Monthly hygiene with a difference: Skin-friendly and sustainable alternatives to tampons, pads and insoles

Over the course of their lives, women use an average of more than 10,000 pads, tampons and panty liners. The conventional type of monthly hygiene is therefore a real waste supplier and also causes a lot of costs. At the same time, women with sensitive skin repeatedly suffer from skin irritation and other complaints due to the single-use products. Several good reasons to look for sustainable, gentle and skin-friendly alternatives.

Sanitary towels and tampons made from organic cotton

Cellulose-plastic mixtures, plasticizers and artificial fragrances - there is usually much more to common monthly hygiene than just cotton. There are ingredients that greatly increase the risk of vaginal infections, skin irritations and the like. In order to respond to this fact, more and more manufacturers are offering sanitary towels, tampons and panty liners that are guaranteed to be made from organic cotton and are free of chemical residues and perfume. Products of this type are hypoallergenic and do not cause irritation to the skin. The disadvantage of sanitary towels and tampons in organic quality is the amount of garbage, which still remains. However, the more natural variants are biodegradable and thus contribute a small part to more environmentally conscious consumer behavior.

Cloth pads and menstrual briefs

Cloth sanitary towels are reusable, sustainable and easy on the budget. These are made of breathable, absorbent cotton and have the shape of a conventional bandage with wings. Instead of using adhesive strips, the bandages are attached to the underwear with snaps to prevent them from slipping and leaking. The sanitary towels are washed in the machine at 60 degrees, together with the colored laundry. Since the pads have to be changed several times a day, many women have up to 15 cloth pads in their collection. Although this causes higher acquisition costs at first, the investment is worthwhile after a short time. Cloth sanitary napkins can be used over and over for many years. Period panties are almost more practical. This is apparently ordinary underwear with an absorbent layer sewn into it. These panties are particularly suitable on weak days or as additional protection to a menstrual cup or an organic tampon.

Menstrual cups

The so-called menstrual cups have set off a real trend in recent years. The cups made of medical silicone are considered a sustainable alternative to tampons. The cup is inserted into the vagina with the opening facing up and should not be felt there. The bleeding collects in it and is simply drained there every time you go to the toilet. During the period, cleaning with water or briefly wiping with paper is sufficient. After a menstrual period, the menstrual cup is boiled to be hygienically clean again. A carefully cared for menstrual cup will last for several years and will save you having to buy hundreds of tampons and sanitary towels.