I have recently bought my first reusable sanitary product [mid-December] after wanting to invest in one for a couple of years. One of the reasons I had felt apprehensive about buying one of these products was the cost and the accessibility of these products, compared to buying a box of tampons. Included in this, was the lack of information about the products which meant I was worried about using the products.
However, I took the plunge, as it has become clear that using disposable products is increasingly damaging to our planet. When I was looking for a reusable menstrual product, it became clear I would struggle to find products in-store, and almost resorted to buying online. Not a great resolution, when I needed it there and then.
I got in touch with a Northeast-based advocate for reusable products, Ruth Alexandra Watson, you can view her store HERE
She said: “Disposable products have a terrible impact on the planet! Over 1.5 billion menstrual products are flushed down the toilet per year in the UK, with most of them ending up on the beaches or in the sea, causing sewer blockages and adding to marine pollution. Used tampons are now the most found items littering our beach which is pretty gross!”
Up to 90% of disposable sanitary towels are predominantly made from plastic, and each pack can contain the equivalent of four plastic carrier bags. These products are not biodegradable, meaning these products can be around for hundreds of years. The average menstruating person can use an average of 11,000 products per year. This averages a cost of £4,800 per person. So, you can imagine that reusable products would be much cheaper.
The map above shows the places in Tyne and Wear that sell reusable products. It is no wonder I struggled when looking, there are not many places to go!
Ruth said: “I think there needs to be more education around reusables and wider availability would change people’s views of alternative menstrual products. Years ago, I was reluctant to make the switch because I didn’t know where to buy them, how to care for them or anyone else that used them, and I didn’t feel like I could ask or talk to anyone about it; it was a bit of a taboo subject, so it felt like a massive leap to make the switch.”
It is not unusual for people to feel worried about making the change. Especially when talking about menstruation is taboo. As well as this, there are a lot of myths and questions around using a reusable product: how to clean them, are they expensive, do they smell and how do you change/clean them when you are out and about. It is often seen that disposable products are easier to use.
“Disposable products can have a terrible impact on our bodies; as well as plastic, traditional disposables contain lots of toxic chemicals, which can be harmful and even dangerous for our bodies, and we use them in our most intimate area! They disrupt our body's natural flow and encourage us to bleed and cramp. This makes our periods heavier, longer, and more painful. Around 80% of people report their periods are less painful and shorter within two months of using reusables.”
It is also reported that the likely hood of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) is less with a reusable menstrual cup than with tampons. This is because when tampons absorb blood, it creates a breeding ground for bacteria which can cause TSS. Whereas the cup is a lot more hygienic and with proper cleaning, the bacteria are less likely to breed.
We also contacted Lil-Lets, who is one of the pioneering big companies in menstrual product production, to stop the production of disposable tampon applicators. This would save 11 tonnes of plastic waste ending up in the oceans and landfills. They say, by making the change to a Lil-Lets reusable tampon applicator, you could save 286 disposable applicators ending up in landfills per year.
Lil-Lets have said that the reusable applicators are just as easy to use as a disposable applicator, just as easy to clean as washing your hands and it's commitment-free with their money-back guarantee. If you do not like it, you can get a refund. Currently, the applicators are only available from the Lil-Lets website, or on Amazon for an introductory price of; £12.99 until 28 February 2022.
Whilst it is difficult to buy reusable sanitary products in-store, they are easily available online. If you want to switch immediately and need them ASAP, you can purchase a product off Amazon for next-day delivery (with a Prime membership). However, there is a variety of small businesses that sell online too on sites such as Etsy.
The war on disposable sanitary products will likely never be over. But there are many ways we can combat it, and many reasons why we should switch to reusable products.
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