Sustainable period products that actually work: the best pads, menstrual cups and swimwear, tested

"There are countless things we can cut out of our lives to help reduce over-consumption, but period products are not one of them. The 3bn disposable menstrual products used in the UK every year generate an estimated 200,000 tonnes of menstrual waste. And sanitary pads, the most commonly used period product globally, are up to 90% plastic."

"I was an early adopter of period pants, and in my work as an author and journalist writing about sustainability, I have previously spoken to the academics behind a scientific paper Menstrual Products: A Comparable Life Cycle Assessment who carried out an in-depth analysis of different period products based on eight environmental impacts, including global warming potential, fossil resources, water use and carcinogenic effects. The report concluded that the menstrual cup had the lowest environmental impact across all categories, followed by period underwear, reusable pads and, in last place, single-use pads and tampons."

Three billion disposable menstrual products are used in the UK each year, producing an estimated 200,000 tonnes of menstrual waste. Sanitary pads are often composed of up to 90% plastic, and studies have detected toxic pesticides and multiple metals in tampons. A life cycle assessment across eight environmental impacts found menstrual cups to have the lowest overall impact, followed by period underwear, reusable pads, and lastly single-use pads and tampons. Safer single-use options and reusable products are increasingly available. Product testing over three months and three menstrual cycles included period swimwear and indicated period pants as a preferred option.

Read at www.theguardian.com