The great thing about menstrual cups is not only do they save you money, as they should last at least 10 years, they also save loads of waste. It argued that, while chemicals found in tests may be present at a level deemed safe, there had not been enough research into whether people were also being exposed through other means and how this might increase risk. Adding a spoonful of bicarbonate of soda helps stop smells. If your washable sanitary items are made with synthetic fibres, use a Guppyfriend wash bag to stop microplastic pollution from your laundry entering the waterways.

Depending on your flow and needs, some features may make your experience with pads more comfortable and discreet. Keeping the same rotors won’t be a disaster, though – it’ll just take the new pads longer to bed in. We took a deep dive into researching the world of menstrual pads—the materials used, why they’re important, and what brands you can rely on to offer a safe and eco-friendly product. Currently, OB-GYNs suggest that non-organic pads are just as safe as organic pads. However, that’s for you to decide; there hasn’t been a lot of research on the subject yet, and recent studies have shown some risk.

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If you’re offended by noisy brakes, organic pads are for you. Also referred to as resin pads, they’re the quietest option. They also give you sharper braking and don’t need to warm up before they start to work well. The average number of tampons or towels used per period is around 22. So that means that the average woman will use around 9,900 tampons or towels over their lifetime.

Still, there can be other benefits to using organic pads: For women who are prone to irritation (like external itching, chafing or rashes, and even imbalances of their vaginal flora), ditching synthetic products for organic ones can provide some relief. "In general, the fewer materials or ingredients in a product, the lower the chances they can incite a reaction," says Dr. Kudesia. "It seems possible that women feeling irritation from traditional products might experience relief with organic ones." Plus, organic products are better for the environment. Requires Less Effort: With this design, owners have to push less on the brake pedal to activate the stopping power. However, some menstrual pads do claim to be compostable at home with the right methods and enough time. The brand Natracare says that their product breaks down in 18-24 months, which is a large commitment. In those days, ideas were spread by word of mouth rather than social media, and it was a cyclist hearing about the rubber cups at a Critical Mass demonstration in 1999, that led to the development of the silicone Mooncup. Ceramic brake pads first entered the market during the 1980s and have been steadily gaining in popularity. Pros

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While we are paying our ‘tampon tax’, a number of companies on our list are likely to be avoiding paying their fair share of corporation tax. By the 1980s, according to the women who own the Keeper business, “ Changing culture meant women had new power and ownership of their bodies." Tena is owned by Essity which appeared in our toilet paper guide as the owner of the Cushelle and Velvet brands. It scored 5.5. All pads share the same purpose, but there can be a lot of differences between two similar-looking products. Here’s what to pay close attention to when making your selection. Absorbency

While these are just the basic differences, there is much more to it. Let’s take a deeper look into the differences between organic vs. ceramic brake pads: What are Organic Brake Pads? There are many other brands on the market, but some of them may be very cheap but not necessarily safe. Perhaps exacerbated by the imminent threat of climate change and extended time spent in isolation or on furlough, recent years have seen an increase in start-up companies who are now beginning to go toe-to-toe with larger enterprises in all sorts of areas. Their selling point? Sustainability.There’s a plethora of chemicals and mystery ingredients used in the manufacture of tampons and pads and only recently has the world started to talk about it.