Let's talk periods. Over half the people on the planet have them and it seems people aren't talking about it enough, especially about their impact on our environment. Thousands and thousands of pads and tampons are thrown away by people with periods during their lifetime, and if we think about how much plastic and other toxic things go into making them, it really is unsettling and disconcerting to know that they can't be recycled and will just go into landfills, taking decades, sometimes centuries, to decompose.

The hard and cold truth is: our periods are anything but sustainable. And even though I know this, I have yet to make a complete switch from regular old pads to eco-friendlier options (although I have made other changes). But that doesn't have to be the reality, there is a whole world of sustainable menstrual products out there, and you only need to choose the one that is better suited for you. To some, it may seem like a hassle to try and find alternatives to something you already have, use and are somewhat comfortable with, but the truth is, spending a little extra (time and money) to make your period even a little bit more sustainable will result in less waste and it'll also save you money in the long run.

Before I began trying completely different products I started with something smaller and easier to achieve, I made the change to go from regular tampons to organic cotton ones. That might seem like an infinetly small change but organic cotton is also infinetly better than regular cotton, if you'd like to know more about what makes them different, read this Organic Cotton vs Regular Cotton post by The Sleep Sherpa. To save you a great deal of research, because not all eco-friendly period products are exactly the same, I thought I'd tell you about some of the options available and my own experiences with some of them.

Go Organic
Let's start with some familiar faces, if all you can change for now is going from regular pads and tampons to organic ones, then that's the change you make, as awareness grows around the environmental impact of disposable products, so does the availability of different options so finding these new and improved versions of the products you already know and love won't be too hard, simply search for organic pads & tampons in your country and you'll find they're widely more available than you previously thought. Natracare seems to be the brand I find the most, so you'll probably find it where you live too, here's where you can find them. Not only is this brand using organic cotton but their products are also plastic-free, hypoallergenic, free of GMO, perfumes, dyes and chlorine, vegan, biodegradable and compostable, what else do you need?

Reusable Pads
Another option are reusable pads, which are a sort of throwback to what our mums and grandmas wore, but made better. These reusable pads by GladRags are one of these options, available in different sizes (day, night/postpartum, and pantyliners), these are "a healthy alternative to disposable products we're used to, made of premium quality certified organic cotton flannel and terry cloth, they offer protection and comfort, lasting for over 5 years". This means that not only are they environmentally friendly, using minimal resources, but they're also easy on your wallet. Also, you can customise them to fit your needs, depending on how heavy or light your flow is. I'm currently eyeing up some of these beautiful handmade ones by Made by Tyng, who also sells other great handmade products to help you live a more sustainable life. If you're in Portugal, Pegada Verde, Mind The Trash and Maria Granel also have these available, so go show them some much deserved support.




Reusable Tampon Applicator
For a little twist on another product most of us use, we have the D. the reusable tampon applicator by Dame. If you're interested in a full on review on it, you can read mine right here D. The Reusable Tampon Applicator Review, spoiler alert: I love it. In short, what D is is exactly what the title says, a reusable tampon applicator you can use with whichever size or brand of tampons you prefer (hint: combine this with organic cotton tampons and the environment will thank you!). Not only is it easy to do, but it doesn't require boiling in hot water to make sure it's safe to use, like most reusable period products do, which only makes it easier to keep and make last. Much like menstrual cups, they're made to last years, and if it breaks or gets damaged in any way, Dame will replace it for you for free. Once you no longer need it, you can just send it back and they'll dispose of it properly. 

THINX has also recently released a reusable tampon applicator called re.t.a, made with medical-grade materials and can be used with most applicator-free tampons, if you'd like to know more simply follow the link, as it is such a new product there aren't many reviews out yet, but the internet is a nice place and will surely help us all with that.

Menstrual Cups
On a similar note, let's talk about the product most of you have already heard of: menstrual cups. Even though their design was patented in the 30's, it has taken until nowadays for the menstrual cup to go mainstream, which means I really don't need to go into much detail about it because, most likely, you've all heard and read about it plenty. Whether you're you've heard of Lunette, OrganiCup or Mooncup, they all do the same job. As Lunette explains the "menstrual cup is a bell-shaped cup that gives you a comfortable, safe, odorless and eco-friendly period for up to 12 hours a day. It’s also reusable and lasts several years meaning less time, money and stress!" All the brands previously mentioned have different sizes to choose from depending on your flow and whether you've been pregnant before or not. They also have a lot of helpful tips on how to use it, how to pick the right size, how to clean it, how to fold it and other general questions you may have. These cups are "made of soft medical grade silicone and are BPA free. This means no yeast, bacteria or odor" they are vegan and environmentally friendly and you can use them for up to 10 years. As with anything, there are people who love it and swear by it and other people who won't go near it, so it's up to you to pick whichever is your ideal product, no one else. My own personal experience wasn't really that great, I bought it, tried it or rather tried to try it and failed as I couldn't actually put it in, then tried it again, successfully put it in the right place and then had to remove it less than 5 minutes later because I found it so uncomfortable. If that's the case with you, don't be too scared, with most brands you can return it if it's not for you, no one is forcing you to keep something you can't use, but I'd totally advise you to try it before you make up your mind.

Period Panties
On the matter of items you've heard of before, let's talk about period panties. Along with reusable pads, these are the ones next on my list of period products to try, simply because they sound both amazing and non-invasive, which is all I want. There are quite a few brands already available, such as Lunapads, Dear Kate, Wuka and, the already famous, THINX* (by following this link you will get €9 off your order and I will get €9 too, what a treat), an amazing brand breaking all period taboos and making us feel sexy even when we're on our period. THINKX basically (very very basically, but here's more info on their amazing work) makes period panties, which means you can wear them all by themselves and be done with it or use them as back up, imagine you're wearing a cup, or a tampon but you have a super heavy flow, THINKX will be your lil helper and keep you nice and tidy. According to them their "period-proof undies can replace pads, liners, and tampons, or be worn with tampons and cups for extra protection. Like regular underwear, but so much better". You can build your own set of period undies and save a few bucks or you can buy them on their own, there are plenty of cuts to choose from, such as the hiphugger, their most famous cut, which holds around 2 tampons worth; sport, for medium days; cheeky, for light days; boyshort, for heavy days; hi-waist, a very sexy pair of panties for heavy days; thong, for the lightest days and many more. If you're curious to try them simply head on over to THINKX, place your order, try them on and decide for yourself if these are your cup of tea or not. With a 60 day money-back guarantee and free returns, there's no reason not to try something that may change your life, and our planet's too!

And there we go, just a few of the most popular options to replace our old and eco-unfriendly period products. I know there's a lot of pressure nowadays to go green overnight, I feel it too, but reality is, becoming fully sustainable will never happen like that, it takes research, time and commitment, and every little step counts and helps, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Do your best, keep trying to do better, but never at the cost of straining yourself.

Let me know below some of your favourite products when it comes to sustainability while you're on your period, I'd love to learn more.