Feminine products go green
THE WORLD is going green – from solar energy to recycling, it seems there is a mad rush to help Mother Nature recover from the negative effects of human destruction. Feminine products are not exempt.
According to an article written for the Harvard Business School Digital Initiative entitled ‘The Ecological Impact of Feminine Hygiene Products’, close to 20 billion sanitary napkins, tampons and applicators are dumped into North American landfills every year.
The average woman uses over 11,000 tampons over her lifetime, leaving behind residue far beyond her lifespan. When wrapped in plastic bags, feminine-hygiene waste can take centuries to biodegrade. Source: https://rctom.hbs.org
With so many countries, including Jamaica, putting legislation in place to reduce the consumption of plastic products, one can assume that disposable feminine products will be affected by any such laws. So what are some of the products that are available that are more environmentally conscious? As the market for more user-friendly, safe, environmentally responsible products rises, there have been some very interesting entries into the market. The more popular options include:
MENSTRUAL CUP
This is a small cup usually made from medical-grade silicone. It typically holds about 2 oz of blood and can comfortably fit inside the vagina, just at the base of the cervix. It collects rather than absorbs the blood. The cup can be worn for up to 12 hours, depending on the flow, and is reusable – simply remove, empty, and clean it and insert it again.
REUSABLE PAD
Many of us hear ‘reusable pad’ and think back to the pieces of cloth that our ancestors used before the availability of disposable pads. This is not your grandmother’s reusable pad. It’s made from a very high-tech fabric that does not stain and allows the blood to be washed out very easily after use. These pads are also machine-washable and very absorbent.
REUSABLE PERIOD UNDERWEAR
The reusable period underwear can be worn without the need for a pad, tampon or any other menstrual product. The garment is made from a leak-proof, absorbent fabric that allows the woman to bleed without worrying about soaking through it. It is also machinewashable and can be worn for hours, dependent on the flow.
Even with all of these innovations in menstrual products, the disposable pad and tampon are not going to be replaced any time soon. However, with the world going green, it might be worth it to take a look at which option can work for you. One great thing about reusable products is the fact that they are affordable options for persons affected by period poverty (the inability to afford menstrual products). After the initial investment, they will have something that will last for a while before needing to be replaced, unlike the disposables.