can run $16 to $18 and people face higher unemployment and poverty rates, making those pricy products even harder to buy.
Women’s shelters are also often glad to receive this kind of donation. Call ahead to ask.
If your workplace doesn’t offer free sanitary products, bring them in to shared bathrooms — no doubt you’ll help out a colleague in a pinch. (Also, if you can get the ear of a decision maker, providing menstrual products costs just $4.67/employee per year and prevents lost productivity and undue stress. A true bargain!)
TL;DR
People with periods will throw away an average of 11,000 disposable products over their lives, though this still accounts for only 0.5% of our total waste.
Try menstrual cups, reusable pads, or period panties to lower your footprint and keep more of your hard-earned cash.
If reusables aren’t for you, ditch the plastic applicator and single-use packaging whenever possible.
Wins of the Week
ICYMI, in this section we’ll celebrate your eco victories, whether big or small. Hit reply, leave a comment, or get in touch to share your wins each week!
This week, hats off to:
One pal who signed up for Sprout to rent her maternity clothes so she can continue to look and feel sharp without buying new duds.
Sarah Joy (who, like a champion, is taking on one big eco goal each month) started a worm composter for her apartment.
I stopped being a baby bitch who is afraid of the phone and called the PM and some ministers to let them know I stand with the Wet’suwet’en who are opposing the Coastal GasLink pipeline, and to ask the government to reject the proposal for the Teck Frontier mine, the largest tar sands project ever proposed. (For those similarly daunted by calling JT, you simply ask the switchboard to leave a message with the prime minister, then say your piece on the voicemail. If you’re interested in making some Teck calls, 350.org provides a script and has software that will connect you with all the relevant offices in quick succession before you get intimidated all over again. If you really don’t want to talk to a human, call outside of business hours.)
Send me your wins! Personal change and culture change can be hard battles, so let’s pop the virtual (or real) bubbly whenever possible. 🍾