The largest impact on global warming is caused by the production of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) used in tampon applicators and on the plastic back-strip of a sanitary napkin. Why? It requires high amounts of fossil fuel to produce.
We dump almost 20 billion sanitary products into North American landfills every year, which take centuries to biodegrade (500 to 800 years.) On average, we use over 11,000 tampons over our lifetime. An average tampon contains the equivalent of four plastic bags.
Furthermore, these disposable tampons and pads are made with chemicals such as dioxins, furans, and fragrance that interfere with our endocrine systems as well as contaminating natural water resources. And while it’s necessary to use these products, there are environmentally friendly ways to ensure their impact on the environment is minimal.
Hence ZERO waste tampons.
Zero waste tampons are compostable tampons that easily biodegrade. They’re made of 100% organic material from the tampon itself to its applicator. Furthermore, the applicator can be made 100% reusable. They do not contain harmful chemicals and are completely safe to the environment. They’re also the best option for your health as they do not contain some harmful chemicals found in disposable tampons and pads. Get yours here!
Other zero-waste alternatives
If you’re not comfortable with using reusable tampons, there are other great ways to reduce your carbon footprint during your periods. These include menstrual cups, period panties, reusable pads/underwear, and organic pads and pantyliners.
Menstrual cups
Generic menstrual cups are usually made of silicone. And even though it takes forever to biodegrade, reusing them reduces waste released into the environment by a huge margin. Furthermore, if more and more people make the switch, there’ll be less need for processing disposable tampons and pads, hence reduced fossil fuel consumption.
However, a better zero-waste menstrual cup is the one made of TPE, a silicone-free medical grade material used for medical products. Tampon Tribe’s Menstrual Cups are made of TPE, are completely organic, and cost almost the same as your generic cup. Want to make a global impact against global warming? They’re expensive initially, but you’ll accrue savings from not buying disposable pads every month. They’re expensive initially, but you’ll accrue savings from not buying disposable pads every month. Try them out.
Period panties
Period panties are reusable undies padded with extra absorbing material for collecting menstrual blood. They’re lined with waterproof material to prevent leaking of your period, hence completely safe and much more comfortable. However, you will need a few pairs during your period especially if you have a heavy flow. They are made of material designed to pull liquid away from your body. Obviously, they come in varying sizes, so you can select one that best suits you. The downside, they’re a bit bulky to carry and pose a challenge when you have to be away from home.
Reusable pads
These are also a great zero waste period alternative. Just like period panties, they’re made of material that easily absorbs liquid away from the body. They’re less bulky and may come with disposable panty liners also made of biodegradable material. As long as you sterilize them with boiling water and dry them out, you can reuse them over and over. They may feel sightly bulky, akin to larger conventional pads might.
Organic cotton tampons, pads and pantyliners
If you’re not ready to switch to completely reusable options, there’s still other ways to ensure zero waste periods. Our organic tampons, pads, and pantyliners are disposable sanitary products made of completely biodegradable material. This means they take a few months to be completely broken down by microorganisms and released back into the environment. No plastic trash, no unhealthy chemicals, and no silicone.