By 
The Eco-Friendly Period
Having your period can be tough. That’s where we come in. Today on Mind Over Mango, we welcome you to join us in discovering new and eco-friendly ways to let the Mother Nature in you do her thing, without poisoning the other Mother Nature in the process. Period products contribute to millions of tons of waste every year. Not only that, but too many period products contain toxic chemicals that shouldn’t be anywhere near our bodies, nevermind in them. So today, we are going to discuss how to have eco-friendly periods. Whether you’ve been on the hunt for period panties or cotton tampons, we got you covered.
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Endometriosis and Periods
I wanted to take the opportunity in writing this article to also highlight a topic that affects me personally: Endometriosis. If you’ve never heard of this condition, let me break it down for you.
Endometriosis is an often painful medical condition where the blood lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, grows outside of the uterus. It can grow in the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and pelvis, or even in the vagina, cervix, bowel, or bladder. In my case (though I have yet to fully confirm this), it can also spread and grow in or near the lungs. In turn, this can cause a lot of physical pain, ovarian cysts, and heavy periods, too.
A Pain in the Uterus
For me, I have to take medication daily that stops me from having my period. Otherwise, I will bleed 24/7/365. I will bleed every day, all day, forever (until menopause, or a miracle). Occasionally, my medication runs out and isn’t delivered on time. This means that I’ll experience painful bleeding until the meds arrive at my doorstep. Mind Over Mango is all about living a happier and healthier life. So with that said, we will be touching on the topic of Endometriosis more in the coming months. Given that I am on a journey to better living, I wanted to explore clean, eco-friendly options for my period (and yours). Thus, this article was born. Let’s dive in.
DAME Reusable Tampon Applicator
Welcome to the best reusable tampon applicator on the market. The D Applicator by DAME is a reusable, self-sanitizing, tampon insertion tool built to last. The D is made of Mediprene® material that is BPA-free and also leak-free as well. Just slide in your tampon, secure the string in place, and insert with ease. When you’re done inserting, just rinse, dry, and store away safely in the cotton pouch it comes with. The D replaces up to 12,000 disposable tampon applicators over an entire lifetime. DAME also offers biodegradable, organic cotton tampons in a subscription package that you can use with your D.
DAME is a sustainable period company who strives to radically reduce its carbon footprint. The D has helped to eliminate billions of single-use plastic applicators every year, but beyond that, their mission is to offset twice the amount of carbon they create in their supply chain. They focus on every aspect of the creation and transportation process of their goods because they firmly stand by the belief that our planet deserves the best.
Shop all of DAME’s products on their website today.
Cora Organic Tampons
If you can’t get behind reusable tampon applicators just yet, try these organic cotton tampons by Cora. These monthly subscription tampons are made with 100% cotton and are made without chemical additives, synthetic fibers, dyes, or chlorine bleach. The outside packaging is made with recyclable plastic, and the applicators are made with BPA-free plastic too. You can also purchase them in a non-subscription package and buy as needed online.
As tempting as it may be to recycle as much plastic here as possible, it’s usually not safe to recycle the plastic applicators. They are considered a biohazard because they come into contact with menstrual fluid, so in this case, you’re better off tossing them. However, if you want to really do the planet a favor you can opt for their flushable cardboard applicators. Better yet, purchase their tampons without applicators and pop it into your DAME for the most eco-friendly option.
Buy the Cora Organic Tampons on Amazon.
Cora Organic Tampons Alternatives
Lunette Menstrual Cup
The Lunette Menstrual Cup is an eco-friendly, reusable menstrual product made with medical-grade silicone that provides up to 12 hours of leak-free protection. Studies vary, but a woman can save between $1,000 and $5,600 over a lifetime by switching to menstrual cups. Furthermore, they are economical and can last 10+ years. Since it is reusable, the average woman can eliminate approximately 12,000 tampons or 300 pounds of disposable pads over their lifetime. Make sure whatever cup you purchase (such as the ones featured here) is made with BPA-free silicone and has no added chemicals. Above all, avoid cheaply made and super low-cost menstrual cups for a safe and effective experience. Make your vagina, your wallet, and the planet happy with choosing an eco-friendly menstrual cup such as the Lunette. The DivaCup is an absolute classic to consider as well.
Purchase the Lunette Menstrual Cup on their website or on Amazon.
Lunette Cup Alternatives
TomboyX Period Panties
Next up on our list are period panties. TomboyX in on a mission to creating eco-friendly, body-positive period underwear. Using leakproof period panties is an eco-friendly alternative to disposable pads because the underwear can be thrown in the wash and be worn year after year. TomboyX holds up to 8 tsp of liquid, equivalent to about 39 ml, or about 7.8 regular flow tampons. We suggest giving it a test run on a lighter flow day first.
The original period panties, Thinx, was recently under fire for containing toxic PFAS chemicals in their undergarments. PFAS are man-made chemicals found in many water-repellent finishes. PFAS can potentially cause infertility and cancer. Given that our vaginal tissues are sensitive, it is a perfect gateway to toxic chemical buildup. All TomboyX underwear are Oeko-Tex Standard 100 Certified, which means they are free from 100 chemicals known to be toxic to humans, including compounds within the PFAS family.
TomboyX Period Panties Alternatives
GladRags Reusable Organic Menstrual Pads
If period panties aren’t your style, try these 100% organic cotton, dye-free reusable pads by GlagRags. Each pad comes with pad inserts, which means you can customize the level of absorbency you need with each day of your period! The fabric is soft and comfortable, so you’ll never have to worry about itchy bits. There are also no added fragrances either. If plain white isn’t up your alley, they have a fun assortment of other options available as well on their website.
Purchase GladRags on their website or on Amazon today.
GladRags Alternatives
Rael Certified Organic Pads
We want to make this perfectly clear: disposable pads are not eco-friendly. Period. That being said, it’s understandable how getting off the disposable pad wagon is tough for many women. The thought of carrying around a dirty reusable pad can seem unrealistic. After much debate, we decided to include a disposable pad. We know sexual health is hard and women should not be judged on how they decide to cope with it. Remember, these are not good for the planet but are better for your body than traditional disposable pads.
These unscented, 100% organic cotton pads by Rael are some of the best disposable pads on the market. They are made without any harsh chemicals, fragrances, or pesticides, and are vegan and cruelty-free. The cotton is harvested in Texas and is non-GMO and OCS certified. They have a wide variety of different types of pads, as well as an array of other women’s health products.
Check out their entire selection of items here.
Rael Pads Alternatives
Sunday Scaries Vegan CBD Gummies
Periods are painful. Especially with conditions like Endometriosis, the pain can become unbearable at times. These vegan CBD gummies by Sunday Scaries are a healthy and eco-friendly option to minimize pain. It’s easy to reach for over the counter drugs, but when possible, I believe that CBD is the best first step to take. My preference goes to vegan CBD gummies over anything else, as for me, they’re the most effective. That being said, Sunday Scaries offers other great CBD options to help alleviate your stress and pain, in whatever way is best for you.
Use our code MANGO20 for 20% OFF your first order on the Sunday Scaries website.
Other Sunday Scaries CBD
Rael Flushable Feminine Wipes
We’re back again with another Rael feminine product. This time, it’s their eco-friendly flushable feminine wipes. These biodegradable, cruelty-free wipes are made of 98% natural fruit pulp and are not harmful to the environment. Hinoki Extract and Plantago Asiatica Extract helps to eliminate unpleasant odors (and we know what kinds of odors our periods create). We highly recommend this product and have found it to be the most eco-conscious solution for easy, flushable feminine health wipes. Flushable, cruelty-free, biodegradable feminine wipes are hard to come by. Thus, we suggest using the Rael wipes and we haven’t added any alternatives.
Get this and other Rael feminine health products on Amazon today.
Additional Facts & Important Information to Consider
Let it be known: all of these products have been personally vetted by Mind Over Mango. That being said, there are other important bits of information you should know regarding organic cotton period products.
The products featured in this article are absolutely better than your traditional disposable period products. They are the safest for your body and for the planet. What’s important to note is how organic cotton is grown. Any product claiming there are no chemicals used in producing their organic cotton is likely false. After much research, we discovered that organic cotton is often harvested using certain types of chemicals. However, these chemicals are heavily regulated by the National Organic Standards Board. The chemicals must be either derived from a natural substance, or if synthetic, must have proof that it does not cause adverse effects on human health or the environment. For more information regarding organic cotton, check out this myth-busting article I personally referenced from the Scientific American.
“No Harsh Chemicals”
We give a nod to all companies who are transparent and state that there are “no harsh chemicals” in their organic cotton products. That doesn’t go to say that any products claiming “no chemicals” is unreputable or not trustworthy. We admit we are still actively researching organic cotton farming, and there may be a possibility that some farms are able to get away without using any chemicals at all. There is a chance though that these claims are still false. Transparency is important, but we encourage our readers to thoroughly research products and companies to determine whether or not they believe them to be trustworthy. For more information about the ins-and-outs of organic cotton, check out About Organic Cotton, a website that educates consumers about sustainability in cotton farming.
We vetted the above products to ensure they are safe. Of course, if any new information emerges that causes reasonable doubt to the above products and companies, we will be sure to update and make it known to our readers.
The Wrap Up
That concludes our first period wellness article here on Mind Over Mango. Hopefully, this article was able to provide you with new insight into the various eco-friendly period product options on the market. Have you ever tried any of these products? If so, drop a note in the comment section below to share your experiences! If you personally struggle with conditions such as Endometriosis, please also feel free to share your experiences. We will touch base on this condition again in the near future, so let us know what you’d like to see going forward about this topic! Until next time.
Jennifer Prince
March 4, 2020I need to try Rael! I’ve tried the cup (not successful!) and am not really a fan of tampons except for swimming. I’d love to check out the TomboyX panties, too. Thanks for the info – I’m trying to be more eco-friendly, so this is great timing.
Stephanie
March 5, 2020This was such an interesting post to read. I’m really sorry that you have endometriosis. I know how horrible that can be and while it’s not something I’m diagnosed with, I have similar issues along with my chronic illness and it makes that time of the month extremely horrible. I’m grateful for articles like this that help inform me of alternatives that can make my life just a little easier – and environmentally friendly.
Lily (@_beautywithlily)
March 9, 2020I haven’t tried any eco-friendly products. I definitely should, though. I like the sound of a reusable tampon. I may have to give it a try.
Deborah
March 12, 2020Thank you for writing about this! I use a Diva cup and it has been a game changer! Environmentally friendly AND a money saver to boot!