More people have been considering making the switch to reusable menstrual products over the last several years. The sustainable products offer two main benefits; protecting the environment and saving money.
The negative effects of single-use sanitary products are shocking.
A person with a period uses 12,000-16,000 menstrual items in their lifetime, and disposable menstrual products are the 5th most commonly littered products found on Irish beaches, according to VoiceIreland.org.
People with periods are estimated to spend about €120 a year on single-use period products a year, with costs of Tampax tampons being 19c per piece and Always pads being 20c per piece.
The average person uses between 12,000 to 16,000 period products in their lifetime. The unrecyclable plastic in these products has a detrimental effect on the environment.
So is there an alternative? If you want to make the switch there are various sustainable period products out there including; menstrual cups, period pants or reusable pads. There are substantial benefits to using sustainable periods products from both an environmental and expenses perspective.
We tackled the different options on this week’s episode of the Period Panel. What are they? How do they work and where can you find them? Niamh Tallon and Jessica Farrell gave us all the answers!
Tallon and Farrell reviewed the Her Sport audience’s feedback about the period products they prefer.
Approximately 95% of the audience said they care about the environment, however, just 11% use period pants and 9% use menstrual cups.
About 71% of the Her Sport audience uses single-use pads and 55% use single-use tampons. A lot of the written feedback from the viewers expressed fear of using the unfamiliar sustainable products, and others had never heard of them.
Farrell and Tallon show a variety of alternative options to single-use sanitary products throughout the episode, and explain how to maintain these products. Their beginner-friendly guide is perfect for anyone considering making the switch to sustainable products.
How to use a menstrual cup:
A menstrual cup price ranges from €20 to €35 and can last between six months and 10 years.
Before using a menstrual cup it needs to be placed in boiling water to sterilise it for about four minutes, or for the duration listed on the instructions.
Sterilise the menstrual cup every period.
When inserting, the menstrual cup can be folded either in half, or folded inwards, as shown in the video. Try each way to see what is best for you.
Sanitary wipes are available for purchase to clean the menstrual cup if you are on the go, and need to empty the cup.
How to use period pants:
Period pants come in all shapes and sizes from thongs to gym shorts, there is something for everyone.
Different brands of period pants will have different washing instructions. They typically can be hand washed with cold water, or placed in the washing machine with detergent and cold water.
Concerns about periods:
Healthy periods do not typically present an odour or smell. Even with reusable period products it is recommended to change them regularly or as needed.
Washing reusable period products is not unsanitary. Period blood can be washed out of cloth in the same ways blood from a nosebleed would be washed.
Despite the extra effort and care reusable products require, they offer incentive for those looking to save money and protect the environment.
