Hi girls. This one is for you. A zero-waste period. Is it even possible? Yes, it is, a waste-free period is not only possible but also beneficial for many other reasons!
Here is why you should turn your “time of the month” into a zero-waste routine:
Saving money.
Minimizing the trash and with that your carbon footprint and environmental impact as a woman to a bare minimum (pretty much nothing).
Choosing to support small businesses and companies.
Making things very very very simple for yourself.
Periods are messy. But not just in the way you think.
While it is something completely normal and literally affects half of the population, it is still a bit of an off-topic to talk about, like sex or drugs. Even though girls have to deal with it sometimes from 10 or 12 years old, for a couple of decades. And the school system does not provide a very up-to-date education or sometimes nothing at all, about periods. When I went to school, they didn’t tell us anything about it.
(we did get a condom and a banana lecture though).
And most girls are lucky enough to have their moms or older sisters explain the whole “situation” of the deal, but some don’t! It is important to make it a part of our daily conversation and stop making such a tabu over the whole charade.
Single-use menstrual hygiene products are a massive source of waste. (Zero waste period)
About a quarter of all people menstruate, and with an average cycle length, there could be 500 million people on their periods at any point. So if they are all using single-use products, you can start to image the amount of waste that is being created just from menstruation!
Before I start talking about what we can do to tackle some of this waste, I want to acknowledge something. Period poverty is real, and a serious issue. Many women, especially globally but also in the UK, can’t access sanitary wear because of their financial situation. In the extreme, this can lead to them missing out on education and opportunities purely because they’re on their periods.
Unfortunately, some of the suggestions I make below are more expensive than normal period products. They are reusable so over time can save money, but that initial cost is sometimes too much for people with limited income to even save for when you’re struggling to buy food. So for anyone that is able to afford these products, let us be very careful to not criticize what we are not living through.
Setting an example!
My mom is actually pretty passionate about going zero waste and she’s been using a menstrual cup for way longer than this whole trend. She got me started on it and I thought, why not? I will give it a go. I did and I loved it ever since!
I’ve used a menstrual cup for 2 and it has made my life (or at least four days each month) much, much easier. No more running to the store for tampons or forgetting them! And no more taking out the bathroom trash! And so on.
Reusable pads for a zero-waste period.
These are new to me and great. They come in a wide range of patterns, absorbencies, shapes, styles. It depends on your flow. Here are the ones that have caught my eye:
– GladRags: The plastic-free pads pictured at right above are made from soft and comfortable flannel in a range of colors. They’ll omit extra packaging material upon request and ship products loose in a kraft paper mailer; I was so, so pleased to shake pads out of the mailer with no added packaging whatsoever.
– Hannahpads: I rarely choose patterns when I could choose solids or neutrals. But Hannahpads are just so cheerful without being garish or twee; their patterns make me smile when I see them in my drawer. You can buy their variety of absorbencies as a single pad or a set. They fold up and snap for easy stowing in a purse, backpack, pocket, or palm.
– SckoonPads: Reusable pads made from colorful patterns with a brown inner lining. They’re made from organic cotton and dyed with metal-free, low-impact dyes.
– Reusable silicone Stasher bags can take the place of a single-use plastic bag for storing a used pad throughout the day. Perhaps choose a Stasher in a different color than the ones you use in your kitchen so you can always tell them apart.
Reusable menstrual cup for a zero-waste period
For me, this was the easiest transition. I am happy to show you the world of simple! I use Ruby Cup! I’ve never had any trouble with leaking, or that, I also think it is the simplest thing to use! But beyond the product itself, I am in love with their brand. The creators of Ruby Cup are really passionate about giving back to women!
They are famous for their BUY ONE, GIVE ONE program.
For every cup they sell, they donate one to a girl or woman without access to menstrual care products. A girl whose life will be drastically improved by this simple act of giving.
You’ll be helping a fellow girl, as well as helping to reduce the negative impact that disposable sanitary products have on the planet. It just goes to show that when we all do something small, the changes can be huge.
It’s time for a change. What do you say?
How do you minimize your period waste? Let me know!
If you are taking a vacation soon, I’d like to invite you to take advantage of this -65$ off Airbnb discount for your next trip! Enjoy it for me as well.
☽ Follow me on Instagram – @alenkaamali – to see more of my adventures ☽
What do you think? Share your waste-free moments with me over Instagram! I would love to share them with my stories. And help me spread the word, by sharing this blog post on your plastic-free or green planet Pinterest boards:
And don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest too!
#ecofriendly #plasticwasteissues #zerowaste #sustainability #recyclemore #plasticfree #vegan #organic #savetheplanet #sustainableliving #ethicalfashion
More about Alenka
“My name is Alenka and I’m a Squamish based photographer. I love using my medium to capture sports, adventures, underwater shots, adventures in the mountains and days on snow! Very simply put. I’m one stoked girl! Ready to get up at 2 in the morning and hike for sunrise, go to the airport and take a random flight…you name it!
Photography, web design and digital marketing have been things I’m proud to call my job lately! Very flexible, lots of traveling and even more adventures than when I was a kid. Here, on my website I share tips on photography, spreading awareness about the zero-waste lifestyle and sustainability. And crazy stories from my travels. Welcome.”
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