How to Have A Zero-Waste Period? Products: Cups, Pads, Underwear/Panties & More

It can take forever to try a menstrual cup. Some are afraid that it is gross and hard to switch. Once you have your first zero waste period, you will be obsessed! 

The Single Most Life-changing Zero-Waste Switch for a Woman 

• Dysmenorrhea, hypermenorrhea, amenhorrhea, you name it, you can handle it! 
• With the cup, period regulates itself. 
• Cramps go away. 
• Each cycle gets lighter and shorter. 

Instead of doubling up on super-plus pads and tampons to prevent leaks, you can swim, wear light colors, and function normally. You’d only wish to have started sooner.

Facts Supporting Switching to Zero Waste Period

• In the US, around 19 billion pads and tampons are thrown away annually. 
• Feminine hygiene products sent to wastewater treatment facilities require hours of costly, energy-intensive processing, after which they end up on beaches or in landfills anyway. 
• Disposable options don’t biodegrade in septic systems, and landfill conditions preserve them. 
• The average woman may use up to 16,800 tampons in her lifetime! 
• That’s a lot of trash, pesticides, dioxin, and potential toxicity to deal with, even at ultra-low levels of exposure. 

Zero Waste Period Products

Researching non-disposable options led me down an eye-opening rabbit hole. 

There are natural products like:

• sponges, 
• period panties, 
• crocheted hemp 
• cotton tampons, 
• reusable organic day pads 
• reusable organic night pads (night pads can be huge, like a diaper)

Wash everything in the sink every day and hang dry to prevent wrinkling or stains, so your zero waste period products are spotless! 

homemade, organic fleece styles. 

Collect or Absorb?

Despite initial misgivings, we decided it is better to collect, not absorb, and purchased a clear, medical-grade silicone cup.

The best products are certified vegan, with a fair-trade, organic cotton storage pouch in renewable-energy powered, 100% post-consumer recycled packaging 

Some cup won’t work as well for you. Some are more flexible and the stem doesn’t need to be cut, but it leaks and migrates more than other cup). 

Benefits Of Menstrual Cups

• Designed to last a decade, the $35 investment offers significant savings over pricey (and often ineffective) pads and tampons. 
• You immediately loved the convenience of not having to schlep to a store every time you have your period, or ask a friend or co-worker for a tampon in emergency situations.  
• Some women report needing several cycles to get used to a menstrual cup. Others try various models before finding a good fit. 
• A cup size B, for women under 30 who haven’t given birth yet, works perfectly right away. You may trim a few centimeters off the stem for comfort, fold it in half, and won’t feel a thing. 
• Rinsing the cup with water first aids insertion. There are no leaks, even while sleeping, and compared to tampons, removal was a breeze. 
• With a capacity of 28 ml, you may not need to empty during the workday. On average, heavy bleeders lose about 80 ml blood per cycle. 

Using Menstrual Cups

In public restrooms, simply pull the stem to empty and 

• re-insert as is, 
• bring drinking water into the stall with you, or 
• wipe with toilet paper. 

Just wash hands before and after handling, clean the cup when you get home, and don’t drop it. Sounds overwhelming, but the cup seems a lot more sanitary and convenient than tampons or pads, without any foul odors to boot. 

Silicone usage is controversial among zero waste, plastic-free folk. Silicone is a synthetic rubber composed of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms. It is non-toxic to aquatic or animal life, nor does it negatively impact soil and water. 

However, medical grade silicone is derived from petrochemical resources and often tested on animals. We know this seems hypocritical, since zero waste is all “down with microfiber” and staunchly anti-synthetics, but you may feel comfortable using silicone because it’s highly durable and, though non-compostable, fully recyclable. 

Toxicity databases and longitudinal studies indicate silicone is inert and unlikely to pose hazardous health threats. 

Claims of cyclic and linear polysiloxane toxicity, carcinogenicity, and inflammation occur infrequently, in the presence of other toxins and infections. 

Fully biodegradable rubber cups, such as the Keeper, are one option for women without latex allergies. 

Of course, this is a personal choice, and everyone should do their own research before making a decision. 

Menstrual cups are propagated as compatible with intrauterine devices, but expulsion could happen, so consult a gynecologist before use. Note: You can wear these with an IUD with no problems.

Factors When Choosing a Menstrual Cup

• flow (determines cup size), 
• how high or low your cervix sits (determines cup length), 
• firmness (depends on bladder strength), 
• color (I prefer dye-free, but some people want color to hide stains, or express their personality or something), 
• handle type (not everyone likes the stem)
• ethics. 

For instance, you may want to purchase from a company with a buy one, give one program. Don’t stress too much about the other stuff. Differences between cups are fairly nominal. 

Use vinegar or boiling water to sterilize. Reusable pads and tampons can be tossed in the wash. 

Not quite ready for reusables? Disposable pads and tampons can be organic, biodegradable, and unbleached. 

A single reusable cup made the most sense economically and environmentally, considering the cost of disposables and energy inputs needed to harvest and process plant cellulose. 

Don’t throw out your current disposable pads and tampons! Use them up first or donate to a woman’s shelter please!

Natural Sponges 

The different fabrics keep the genital area dry and the menstrual blood out of it. Up to three tampons of menstrual blood can be absorbed by underwear.

To absorb menstrual blood, undergarments must be made of cotton or other non-woven materials and they must not be too tight or too loose.

It is possible to keep the vaginal region dry with no menstrual blood. You can use natural sponges to complement the use of menstrual cups.

 The one downside, as with most things in the world, is that they will wear out over time.

Period Panties & Underwear 

Period pants, panties, or menstrual underwear look like normal underwear at first sight. Period underwear comes in various styles, with many layers of fabric in the crotch area that guarantee comfort and functionality. Different designs can be chosen according to your mood.

They are not only comfortable but also keep you dry and fresh. 

Crocheted Hemp & Bamboo Tampons

There are even cotton crocheted tampons filled with natural hemp or bamboo fabrics. 

They are quite similar to conventional feminine hygiene products and have the same functions and return ribbons. You can use it time after time.