GREENER PERIOD?
How many disposable period products are thrown out each year?
In the US alone more than 12 billion tampons and pads are thrown out every year, and the average person uses 11,000 tampons, pads, and panty liners in their lifetime.
Do disposable period products contribute to global warming?
According to research, one of the largest impacts on global warming is caused by the processing of low density polyethylene (LDPE). It is the same plastic used to make grocery bags, electrical wiring insulation and the popular tampon applicators – even the little plastic strips on the back of pads and liners.
What is the carbon footprint of a period?
A year's worth of disposable period products for a single person leaves a carbon footprint of approximately12lbs of CO2 (5.4kg).
Can tampon applicators be recycled?
Even though most applicators are made from the same kind of plastic used in other recyclable plastics, like bottles, tampon applicators can't be commercially recycled because they have come into contact with bodily fluids. And despite being told not to, many of us flush them away, where they're likely to end up in sewer systems and in waterways.
How can I have a greener period?
Get Reusables - If you are able, ditch tampons altogether and opt for a waste-free option like period panties, menstrual cups or 100% fabric pads.
Are there toxins in tampons?
The average tampon still carries trace amounts of dioxin which is a byproduct from the creation of the synthetic fiber, rayon. That’s on top of any pesticides, like diuron, that may have been used to conventionally harvest the cotton.
Are pads recyclable?
Up to 90 percent of the materials in pads themselves and their packaging are plastics that aren't recyclable. It's been calculated that the environmental impact of one pad is the same as four plastic bags, largely because of the problem of polyethelene, which is notoriously difficult to break down. The plastic liners and fastening materials that are on pads are not biodegradable.