Disposable menstrual care has been a boon for the modern woman. It gave women the freedom from staining and allowed them to lead a normal lifestyle, during their periods. Like everything else, this came at a cost – environmental damage.
The plastic used in a mainstream disposable pad is equivalent to five shopping bags. Therefore, you can understand how detrimental it is to the environmental health of our planet. To combat this, many companies are reinventing the wheel and introducing reusable eco-friendly sanitary pads and menstrual cups, as sustainable menstrual products. Let’s see if they work?
Menstruation is an integral part of every woman’s life, and so is the use of sanitary period care products. Disposable napkins offer a lot of convenience to women all across the world, but they have disastrous ecological consequences. Did you know that an urban woman uses around 5000 to 10000 disposable sanitary pads in her lifetime? Yes, that is a colossal figure, it needs to be taken care of.
How To Go About Earth-Friendly Menstrual Care?
It is our moral duty to leave behind minimal carbon footprints. In this endeavor, switching to eco-friendly sanitary pads is a sound idea. Reusable pads have become overly popular, because not only are they are eco-friendly but they are pocket-friendly as well. Cleaning such pads may be a little problematic in the beginning, but one gets used to it over time.These pads can last up to a year when cleaned and disinfected properly.
Menstrual cups have gained a lot of popularity lately; they are cheaper than a sanitary pad 50-pack and last for years. Then there is period underwear which is made from absorbent layers of fabric. It can be worn all day without any stress about staining. However, they need to be thoroughly cleaned after every use to keep infections at bay.
Many people are skeptical of reusable period care products because of hygienic purposes. Well as long as you are mindful about cleaning and disinfecting it properly, then there is no reason to fret about it. Cleaning them with hot water and sanitizing them will keep reusable period products hygienic.
Pushing For A Zero-Waste Lifestyle
There is a lot of misinformation about period care, and therefore, a lot of research is required before believing in hearsay. If you are someone who is environmentally alert and wants to make sustainable choices, then switching to eco-friendly pads or menstrual cups can make a lot of difference.
Mindful menstruation is a concept that is being pushed by a plethora of brands, that are environmentally conscious and are coming up with innovative products that do not include plastic and other non-biodegradable materials.
The best part is, that you no longer have to look for eco-friendly period care products are they are very accessible. E-commerce sites and physical stores carry them, therefore there is no excuse why you shouldn’t make the switch.
Be The Change You Want To See
Putting sustainability at the forefront has become imperative, and altering personal choices is the way we can be the change, in the fight against environmental damage. Small, meaningful, and simple changes like switching to menstrual cups or period panties stop landfills from growing at a fast rate.
While there are a lot of stigmas attached to periods and menstrual health, it's time we stop scrunching our noses about it and speaking in hushed tones. It's time to accept our bodies, the changes it goes through, and speak out loud about periods. We need to become period positive and not treat menstruation as a taboo to be able to start speaking openly about sustainable menstrual products.
Also Read :
Gynecologist Approved Ways To Take Care Of Yourself During Your Periods
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