My Plastic-Free Period
Let’s talk about two of the most popular and unpopular uniting forces in our newsfeeds today: plastic and periods. You may be tired of hearing about them both… so why are we still fighting?
Like any good congregation member of Attenborough-ism (a captivating religion in the church of BBC iPlayer) I’m always on the lookout for ways to be more eco-friendly. I renounce plastic straws, plastic bags and plastic bottles; I up-cycle, recycle and… cycle; I hoard, I reuse, I even wipe (sparingly) with recycled loo roll, wrapped in colourful paper. So why must my menstruation be plagued with single-use plastics?
Step aside hormonal insecurities, there’s a new crippling quandary in town: how can I bleed freely without upsetting dear Sir David?
Way beyond the classic tampon vs pad, classic vs super, winged vs wingless debates, there are now seemingly infinite options flooding my ‘suggested’ social feeds. It already took me half an hour to find an outfit I don’t hate myself in, please don’t give me any more decisions…
Taking one for the team, I’ve been working through a range of sustainable period products. Along with a few willing volunteers, we’re here to share our honest, real-life opinions on how to have a plastic-free period:
Alternative Period Products
The Pill: no period required
A slightly tenuous start as I realise this isn’t a period product as such. But we do have the option of boycotting periods altogether. If you take the pill as a form of contraception, doctor’s say that it’s fine to take two or more packets back-to-back. This means that you can skip the whole messy episode altogether.
Pros: Aside from the plastic pill packet itself, this method is pretty much entirely waste-free.
Cons: The longevity of the plan is questionable: can we just switch off our periods for good? There must be a catch… In my experience, denying yourself a period can risk saving up all of your cramps and angst for an eventual, inevitable super-period. Ultimately, this waste-saving tactic is good for a couple of months but we can’t outsmart nature forever.
Menstrual Cup: the original alternative
The classic, long-serving eco alternative. The stalwart advert on cubicle doors at Glastonbury. The perpetual silicone option in the back of our minds. It’s still scary though… To trial this plastic-free phenomenon, I turned to my bravest gal pals.
As you may know, the menstrual cup is designed to collect rather than to absorb. Once you’ve mastered the art of insertion and placement, it’s just a case of tipping the contents away at the end of the day. All it takes to sterilise a cup is a pan of boiling water, so there are zero nasty chemicals (but you do risk having to explain that you’re not making boiled eggs and, no, you can’t share!).
The call of the menstrual cup is manifold: budget-friendly, eco-friendly, and almost completely free from association with toxic shock syndrome (TSS). But the benefits come in parallel with a ream of questions: how do I know what size to choose? How do I position my cup comfortably? How do I empty my cup without making a mess?
It’s all a case of practice makes perfect. Proponents of the period cup celebrate their newfound intimate knowledge of their own bodies. These products are “way more involved than tampons” so get ready to get personal.
Pros: As with any good investment, you can buy a menstrual cup once and not have to worry about tampon tax for years. They’re easy to clean and totally safe to reuse time and time again. No smells, no disposal, and no swelling up when you dare to go swimming.
A standard cup can hold between three and six times more blood than a tampon, which should allay some worries about emptying during office hours. (You can usually trust a cup for up to 12 hours, so you’re covered all night too.)
Perhaps the best thing about menstrual cups: they don’t discriminate in terms of flow. You can pop it in “just in case” without any fear of the painful removal of a dry tampon.
Cons: Most of the cons associated with menstrual cups are linked with inexperience. Folding technique, placement and potential spillages can all take some getting used to. Experts and newbies alike reckon it takes about three cycles to get to grips with your cup.
Be warned, if you drop a full cup, you’ll be in a full-on horror scene from Carrie. And take care when you’re removing it, because it can pop open and hurt like hell.
I’m told that the worst thing about regularly using a menstrual cup is that one time when you’re caught short without it. To quote my sources: “you’ll curse the gods for having to go back to those gross blood sponges”!
Non-Applicator Tampons: that’s what fingers are for
As the name suggests, non-applicator tampons cut out the middle man and, with it, a bin full of plastic tubes. Like the menstrual cup, these products require some personal positioning and awareness of your own internal twists and turns.
I may be alone in this, but I just can’t get the hang of these lil guys. I see those inspired Lil-Lets adverts, with happy dancing fingers that replace the need for an applicator altogether, and I long to join the party. But, for me, going applicator-free is just not comfortable! (And I worry about how gals with long, luscious nails manage…)
Pros: Non-applicator tampons contain up to 97% less plastic than the equivalent product enshrouded in an applicator. That means that each tampon represents one less applicator that will plague our beaches for the next 500 years.
Cons: They take some getting used to when it comes to positioning. You’ve gotta be relaxed, have very clean hands, and feel familiar with the internal curves of your body.
(Also, 97%? I can’t be the only one wondering whether there’s still 3% plastic all up inside of me.)
Cardboard Applicator Tampons: no plastic in here
Taking it back to the old-school, tampons in cardboard applicators came long before their plastic descendants. They get points for sheer longevity; if it ain’t broke, don’t replace it with a pink plastic version. Cardboard tampons are fine… but, to me, that feels like little more than a stopgap solution. Our bathroom bins aren’t any less full.
It’s also important to know your flow, as I’d recommend avoiding this option on lighter days. One word: chaffing. Picture a cardboard Amazon package and an undersized letterbox…
Another word of warning: unlike most cardboard, we can’t just throw tampon applicators into our recycling bins. Traces of bodily fluids are strictly forbidden in council collections. But at least these small cardboard tubes are biodegradable and can be composted too.
Pros: For those of us who like the reassurance of an applicator, you can feel in control of your tampon placement without any plastic at all. Plus, the inevitable remnants are biodegradable, so we won’t be haunted by applicators forever.
Cons: These are still a single-use product. Plastic isn’t the only enemy out there and cardboard applicators ultimately cost trees and fill up our landfills.
Reusable Applicators: every month, like clockwork
Apparently, 60% of UK women prefer using tampon applicators (I’d agree with that!). So why have I never heard of, or even considered, the idea of a reusable applicator before I discovered DAME? From tupperware to wrapping paper, I reuse just about everything - so this seemed like the next logical step. (I even received my order in a reused cardboard box: I was sold)
Yes, the applicator is plastic - medical-grade Mediprene to be exact - but it’s far from single use. In DAME’s own words, you can “just rinse, wipe and go”. In my experience, reusable applicators are smooth, easy-to-use and come with the satisfaction of replacing up to 12,000 disposable plastic applicators from entering the ocean. But, like most good things, it does require a little clean up afterwards.
Whilst most tampons should fit (non-applicator tampons, I’m sorry I shunned you before) DAME also produce their own range of VERY comfortable organic cotton tampons. I don’t know if it’s the way that they expand, or the freedom from TSS-causing chemicals, but I’ve never used a more comfortable tampon. Period.
DAME reusable tampon applicator and organic cotton tampons
Pros: D by DAME is incredibly easy to use and comfortable. I don’t mean to gloat but my tampons are in the perfect position every time. In their 2020 Impact Report, DAME claim to have saved our planet from 2.5million disposable applicators - not bad for a small tube that comes in a handy carry-pouch!
What’s more, this is the only alternative period product I found that didn’t ask me to abandon the familiar altogether. Far from scary or new, this product fits into my existing pattern and improves my habits rather than abandoning them.
Cons: At first I thought the design was flawed and fiddly as I got the string caught on several occasions… That was until I realised that there’s a handy gap in the side for exactly that purpose! I’m sorry I ever doubted you.
Like the cup, you’ll need a sink nearby to rinse in. So, if you’re not feeling brave in public places, you may need to time your toilet breaks or seek an alternative for when you’re out and about.
Leakproof Reusable Knickers: let it flow, let it flow, let it flow
If there’s “nothing more natural” than our monthly cycle, why should we face all of these product-based decisions at all?! Brands like ModiBodi, RED, and Thinx are among the many who are inviting us to bleed freely.
Suspicion doesn’t even come close to how I felt about period pants. But I ordered several pairs, all in the name of discovery (and David Attenborough).
First impressions: they don’t look exactly like normal knickers - but try not to be put off. I tried ModiBodi and RED, across briefs and boxers, light/medium and medium/heavy flow. They’re all about the same thickness as your normal knickers guest starring a standard pantyliner. Once you reassure yourself that you’re not wearing a nappy, period pants are actually fabulous.
I’m comfortable, protected and carefree. No more timing my toilet trips, I know that I’m covered all day long. They’re an investment piece, but they’re built to last (you don’t want to risk a cheap pair that leaks through and costs your favourite jeans). Top tip: teenage brands, like RED, tend to be cheaper!
Pros: With shameless bias: these pants are amazing. You feel dry all day and night. Also, there are no lingering smells - I checked. Period pants are also easy to care for: just rinse them out and throw them in the washing machine.
Cons: One of the few drawbacks to period pants is that the waistband on every pair reaches pretty high and declares to the world that you’re on! Also, as there’s nothing to plug the blood or stem the flow, it does feel rather like I’m bleeding more than ever. Perhaps it’s just a matter of perspective.
Final tip: period pants need to be rinsed before they go in the laundry. Simple enough, but you may not want to air your wet knickers at a sleepover.
Reusable Sanitary Towels: pick a pattern for your period
Similar to period pants, sanitary towel alternatives are now machine-washable and come in all manner of pretty patterns. Makers Markets up and down the country are full of these reusable alternatives, designed for those of us who prefer external over internal absorbance.
Lasting all day long, and then all night, you can wash away any signs of use and go again next month. Fastened with a button or popper, these pads are easy to attach and store; they even come with a handy laundry bag. According to my willing menstrual volunteer, “reusable pads are a real delight” - you can’t say fairer than that!
The added benefit of reusable sanitary towels is that, in my experience, you’re almost always supporting a small, independent business with your order. (Though it does beg the question: is there a catch that is preventing any big players from jumping on the bandwagon?)
Pros: Reusable sanitary towels feel substantially more absorbent than standard disposable pads; they even manage to absorb and lock away any lingering smells. Infinitely easy to use and noninvasive, these products are ideal for those of us who are still testing the waters of alternative products.
Usually made with bamboo lining, not only are these pads washable and reusable, but they can often be cut up and composted when you’re done.
Cons: Though reusable daytime pads are thin enough to wear with leggings, nighttime numbers can look and feel rather like a nappy. Not a particularly sexy feeling. Also, watch out for movement down there - we’d recommend tight knickers to keep these towels in place.
My Personal Period Conclusions
Since taking on this journey of discovery, new products have come to my attention here, there and everywhere. There are seemingly infinite organic tampon brands tackling TSS and landfill overflow all at once. There are even fascinating products like the “menstrual disc”, courtesy of Flex, that open up new mysteries to me. But I am one woman, with one monthly cycle; I’m afraid I cannot try them all!
I confess: I still have a backlog of products in my cupboard that I can’t donate (because the boxes are open) and won’t throw away (because that seems entirely counter-productive!). Period perfection is a journey…
However, I have found a new balance that works for me. Between my period pants and my reusable applicator, I’m covered for variations in flow and mindset alike. Meanwhile, my menstrual research assistants swear by their cups or washable towels respectively. Our comfort is entirely our own, but we are at least united in our mission to have a plastic-free period. (And if we can avoid a few decades of tampon tax, all the better!)
I feel very lucky to be in a position whereby I can choose period products that match my need and my principles. Meanwhile, 40% of girls in the UK have had to resort to toilet roll in lieu of proper sanitary products. Find out more in our interview with the founder of Freedom4Girls, a charity fighting to eradicate period poverty.
