Live Waste
Free: The beginners guide to Zero- Waste
By Dawn
Francom
Ladies... This one’s for you!
Most people
shy away from the mention of menstruation, but then again, I’m not most people.
There’s been a growing number of issues with our monthly visit, environmentally
speaking. Tampons and sanitary pads not only contain dangerous chemicals that
can seriously affect your health[1];
but they’re a problem on the environment as well. Disposable feminine products
may not be seen after use, but they’re certainly not gone. They land in our
water ways and landfills causing issues with the ecosystem. Plastic in both
products (that’s right, even your tampons are full of plastic, from applicator and
the wrapping, to the actual cotton tampon) takes years, even decades to
decompose. Piling up higher and higher with nowhere to go. Now it’s time to ask
ourselves a serious question… what’s a lady to do?
I can
remember the first time I saw a Menstrual Cup. I was 12 years old and on
vacation. A family friend pointed it out and attempted to explain what it does
and how it works. I definitely did not understand what she was saying, but I
remember being completely repulsed by the idea. Which is a shame that, even way
back then, I followed modern marketing schemes. Through the commercials or
billboards I’ve seen, tampons and sanitary pads were the way to go. These “disposable”
products that had to be bought monthly were seemingly my only options. This way
of thinking led me to believe that any alternative (including the menstrual
cup) was unsanitary, unhygienic and just plain yucky. If I can’t dispose of it,
then what DO I do with it?! Fast forward to now, where I absolutely love my
cup.
It wasn’t a
very long transition from tampon to cup. Within the first cycle of using it, I
was completely hooked. A friend had reintroduced it to me late last year. She
started using it and gave it an amazing review. The way she described its
simplicity and effectiveness made me want to try it. Using it myself really
gave me a new appreciation for the product. Here are my top reasons to try and
keep using a menstrual cup.
It’s super delicate and non-harmful. Tampons absorb everything, not
just menstrual fluid. This causes the sensitive tissues of our vaginas to get
really dry and uncomfortable. I never
really noticed the discomfort until AFTER I started using the cup, but it is
apparent now. The super rare occasions I have to use a tampon (and I mean RARE)
it’s an instant realization of the differences between the two.
You manipulate it way less. The cup can hold up to 12 hours.
That’s twice a day you have to empty it. Twice. That’s it. Versus a tampon or
pad which is every 4-6 hours. Sometimes in a busy day, you may not have a
chance to get to a washroom. This product takes away the worry. If I can’t get
to it until after my shift, so be it. Nothing bad is going to happen.
You save cash. And I mean… lots of it! My cup cost me about
40$ with tax and will last over 5 years with proper care (that’s on the low
end, some last way longer). That versus my old spending an average of 10$ every
month. It doesn’t sound like such an expense, but when you look at the math it
adds up quickly: 10$ a month - 120$ a year - 600$ over the lifetime of a
menstrual cup. 600$ is a lot of money that I’d rather spend doing fun things.
Not having to buy feminine hygiene products.
Chemical Free. Menstrual cup companies don’t hide behind
regulation and laws, they tell you exactly what is in the product. This is
because they have nothing to hide from us. The Diva Cup for example, states on their website exactly how their
product is made. They also ensure that the silicone the product is made from does
not leach into our bodies. Even after it’s been boiled to sterilize (an
option). They still ensure that harmful chemicals will not affect our bodies[2].
Now considering how many chemicals (daily) we put into, onto or keep around our
bodies. I think it’s nice to have one less worry.
Better Environmentally. Hands down! As I’ve mentioned, the
waste from our regular products is becoming a problem. Not only in the actual
product, but also in the hidden aspects. Transportation and product packaging
are something we often forget but are just as destructive. The average woman
will throw away up to 300 pounds of these products over their lifetime[3].
Multiply that by how many women there are in the world who are using these products.
Why continue in this negative pattern when we have alternatives?
Now ladies,
it’ up to us to make this change. You now know how I feel, but try it out for
yourselves! No need for hesitation anymore, the proof is really in the pudding.
It was one of my most positive changes and I’m so happy I did it! My only
regret is that I didn’t start using it sooner.
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