The Best Brands of Zero Waste Feminine Care
Disposable plastic feminine care is not just unhealthy (and linked to toxic shock syndrome) but one of the main beach litter items found (due to people wrongly flushing items down the loo). Some brands of tampons are even tested on animals. Investing in zero waste alternatives also saves money.
Bin disposables (never flush any brand down the loo). Avoid menstrual cups (or tampons) for at least 6 weeks after pregnancy or if at risk from toxic shock syndrome.
Wash washing pads and period pads in microfibre filter (avoid fabric conditioner, bleach and tumble dryers). For stains, use oxygen bleach.
Best remedy for menstrual pain? A hot water bottle on your (clothed) tummy for 30 minutes, to relieve spasms.
Mooncup (which makes menstrual cups) is available in various sizes and made from silicone to collect (rather than absorb) menstrual fluid. One purchase should last years, and is easy to rinse and clean. Buy a Mooncup cleaning bundle, to save money.
This brand also offers sustainable plastic-free disposable towels and tampons, which are far better than the leading brands.
Mooncup for Business offers refillable dispensers, to offer the same quality plastic-free options for public areas (pubs, hotel and supermarket toilets, offices, schools, council buildings etc).
DAME (zero waste menstrual products)
Dame Period Cup offers 12 hours of protection, with quick cleaning and easy care, even away from home. It flexes with your body so is comfortable wear, and forms a secure seal.
It’s sold in two sizes, depending on age and childbirth history, and holds around three times more liquid than a tampon. The box includes the cup, plus a digital guide and a cotton storage bag.
This cup is self-sanitising so there is no need to boil between uses. Just rinse and wash with mild soap, dry and then store in the cotton bag.
To use, just wash your hand and relax your pelvic floor, the wet the cup with water. Press the sides together then fold in half (or one corner down) and insert while squatting.
If placed well, you should not be able to feel it. Wash your hands before removing, and pinch the base to break the seal (do not pull from the stem alone).
Disposable plastic feminine care is not just unhealthy (and linked to toxic shock syndrome) but one of the main beach litter items found (due to people wrongly flushing items down the loo). Some brands of tampons are even tested on animals. Investing in zero waste alternatives also saves money.
Plastic-Free Tampons and Pads
If you prefer disposables, choose organic cotton tampons (no chlorine or rayon, so less chance of toxic shock syndrome – the main risk being not changing items frequently enough) or towels/liners (which can also be used for light incontinence).
These are also sold in plastic-free packaging, without dyes or scents.
A Reusable Tampon Applicator
DAME reusable tampon applicator includes a cotton storage pouch and bathroom storage tin, and you can buy a starter kit that include organic cotton tampons.
Just remove the lid, load a tampon, insert the plunger and push through the petals. Then rinse under running water, it works out cheaper than applicator tampons.
The company can also offer tampons for public bathrooms (for business, councils, schools etc) and gives back to period poverty charities.
Hey Girls (a social enterprise period brand)
Hey Girls is not just a plastic-free period care company, but also a social enterprise, and one that supplies products at affordable prices to schools, offices, councils etc.
The range includes menstrual cups, plus organic cotton tampons with cardboard applicators, and eco-disposable pads, all in sustainable packaging. Plus for each one you buy, another is donated to a girl or woman in need. The period cup is made from silicone, and packed in a washbag made from recycled ocean-bound plastic.
The sterilising cup is easy to use. Just pop in your period cup, add a splash of water and microwave – its’ that easy! 100% of all profits go to help people affected by period poverty, not being able to afford menstrual care.
Grace & Green (period care for public spaces)
Grace & Green offers a nice range of organic cotton disposable pads, liners and tampons, along with reusable menstrual cups, all in sustainable packaging. But it goes beyond that, also able to supply attractive containers of sustainable feminine care for schools, offices and council buildings.
These are all organic and free from fragrance and chlorine bleach, in plastic-free packaging. These offer economic solutions for local people, to replace present plastic alternatives that could also be used for hotels, pubs and other public areas with ‘tampon machines.
This brand also makes disposable plastic-free tampons and pads, but importantly also offers them in special machines, so are ideal for public spaces like public bathrooms, hotels, restaurant, pubs and offices.
This can replace the plastic offerings available so far.
Afripads (alternative to ‘sending menstrual pads to Africa)
Some of the big plastic disposable feminine care companies, often urge us to ‘donate’ free feminine care products to girls and young women in Africa, so they don’t have to use leaves, and can spend more time in study and work. Sounds good?
Not so fast. This is actually one of the worst things to do. Most places in Africa don’t have sewage systems, and huge poverty in some areas can lead to girls sharing pads (not good on a continent ravaged by HIV and AIDS) and also ends up polluting a beautiful country.
In fact, there are a few companies that employ local people (including men) to make eco reusable alternatives, so why don’t these companies promote their work instead?
Afripads are made from a blend of recycled paper and papyrus leaves. The idea stemmed from the original pads, invented by engineer Moses, who ‘couldn’t stop inventing things’.
Sent to a village to ask how he could help, two women hit over the head with a (clean) sanitary towel, and told to him to go off and invent something better. So he did! Moses is no longer with us. But he has left an empowering legacy for African girls and women.
