Sustainable period products We put them to the test - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Life Sustainable period products We put them to the test By Kanika Banwait - March 22, 2022 It’s only right, and deeply necessary, that the nation has become more eco-conscious. Plastic bags have been swapped for reusable totes, disposable water bottles ditched for refillable ones, and there’s even been a rise in demand for eco-friendly gift wrap. From creating a more environmentally-friendly beauty routine to sustainable high street clothing collections, every part of our lives has been shone under the eco spotlight. Of course, a large proportion of the responsibility lies with influential companies and governments around the world, who need to make vital changes that will really slow down the climate crisis. Nevertheless, it’s important we still do our bit to be kinder to the planet. Getty Images With so much focus on sustainability, you may have become more aware of just how much waste you produce during your period each month. The Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) reported that ‘women and people who menstruate use ​more than 11,000 disposable menstrual products in their lifetime’​. Their research also found each period can cost up to £18,450 over a lifetime​ and the disposal of single use menstrual products – including tampons, pads and applicators – generates around 200,000 tonnes of waste per year. Now, anyone who has a period will know how inconvenient they can be. So if there’s something we can do to make the whole process easier, less expensive and generally less of a faff, we’re extremely interested. When you’ve got your menstrual routine down to a tee (albeit crampy and agitated), trying out new period products can seem a bit daunting – especially because there’s always the chance they won’t work for your body, lifestyle or blood flow. To help give you some confidence in alternative, sustainable period products, I tested out a range of brands to see what they’re really like… Period knickers Period knickers are one of the most sustainable period products out there, but I must admit, I wasn’t initially sold on the idea of them. Letting blood flow right into your knickers didn’t sound particularly pleasant. However, I wanted to give them a fair shot. Primark The first pair of period pants I tried were from Primark, where you can buy a set of three for £16. They weren’t humongous, nappy-style knickers like I had imagined, and were actually very comfortable to wear. Wearing these on the first day of my period, with a medium flow, I was worried about feeling dirty. But I was pleasantly surprised at how much it felt like wearing normal knickers. There was no smell – I would say I’ve noticed a more prominent smell from wearing regular sanitary pads – and there was no ‘wet’ feeling either. After going to the loo, it felt slightly odd to keep the used pants on instead of discarding them as I usually would with a tampon or pad, but I realised this was more a psychological hurdle to get over than an actual issue. Chantelle Life Graphic Lace Period Proof High Waist Knickers, £33, John Lewis Most period pants can be worn for 12 hours, including options from Chantelle and Flux. The Chantelle knickers were incredibly soft and comfortable, and even came with a lace trim for a pretty touch. The pants from Flux were also a nice material and felt just like wearing normal knickers. I particularly loved wearing these at night, instead of a crinkly pad that went wonky after a few turns. You can also buy different ones depending on your blood flow. Classic Boyshort – Heavy Flow, £27.95, Flux Undies All of the knickers needed to be rinsed with water after wearing them and before popping them in the washing machine, but I didn’t mind this part at all. If the thought of touching soiled pants bothers you, you could wear them in the shower first to rinse. In short, period pants are a serious game-changer and something I will definitely be using every month from here on. They’re so easy to wear, a one-time purchase, and mean you don’t need to have any additional products on you. Menstrual cup The menstrual cup was the sustainable period product I was most apprehensive to try, but I was relieved to see the Be You cup comes with detailed instructions and diagrams on how to insert it. Menstrual cup, £14.99, Be You As a first timer, I found the cup (available in medium and large sizes) fiddly and uncomfortable to get in and take out. But I also felt the same way about tampons when I first started wearing them, so I’m sure this is something that becomes easier with time. Your hands can get dirty as you have to use your fingers to insert and remove the cup, as well as make sure it has expanded correctly inside. Although, I was surprised to find I barely noticed the cup once it was inside. Saalt Cup, £25, Feel Unique I also tried a menstrual cup from Saalt, which was slightly thicker than the Be You cup. I struggled with the insertion of it, but it would be worth a try after taking the cup quiz online to ensure you get the correct size for you. Like period knickers, the cups can be worn for 12 hours. So even though it can be a bit messy to insert and remove, you wouldn’t have to worry about dealing with it in public if you weren’t out for that long. Tampons Part of the environmental problem with tampons is having to throw away the applicator, but a reusable applicator will save on waste. I have used the DAME applicator, as well as their organic tampons, many times and they do a great job. The applicator comes in a small zipped pouch and in a case, so you can keep it safe and clean. To get 15 per cent off your DAME order, use the code YOUMAGAZINE here. DAME Reusable Tampon Applicator Set, £23.80, Boots As for the tampon itself, I tried out 100 per cent organic cotton tampons from Flo. I found the texture of these to be smoother and cause less friction than the regular tampons I usually use. They also come with a 100 per cent recyclable applicator made from sugarcane. Flo Organic Eco-applicator Tampons Regular & Super 14pk, £3.60, Boots If you’re going to use a tampon, make sure it’s made from organic materials and switch to a reusable or recyclable applicator. Sanitary pads and panty liners While on a lighter flow, I tried TOTM’s organic cotton pad, which is wrapped in a compostable film and has a biodegradable back sheet. Flo also sell sanitary towels and liners made from bamboo. So although you’re still producing waste, it will take less time and energy to decompose. TOTM Medium Pads with Wings 10, £3.15, Superdrug I wore the pad and liner on separate occasions while exercising and there were no leakages. These felt softer than what I usually use, and in terms of how good they were at their job, there was no difference. So if you’re going to use a pad, it’s well worth buying ones made from organic materials. 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