How to have an Eco Friendly Vegan Cycle !
Sometimes the last thing you want to be worrying about when you’re on your period is whether the products you’re depending on align with your vegan and eco friendly lifestyle or not. Often, it seems sustainable and vegan products are assumed to be more hassle, require more planning and end up being the opposite of the convenience we so often expect. But in terms of convenience, sustainable vegan period products aren’t as scary as you may think.
You may be thinking, how could period products NOT be vegan, they don’t contain meat or dairy products surely?? This is true (well, at least I hope so), but despite not containing any animal products, period products that aren’t branded vegan are usually tested on animals, and if the materials they are produced from aren’t organic then there’s the added issue of wildlife being killed by toxic pesticides. In addition to animal testing, and the implications of toxic chemicals on animals, the majority of traditional period products contain plastics and other potentially toxic / non-environmentally friendly materials and chemicals. This not only poses a threat for our health (putting toxic chemicals and materials close to your intimate areas doesn’t really sound like a great idea, does it?), but as you can imagine it poses a serious threat to our environment and the health of our planet.
Whilst plastic straws, styrofoam takeaway boxes and disposable water bottles are all products that are recognised as harming the planet, it’s not commonly spoken about the fact that a traditional pack of menstrual pads contains the same amount of plastic as 5 carrier bags (!!!!????). The amount of period products being thrown away within the UK is believed to reach around 200,000 tonnes, which when compared to the 2000 tonnes of plastic straws, you wonder why its not more widely spoken about. For products that are so essential to so many people, this knowledge can be discouraging, especially if you are trying your best to do your bit when it comes to saving the planet. However, luckily there are now so many vegan plastic-free and environmentally friendly period products that are becoming increasingly more widely accessible!
From menstrual cups that you can pop in and not worry about for almost 12 hours at a time, cloth pads you can wash and use again and again, and plastic free, biodegradable and compostable tampons and pads - to period underwear that you can wear comfortably both day and night with no leaks AND cute designs (!) - having a vegan, eco friendly cycle is easier than ever!
TRADITIONAL PERIOD PRODUCTS - PLASTIC FREE VEGAN PADS & BIODEGRADABLE TAMPONS
NATRACARE
Probably one of the least daunting products to try if you are new to eco-friendly period products are the plastic free, vegan and biodegradable pads and tampons from Natracare, as they are identical to traditional period products, just minus the non-recyclable materials, toxic chemicals and animal testing! Not only are the products themselves vegan, biodegradable and environmentally friendly, all their packaging is made with recycled, organic materials and vegetable-based inks. You can check out their website and see all their products here.
The tampons come either with or without biodegradable cardboard applicators, wrapped in paper wrappers, and are entirely compostable, as well as the pads. They both act in the same way as traditional tampons and pads, in terms of application and absorbency, meaning there is no adjustment needed to your regular routine, like there may be if you’re switching to a new product like a menstrual cup. In addition, you can purchase Natracare products from supermarkets internationally, such as Waitrose in the UK and WholeFoods in the US, as well as from various online retailers - for a full list of where you can access Natracare products, click here.
Now, you may be concerned about the legitimacy of biodegradable period products, and whether they do really work as well as traditional period products in preventing leaks and helping you feel as fresh as possible - and the answer to this is you literally CANNOT tell the difference !! By not containing toxic chemicals and plastic, not only are they kinder to your intimate areas, but they’re also a lot better for you! So even if you’re not someone that particularly cares for reducing your plastic consumption and ensuring you have a vegan cycle (not sure how you found yourself on this website if that is the case), switching to eco-friendly, vegan period products, such as those from Natracare, is an all-round good investment for you and your intimate health! You can access information on any further questions you have about their products at the FAQ page of their website, which you can view here, and you can check out their environmental and ethical policy here !
REUSABLE PERIOD PADS
STUDIO LE-FAY
One of the most exciting period products currently on the market are reusable pads !! Maintaining the familiarity and ease of pads, without having to b single use is a perfect mix of safety, security and doing your bit for the planet! With zero waste, and zero animal products, plus beautiful designs, the re-usable pads from Studio Le-Fay are handmade, feature biodegradable packaging and just downright beautiful! (you can check out their insta here). The advantage of reusable pads is that you can sleep easy knowing you’re not creating any waste and saving LOADS of money whilst simultaneously benefiting from the familiarly of traditional period products.
Equipped with fabric that is both absorbent and comfortable, reusable pads not only feel better against your skin, but are safer and in general just more aesthetically pleasing than regular period products (not that aesthetics is a huge contributor, but how much more fun is it to look down and see funky designs in your underwear!). Now, you might be wondering how exactly do you carry around a used reusable pad once you need to change it (which is recommended to be every 4-10 hours depending on your flow), and the answer to this is surprisingly easily! As you can see from the photos below, the pads can be folded into a discrete parcel once used, to ensure no leaking until you are somewhere where you can wash them! In terms of washing, it is recommended you soak them first, use a natural stain remover and then wash normally on a cool cycle (without the fabric conditioner), which really is a lot simpler than I initially expected!
And if the fact that the Studio Le-Fay pads are eco-friendly and ethically made haven’t already convinced you to make the swap, the ethics behind the brand definitely will! Studio Le-Fay makes a conscious effort, both through their platform and via their packaging, to use gender-neutral language in order to empower anyone that has periods, despite their gender identity. AND, if this isn’t enough (because really, what more could you want??) Studio Le-Fay is also committed to tackling period poverty, through their ‘Pay it Forward Pad Scheme’ to help those who can’t afford period products to have access to free reusable pads !!! As a small business, hand-making their products, and being committed to such essential values , Studio Le-Fay is a brand I cannot recommend ENOUGH for ethical and environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional, plastic and toxin-full period products.
They also offer ‘Natural Pads’, made from all organic materials such as linen, cotton and bamboo (!) that will decompose once it has reached it’s full life-span as a re-usable pad (the grey one featured in the photos) - who would have thought there would ever be a biodegradable, reusable period product ??? not me, and they are just as comfortable and easy to use as the rest! You can find all of the Studio Le-Fay products on their etsy page and read more about them at their website.
PERIOD UNDERWEAR
MODI BODI
Another eco friendly, vegan period product is period underwear, such as those from Modi Bodi. They are literally as easy as it sounds - are worn just like regular underwear, whilst still absorbing the same way pads do - you can wear them for longer, or overnight without any leaks, and with the addition of extra comfort ! Period underwear is a lot less intimidating than menstrual cups, and seemingly more comfortable than pads, but my favourite thing about them is that in terms of both security and comfort, they have you wondering why you haven’t ever tried them before! I don’t know about you, but the first time I heard ‘period underwear’ all that came to mind was a large nappy style situation of walking around all day in a soggy pair of pants, however this could not be further from the truth of period underwear! Even after a fair few hours, and even a good night’s sleep, they remain dry and absorbent - to the point of not even feeling different to regular underwear! And because they are made from a thick stretchy bamboo material, they mould to your body shape for ultimate comfort. You can read more about how they work here.
Available in different styles such as bikini style underwear, and swimwear - both bottoms and full swimsuits - to provide you with ultimate safety whilst not having to jeopardise your routine! If you find keeping active is often restricted by your period, then Modi Bodi also offer leggings with built in period proof materials, helping you tackle day to day life during your cycle. However, it is important to note that the website do produce non-vegan, eco friendly period underwear also, these are made with wool and therefore are not vegan friendly, however you can view their full vegan selection here.
With both vegan and plastic free options being offered, Modi Bodi is a stress-free option during your cycle, and are easily washable in cold water. Founded by a woman, but targeting all bodies regardless of gender, Modi Bodi stresses it’s focus on sustainability and comfort, creating a product that is changing the game in period products. Much alike Natracare, Modi Bodi aims at providing realistic and easy solutions to plastic free, sustainable options! You can view their Q&A page here, for more information. Not only are they easy to wear and wash, they are so comfy that you can almost forget it’s that time of the month !!! Like traditional period products, you can choose your absorbency to match what you usually buy, with overnight options too, ensuring you will be secure and comfortable no matter your cycle!
So whatever eco-friendly, vegan period option you do choose, know that you are directly helping save the environment and are being kinder to your body! And if I haven’t made it clear enough throughout this post, it really is all about doing your best with the resources and accessibility you have around you!! You’re not suddenly a terrible person if you are caught off-guard and need to use a traditional period product, any there are so many other brands out there creating products like these that may be more accessible to you! Now you know the facts, and have had some recommendations of my favourites I urge you to research until you find what works best for you, whoever you may be!
If you would like to find out more about Period Poverty and how you can help, here are some resources for further info !!!
www.actionaid.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/womens-economic-empowerment/period-poverty
