I’m not out here professing to be the next big thing in sustainability, but, I am trying to do my part. Plastic free periods, period pants, organic tampons, menstrual cups and all that jazz have been on my radar for months now.
Finally, I have my own experience to speak to and share here on the blog after trying out various methods and products to figure out how I could create a little less waste on my time of the month.
Plastic Free Products Tried & Tested:
- Veeda Natural Sanitary Products
- Ohne – 100% Organic Tampons
- Ohne – 100% Organic Cotton Pads
- Flux Undies
- WUKA Period Pants
- Fialuna Menstrual Cup
Reviews Coming Soon:
- Saalt Menstrual Cups
- Yoppie Period Care
- Yoppie PMS Supplements
- Fialuna reusable menstrual pads
Veeda Natural Sanitary Products
A few years back, I got to try out a range of products from Veeda. Veeda offer a selection of tampons, towels and liners all of which are 100% natural cotton with no chemicals or dyes added. This means they are hypoallergenic and also carry a reduced risk of toxic shock syndrome.
Check Veeda Products on Amazon:
At the time, the range was soooo affordable so I’m not sure what happened but I don’t think you can buy them in Boots anymore. I’ve only found then on Amazon where they are reasonably priced but definitely more expensive than the bigger brands.
Ohne – 100% Organic Tampons
I recently discovered Ohne via an Instagram advert. I ordered a box of their organic naked tampons in varying sizes which winged their way to me pretty swiftly.
With free postage, no tampon tax and a subscription model, we could be on to a winner here?! I had no issue with these tampons, although I wish I had bought more of the larger ones. You are able to choose how many of each absorbency you want in your delivery.
I’m actually trying to cut down on tampon usage now so never got another delivery but I would definitely consider them if / when I need to stock up.
Ohne – 100% Organic Cotton Pads
Since I originally wrote this post, I’ve massively reduced my use of tampons. I kinda got a hunch that they were causing some of my discomfort during my period so am now sticking to menstrual cups, period pants and pads as much as possible.
It was good timing that Ohne launched their range of organic cotton period pads though! I got a box of 12 delivered (5x night and 7x day – you can choose whatever you like) and honestly, the are brilliant!
They’re super soft, cushy in a good way and don’t rip to shreds through out the day / night. For this cycle, I only actually used two pads in total so I won’t need a delivery again for a while.
Flux Undies Review
Back in 2016, I’m not sure that period proof underwear was a thing? Was it? Well, if it was, I wasn’t aware. I think part of me thought it was icky, but that is just what society has conditioned us to think. That periods are disgusting.
What is actually disgusting is the flowery perfumes that brands douse sanitary products in; that smell literally makes me feel sick. So I was keen to try out some period pants and learn how they work.
I’ve been using FLUX undies which I got (gifted) from Holland & Barrett and honestly, these have been nothing short of amazing. The only downside is that you will need quite a few pairs to get through one cycle, and at almost £30 a pair you (well, I), might not be able to afford the whole set in one go.
How Period Panties Work
It’s super simple. You wear them just like normal underwear. They can be worn for up to 12 hours depending on your flow. Once it’s time to change them, you give them a rinse until the water runs clear and throw them in the washing machine.
No bad smells, no leaks, no discomfort. They’re a great alternative to sanitary towels, menstrual cups and tampons if those options don’t work for you.
I’ve taken them on holiday (see above, lol), worn them to sleep in and exercised in them. When it comes to sizing, I was sent a Medium. I’m not sure why, but they fit. I typically wear a UK 10 in clothing.
WUKA PERIOD PANTS
Read my WUKA periods pants review – I’ve basically tried every single style and answered all your questions!
They’re one of the best ways I’ve found to start your plastic free period journey.
Menstrual Cups and How They Work
Last on my list to try, were menstrual cups. I’d never really got my head around the concept and tbh, they’re still very firmly in the maybe camp. When the opportunity came up to review one though, I jumped at it.
In the cycling world, so many women recommended menstrual cups as the best form of sanitary protection when on the bike. Typically, you don’t wear underwear with bib shorts so can’t wear sanitary pads and tampons only last for a while when your ride can be hours and hours.
One other bonus about menstrual cups is that you can get by with just one. You simply need to empty it, rinse it, and reinsert.
Fialuna Menstrual Cup Review
The menstrual cup I’ve been testing is by Fialuna (ceased trading). Fialuna’s mission was to make your period more comfortable and reduce waste to landfill at the same time.
I’ve had one of their menstrual cups for a number of months but due to illness after illness over the holidays, I’ve only had the chance to test it once to date.
For each cycle, you need to thoroughly clean the menstrual cup by boiling it in hot water. Then there are various ways to ‘fold’ it for insertion. The most stressful part for me was removal…
The suction seemed to be suuuuuper strong (lol) so I really got a sweat on (in panic) doing this. I think it would defo take me some more practice before I was comfortable using it outside of the house!
I’m “looking forward” to getting to grips with the whole menstrual cup option for plastic free periods.
Have you made any changes towards plastic free periods?!
Elle
I’m really glad you have written a post about this because it is increasingly important that we consider alternative products. The only issue is that not many women (myself included) know too much about them, so posts like this really help.
Agreed! I’ve tried to do a bit of learning over the past couple of years and make small changes where I can. It can be hard as some options are not the most economical.