If you’re looking for an eco-friendly and affordable alternative to tampons and single-use pads, we’ve got your back. Menstrual cups and eco pads are rising in popularity as more women get in on the money-saving solution that helps manage your period. With research proving these options are just as leak-proof and effective as tampons, and with tampons getting plenty of bad press recently, menstrual cups and eco cups have become our go-to period solution.
Why Are We Leaving Tampons Behind?
When a recent study on the presence of toxic metals inside common brands of tampons hit the news, plenty of us were understandably shaken. While the actual levels of those metals was incredibly small and experts have encouraged us to not panic, you won’t be blamed for looking at alternatives.
That’s not to mention the other issues tampons have. A person who menstruates is speculated to use between 5,000 and 15,000 single-use tampons/pads in their lifetime. That’s a lot of physical waste to deal with (a lot of it being plastic) and a lot of money.
Efforts to be more environmentally friendly have led to a rise in the use of menstrual cups and reusable eco pads, which boast a long lifetime. Plus, they’ve been around for a long time, with the first commercially available menstrual pad available back in 1937.
The Going Green Factor
Menstrual cups and eco pads are reusable, meaning that once the product is sanitized, you don’t have to go out and buy a new one for your next period. Both options have a lifetime of several years and are easy to clean with soap and water. Boiling menstrual cups will also help ensure proper sanitation has taken place.
Research indicates that the production of a menstrual cup creates just .4 percent of the plastic waste single-use pads produce.
Save the Planet, Save Money
Given the average cost of a box of tampons, a menstrual cup or reusable eco pad can pay for itself in as little as three months. That’s a serious benefit to billions of people struggling to manage their periods. According to research published in the medical journal, The Lancet Public Health, ‘period poverty’ occurs when women and girls do not have consistent access to feminine hygiene products.
“In any impoverished set of circumstances be it in Liverpool, or London, or anywhere in low-middle-income countries, people really struggle—women and girls really struggle to be able to manage their menstruation,” said Penelope Phillips-Howard, senior author of the study, which analyzed 43 international papers.
The Menstrual Cups and Eco Pads We Love
