How to Have a Plastic-Free Period

It’s hard to believe these haven’t existed for years, but flushable period pads have finally arrived. Fluus offers completely plastic-free, fully biodegradable pads that are made from plant fibres which are fully absorbent and then break down when flushed in the toilet. Yes, no more awkward sanitary bins needed, and you don’t need to feel guilty when you flush. While most period products can be stuck in landfill for over 500 years, these are broken down and turned into clean water, renewable energy, and fertiliser when it arrives at the water treatment centre. Order the non-toxic Flushable Day Pads (£5 for 15) as a monthly subscription or a one-off purchase and halve your carbon footprint in the proces. Pure genius!

DAME created the world’s first reusable tampon applicator (£17), which so far, has prevented a staggering 12 million single-use applicators from being thrown away. If you’re a tampon girl through and through, switching to this applicator and its matching organic cotton tampons (£8) will be a huge step towards sustainability. The tampons are stocked in Boots, so you’re less likely to be caught slipping. The brand also sells reusable pads, which come in pantyliner (£10), regular (£11), and night pad (£12) sizes. They’re ultra-thin, ultra-soft, ultra-absorbent, and really easy to wash. Nice job, DAME.

One POPSUGAR-favourite period-pant brand is Modibodi. Every single product on the site is plastic free, and the brand has recently launched a Biodegradable Brief (£34), which is made from a combination of natural and bioengineered synthetic textiles (basically, they’re good for the environment and super stretchy and comfy). These knickers can be washed more than 100 times, which is pretty impressive.

Elsewhere on the site, Modibodi caters to babies and adults of all genders. The brand makes leak-proof swimwear, activewear, and sensual undies for when you want to feel a little sexier. We love the brand’s totally stylish collaboration with PUMA that completely replaces the need for pads and tampons. The products, from leggings to briefs, wick moisture, sweat, fluid and odour to keep you feeling fresh as you train, without the discomfort of disposables. And they’re 100 percent plastic free.

By purchasing from UK-based brand Hey Girls, (which was founded by a mother and her two daughters) you’re getting a trifecta of goodness. You’re buying an eco-friendly alternative to period pads, saving money in the long run, and the brand operates a buy one, donate one scheme whereby for each product sold, Hey Girls donates a product to someone in need. If you’re starting out in your reusable period pad journey, we recommend trying the Hey Girls Reusable Period Night Pads (£36 for five pads and a wet bag).

If you’re looking for an even more sustainable option, consider a period cup such as the BeYou Menstrual Cup (£15). Menstrual cups can last up to 10 years, which drastically reduces single-use waste over the years. They hold up to three tampons worth and are super easy to clean. BeYou has a quiz so you can even work out the cost saving when using a cup versus a pad or tampon. However, cups are definitely a product that take some getting used to, and isn’t an ideal option for everyone, including people who have an IUD.

TOTM (Time of the Month) prides itself on tackling the issue of period plastics. The products are made without fragrance, synthetic absorbents, and chlorine bleach – basically anything that has the potential to cause irritation. To make sure you’re never without them, TOTM offers a subscription service full of your preferred sanitary products. TOTM is stocked in Tesco, Superdrug, and Ocado, so the brand is super easy to get hold of.

Another great, accessible period-brand option is Flo. The products come in the cutest ice-cream-tub packaging and are 100 percent plastic free. Available at Boots and Boots.com, Flo tampons (£4) and pads (£3) are really affordable. The pads are made from organic bamboo and wrapped in biodegradable plant-based wrappers (they’re also incredibly soft and comfortable). The tampons are made from recyclable sugarcane, and no chlorine bleach, synthetic fibres, dyes, fragrances, or allergens are used during the process. Result! If you’re super forgetful, use the brand’s handy subscription service. It’s customisable based on your cycle and needs, so you won’t be caught unprepared.

If you didn’t think tampons could be trendy, wait until you meet Ohne. Think of it as the Glossier of periods. Ohne specialises in tampons that come either with (from £6) or without a cardboard applicator (from £5). To make sure you’re never stuck without a supply, you can opt into its subscription services to get your favourite products delivered to your door. The brand also makes the most subtle period pants (£27). They are super effective and literally look like your average pair of knickers, which is a bonus. Ohne has also become known for its CBD period-cramp oil; some customers (and the brand’s cofounder) even add a drop to their tampons before inserting, but please speak to your doctor before doing this. No one wants unwanted irritation (or worse) down there.

One of the most beautiful period brands out there has to be Freda. The brand offers tampons (from £3.60, depending on absorbency and quantity), various pads, and teen starter packs that are hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and chlorine-free. Freda is completely transparent that it still uses some plastic packaging, however reassuring customers that it is recyclable.

WUKA is one of the most size-inclusive and body-positive period-pant ranges on the market, catering from size XXS to 6XL. The products really pack a punch, too, holding from two to six tampons’ worth of period blood. Offering all kinds of period clothing, from sport shorts and swimwear to leggings and hipsters, you’ll find exactly what you need at WUKA. Our favourite is the genius WUKA Flex (£16), which is the world’s first adjustable period pant. These nifty little knickers allow you to change your period pants without the need to undress.

Saalt exclusively creates clean, high-performance products using medical-grade, 100 percent recyclable materials. Everything Saalt makes is really beautiful. From Himalayan Pink period cups (£25) to lace leakproof underwear (£32), the brand is making periods feel prettier and more sustainable.

Nixit’s disc-style menstrual cups (£36) are made from 100 percent medical-grade silicone and arrive at your door in a plastic-free, reusable box. In 3.5 years on the market, Nixit has diverted over 4.2 million pounds of period product waste from landfill! The difference between discs and cups is that discs sit in the vaginal fornix, right under the cervix, rather than in the vaginal canal where tampons and other cups sit. It tucks behind the pubic bone and relies on one’s anatomy to stay in place, rather than creating a seal with suction. Because of this, many people with IUDs prefer discs.