"Plastic pervades modern life, and menstruation is no exception"

- National Geographic. 

Photo: Erol Ahmed

A London Assembly Environment Committee Report found that sanitary towels are made up of 90% plastic. Plastic is incorporated into essentially every single part of a tampon: the external wrapping, the applicator, and even the absorbent part of the tampon itself and the string. The same is true for sanitary pads, as plastic is a key requirement to make it leak-proof. This is utterly detrimental to the environment as these are disposable products that end up in landfill, rivers, seas and lakes after only one use - our period habits are filling ecosystems with plastic at a rapid rate.

 Women are now also asking what the effect on their bodies will be of all that plastic being put in the most intimate and delicate of places. And the answer is, quite frankly no one really knows. Because no one has really done much research into it. Scary. But reviews from women that are using new sustainable sanitary products have seen a reduction in common issues like thrush, UTIs and general period pain such as cramps. 

At FLO London, we have been testing some sustainable and female friendly period options that steer away from mainstream brands and scary ingredients. Here are our three favourite brands that we recommend you to try if you are looking to get away from your current sanitary products:

Ohne

If you still want to use tampons

#FLODown: We’ve actually interviewed the founders, Nikki and Leah, for FLO London Meets Series 2. They started a sustainable, organic tampon brand which you can purchase from one off or have a running subscription - you can get them online or from various shops, including Oliver Bonas. They also sell CBD oil which is said to help with cramps, pain and headaches related to (and not related to) periods. Plus, every purchase of an Ohne tampon directly supports School Club Zambia’s efforts to end period poverty for schoolgirls in rural Zambia. 

Modibodi

If you want to just wear your knickers

#FLODown: Modibodi, or period pants for those unfamiliar, are probably one of the most innovative products to have come out on the period market since the humble tampon. The pants in question use high-quality and technology to ensure the absorption of period blood without leakage or unpleasant odours. There are a range of different pants to suit your flow, and they have even recently brought out a range of swimwear. After every use you just need to rinse your pants until the water runs clear (don't soak) and then pop them in the wash as normal - but avoid using fabric conditioner as this reduces the product's function. The brand is committed to giving back to a range of women's shelters and charities across Australia and New Zealand. 

Organicup

If you want to make a one off purchase

#FLODown: According to the Organicup website an individual uses 11,000 disposable period products in a lifetime – tampons, pads and panty liners. The Organicup is a period cup that’s made from silicone, is vegan and even the packing it arrives in is made from recycled cardboard. If you’re new to the period cup world then Organicup is a great place to start as their website has a handy guide on how to insert and a handy FAQ section. It is also worth noting that most period cups last for several years if you take good care of them. 

 Period cups hold between 8- 12 hours worth of blood, depending on your flow, so as well as reducing your period waste, an Organicup alleviates a lot of mental stress, as you only have to think about emptying it once or twice a day. The insertion and removal takes a bit of practice, but once you perfect it, it’s just as comfortable as wearing a tampon. Some women are put off by the idea of emptying and washing out a period cup in a public toilet. If you’re embarrassed by this, don’t worry - you don’t have to rinse it every time you empty it, you can just wipe the cup out with tissue and just make sure to give it a wash next time you’re in a private place.

Remember that there are hundreds of options out there and loads of startups with new, innovative products to suit your requirements and budgets. So if the three products that we've recommended don't sing to you then why not do some research for yourself. Talking about periods and sustainable periods with friends is a great way to find out about new products too. 

Get in touch with us on Instagram or Twitter if you find anything you want to share! We would love to hear about your experiences. 

Words by Mollie Kate Cohen

Illustration by Natalie Hapeshi