Is your period plastic-free?
Provocative, indecent, awkward: periods, the taboo subject. You simply do not talk about your period! For a long time that was the general consensus. Please do it quietly and in secret and do not talk about it openly, nobody wants to know! Today we want to turn to the subject, because periods have long since stopped being a taboo and numerous start-ups with innovative product ideas are serving a market that remained unexplored for far too long.
In the context of sustainability and plastic reduction in particular, periods are – quite rightly – a highly topical subject
We use less single-use plastic, take our refillable to-go cup with us and bring our own container to the bakery. But the menstrual cup is not yet widely used, even though tampons and pads always involve single-use plastic. These period products unfortunately create a lot of unnecessary waste. Whether that is down to the “taboo”, the price or the getting-used-to-it: menstrual cups as a sustainable alternative could certainly be given more attention. Even so, the menstrual cup has come more and more to the fore in recent years, because it is the most sustainable alternative for people who menstruate. In the highly recommendable book “Nachhaltigkeit leben” by Christoph Schulz of careelite.de, the author reveals that using a menstrual cup can make 17,000 pads and tampons per woman unnecessary, because the cup can be reused for more than ten years. Pretty striking figures, aren’t they?
Finally we would like to introduce a few companies that are thoroughly progressive on the market and where you can get a menstrual cup (and much more). The Female Company provide information on everything to do with periods, empower everyone who menstruates and break taboos. You will also find organic tampons there and everything your period could wish for – entirely free of harmful substances! MyLily promise 0% bullshit, take a clear stand against period shaming and have their products made sustainably. Here too you will find everything you need for your period. Let their creative product ideas surprise you! And anyone who wants to avoid plastic in the body altogether will find period underwear in various styles and sizes at ooia.
We think these companies are particularly great because they make clear statements and sensibly rethink the tried and tested. Naturally, though, we believe that even here the thinking and design should go further in the direction of plastic reduction. And then all that is missing is flustix-certified plastic-free packaging – or what do you think? Let us know in the comments!