Menstruation is not an exception to the widespread use of plastic in modern life. Many of the menstruation support products contain little or lots of plastic. Some brands try to improve the designs of the sanitary products to make them more appealing, only to end up adding even more plastic to them.
Why are plastic sanitary pads not the right choices for women? Because, plastic does not rot, and all these sanitary products end up in landfills as plastic waste. Therefore, they contribute to environmental degradation, not forgetting the harm they do to those using them.
However, things are changing today, as more women from all over the world embrace biodegradable sanitary pads over conventional menstrual support products. All this is due to a combination of social pressure, more knowledge on the benefits of embracing organic and biodegradable menstrual support solutions, and technology.
What Are Biodegradable Sanitary Pads?
Biodegradable sanitary pads are made from environmentally friendly organic materials such as cotton or plant starch that dissolve easily over time.
The first biodegradable sanitary pad was invented in the 1980s. However, it took about 30 years for them to become more popular and widely used over the traditional sanitary pads. Since you cannot flush them down the toilet, you need to put these products in a composting bin or dispose of them responsibly.
You also need to change them regularly and discard them with care around wildlife and water sources like ponds and rivers. Biodegradable sanitary pads are of two types – cloth pads and disposable pads. Cloth pads are essentially reusable hygienic napkins that you can wash with soap and water to reuse for the next cycle, while disposable ones need to be tossed out after every use.
Other types of biodegradable sanitary pads that are all the rage today include Organic Cotton Sanitary Pads and Anion Sanitary Pads.
Anion Sanitary Pads
Anion sanitary pads are the newest entry into the menstrual support products in the market. They are gaining fast popularity worldwide because they provide comfort, support, and high absorbency. Furthermore, they offer immense health benefits.
Anion sanitary pads are made with organic materials and an anion strip. The negatively charged ion strip helps to neutralize oppositely charged ions, thus preventing infections, skin inflammations and other health issues.
The anion strip also keeps menstrual odors at bay, and scientific findings show that it helps cure and prevent many other health issues. Moreover, anion sanitary pads are disposable and biodegradable.
Organic Sanitary Pads
Organic sanitary pad makers use only natural materials to produce their products, such as cotton and hemp. This means that no plastics, rayon, dyes, or bleaches are used in the manufacturing process.
There are many benefits of organic sanitary pads, including being biodegradable. They provide more comfort for your skin due to the non-irritant materials. Conventional sanitary pads on the hand use synthetics on their sanitary napkins.
How Are Biodegradable Sanitary Pads Different From Ordinary Sanitary Pads?
Sanitary pads are a necessity for many women, but it is not just a matter of providing menstrual support. For many years, women lacked safe menstrual support products, but with the onset of organic biodegradable sanitary pads, that is slowly becoming a thing of the past. The benefits of choosing biodegradable organic sanitary pads over their conventional counterparts are as follows:
Ecofriendly
One of the most significant benefits of biodegradable sanitary pads is being eco-friendly. They are made with materials that decompose quickly, so you do not have to worry about them filling the landfills. The materials break down without causing harm to the environment or the animals both on land and sea.
Comfort
Since most biodegradable sanitary pads are a soft organic material, they feel comfortable on the skin and around the genital area. You can stay with a pad for as long as it takes until you change it without experiencing any discomfort throughout your cycle.
Period underwear is another good alternative.
Hygienic and safe
Hygiene is one of the critical factors to consider during the menstrual cycle. The vaginal area is especially vulnerable during this period, and any harmful chemicals could cause infections or skin inflammations.
Biodegradable sanitary pads made from Organic materials are hygienic, as they do not contain any harmful chemicals or plastics that might cause skin inflammations or infections. They are also pH compatible and free from chlorine.
The top layer of biodegradable sanitary pads is porous, high quality and made with natural organic material. Moreover, they do not have any added artificial fragrances.
Cost-effective
There are widespread concerns that biodegradable sanitary pads are more costly than conventional pads. However, the difference in price between the two is very insignificant. If you think about what you gain by investing slightly more money on biodegradable sanitary pads, you realize that you end up saving money in the long term.
You will not have to worry about finding expensive ways to dispose of your pads; your health will be safe as they are more hygienic, and most of all, they are comfortable.
Beneficial to the farmers
In addition to being environmentally friendly, biodegradable sanitary pads also benefit the farmers that provide pad-making companies with natural products. They grow the materials organically without the use of any chemicals. The money they get goes back to making their lives better.
Packaging
Unlike conventional sanitary pads, biodegradable pads come in biodegradable bags for every pad. Some bands, such as Always, use readily biodegradable cardboard and paperboard boxes for packing their sanitary pads.
Wrapping up
Plastic-based menstrual hygiene products are abundant on the market. However, you do not have to continue using them when you have an alternative. Remember that your genital hygiene is just as vital as any other aspect of your hygiene. Make the switch to biodegradable sanitary pads that provide hygienic and comfortable solutions for periods. They do this by preventing any irritation or infections from non-biodegradable materials. They are also safe for the environment because they require no water to decompose. Furthermore, these products are cost-effective because they can be reused if properly disposed of.