Dr. Bajekal's Guide to Vegan, Eco-Friendly Feminine Hygiene
- Danielle Pender
- May 30, 2020
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 29
Did you know…
“Sanitary ware including menstrual pads, tampons and panty liners now amounts to 200,000 tonnes of environmental waste. A woman will go through an average of more than 11,000 disposable menstrual products in her lifetime.” -Dr. Nitu Bajekal
Traditional feminine hygiene products are single-use and loaded with chemicals. As a woman, I don't want to use those products in or on my body, and definitely not every month!
Dr. Nitu Bajekal, a friend of Pill Clarity and one of the top plant-based women's health experts, recently posted a great guide on reducing the environmental impact of feminine hygiene products (you can the Instagram post here). Pill Clarity has done the leg work and curated several products to help you switch over to kinder feminine hygiene choices. Below are a few of our favorites!
NatraCare Natural Ultra Pads with Wings
NatraCare is a slim-fitting pad with wings for light flow or flow at the end of your period. This pad features a cotton cover and is filled with wood pulp for absorbency vs. the powdered gel polymers found in traditional pads.
NatraCare is free of plastic, fragrance, GMO ingredients, and chlorine. The pads are biodegradable and compostable.
Ingredients:
Pad - Certified organic cotton, ecologically certified cellulose pulp, plant starch, non-toxic glue Wrapper- Paper peel strip, paper pocket
Packaging - Recycled cardboard printed with vegetable-based ink
o.b. Organic Tampons with New Plant-Based Applicator
o.b. is a familiar brand that has made changes to their product line to offer cleaner options! This tampon features their Tru-Comfort applicator, of which is 92% plant-based and made from renewable resources. The tampons are 100% cotton, and free from chlorine, dyes, and fragrances.
Material: Cotton
Wegreeco Bamboo Reusable Sanitary Pads
Want to make an even bigger impact? Consider reusable pads! I made the switch several years ago, and love the comfort of a cloth liner. These reusable pads are easy to clean and maintain. Beyond just being biodegradable, these pads actively reduce the amount of plastic waste from menstrual products...and they're super cute! As a bonus, each package comes with 1 leak-free wet bag for easy hygiene on-the-go.
These bamboo cloth pads are free from chemicals such as chlorine, dyes, and fragrances.
Ingredients:
Outer Shell - 100% leak-free lamination fabric
Inner -100% bamboo charcoal against ladies skin for utmost comfort.
Flex Menstrual Cup
Menstrual cups, like reusable pads, actively reduce the amount of plastic waste from menstrual products. This is a great option for those of you who prefer tampons but still want to reduce waste. Flex Menstrual Cups are made of medical-grade silicone (latex-free!) and are FDA registered, hypoallergenic, and BPA/phthalate free.
Flex Menstrual Cups are available in slim and full sizes. According to Flex's website, "For most people, either size will work...it really comes down to choosing the best fit for your comfort and capacity needs; if you're a first-time cup user or have a light to medium flow we recommend the Slim Fit. The Slim should work out for heavy flows as well, you just may find that you have to empty it and reinsert a bit before the 12hr mark. If you have a flow that is on the heavier side or have had multiple vaginal births, try the Full Fit out!"
Disclaimer: The product and/or information provided on Pill Clarity is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not lab test the products to confirm that they are free from animal ingredients, and it is possible that the formulation and ingredients could have changed. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or product. The information provided in this post is accurate and up to date as of the date it was written. However, please note that circumstances and facts may change over time, and new information may become available that could alter the accuracy or relevance of the content. We encourage readers to verify and cross-reference any information provided here with trusted sources or consult relevant professionals for the most current and accurate updates.
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