Sustainability Spotlight: The Environmental Impact of Your Period
In the UK, it's estimated that the average person who menstruates uses more than 11,000 disposable pads and tampons over their lifetime. With around 200,000 tonnes of these products ending up in landfills every year, the environmental impact of menstruation is a significant but often overlooked issue. Fortunately, a growing number of sustainable options can help reduce the ecological footprint of your period. One of the most innovative and effective solutions? Period underwear.
How Menstrual Products in the UK Contribute to Waste and Pollution
Disposable menstrual products, such as tampons, pads, and pantyliners, have been the primary choice for many menstruators in the UK for decades. However, their environmental cost is high. Most pads are around 90% plastic, and tampons often come with plastic applicators and packaging that take hundreds of years to decompose.
In the UK alone, it’s estimated that 1.5 to 2 billion menstrual items are flushed down the toilet each year, often ending up in rivers and oceans. This contributes to both land and marine pollution, harming wildlife and ecosystems. The high plastic content of these products means they contribute significantly to the country's plastic pollution problem, while their production process consumes vast amounts of energy and resources.
Period Underwear: A Sustainable Alternative for the Modern Menstruator
Period underwear offers a reusable, eco-friendly alternative to disposable products. Designed with absorbent, moisture-wicking layers, period pants can be worn during your cycle just like regular underwear, eliminating the need for tampons or pads altogether.
Brands like Ugly Pants offer period underwear that can absorb varying levels of flow, from light to heavy, making them a versatile and practical solution. Here are a few reasons why period underwear is transforming the way we manage menstruation:
- Reduces Waste: Since period underwear is washable and reusable, it significantly cuts down on the number of single-use products that end up in landfills or waterways.
- Comfort and Convenience: Period underwear feels like regular underwear but with built-in protection, making it a convenient and discreet option for managing your period. Many people find it more comfortable than using tampons or pads.
- Cost-Effective: While the initial cost might seem higher than a box of tampons or pads, the long-term savings are considerable. A good pair of period underwear can last for several years with proper care.
Learn more about how to care for your period pants here
Using period underwear can dramatically reduce the environmental impact of your period. By replacing disposable products with something reusable, you’re directly contributing to less waste and lowering your carbon footprint.
Other Sustainable Menstrual Products
While period underwear is one of the most effective ways to reduce waste, there are other sustainable menstrual products available that can also help minimise environmental harm:
- Menstrual Cups: These reusable silicone cups can last up to 10 years and are a great alternative for those who want to avoid disposable tampons. They reduce waste and, when properly cared for, provide a cost-effective solution.
- Reusable Cloth Pads: These washable pads are another option for those looking to cut down on single-use products. They come in a variety of sizes and are easy to clean and reuse for years.
- Organic Cotton Tampons and Pads: If you prefer disposables but want a more eco-friendly option, organic cotton tampons and pads can be a good choice. They’re often biodegradable and free from harmful chemicals and plastics.
While these options are beneficial in their own right, period underwear stands out for its convenience, comfort, and environmental benefits.
Why Period Underwear Has a Lower Carbon Footprint
Period underwear offers a much lower carbon footprint compared to disposable menstrual products like tampons and pads, which require significant energy and raw materials for production, transportation, and disposal. A typical menstruator in the UK generates around 5.5 kg of CO2 annually through the use of disposable products.
By switching to reusable period underwear, such as those from Ugly Pants, you can significantly reduce this footprint. Period underwear is designed to be used for years, cutting down the need for single-use items and reducing the environmental toll of waste and production.
Ugly Pants goes one step further by using upcycled materials. Upcycling repurposes discarded fabrics into new products, preventing the need to produce new textiles and reducing carbon emissions. This process minimises the environmental impact by keeping excess fabric out of landfills and reducing the demand for new raw materials, water, and energy.
Choosing period underwear made from up-cycled materials not only helps you reduce waste but also supports sustainable fashion practices, making it one of the most eco-friendly options for managing your period.
How You Can Make Your Period More Sustainable
Transitioning to period underwear is one of the simplest yet most impactful changes you can make for a more sustainable period. Here’s how you can start:
- Shop for Period Underwear: Consider investing in a few pairs of period-proof underwear from brands like Ugly Pants. These can be worn throughout your cycle and washed for reuse, replacing hundreds of disposable pads or tampons each year.
- Start Small: If you're not ready to fully switch, try using period underwear for lighter days or as backup protection with other products. This will still reduce your waste.
- Proper Care: To ensure your period underwear lasts, follow the care instructions carefully—usually involving a cold wash and air drying. This maximises their lifespan and keeps them functioning properly.
By making the switch to reusable period products, especially period underwear, you’re directly helping to reduce plastic pollution and lower your carbon footprint.
The environmental impact of traditional menstrual products is a significant issue, but the solution doesn’t have to be complicated. Switching to period underwear offers a practical, eco-friendly alternative that can help reduce waste, pollution, and your carbon footprint. Brands like Ugly Pants make it easy to invest in comfortable, reusable products that benefit both you and the planet. Whether you're ready to fully embrace period underwear or just want to start exploring more sustainable options, every small change makes a difference.
