Sanitary napkins make up about 45% of household waste. That’s 9,000 metric tonnes of non-biodegradable solid waste produced annually in India. Pads aren’t even segregated into biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste efficiently.
Not only are pads bad for the environment, but they’re also bad for your body, too! Let’s look at the basic makeup of any brand of pad at the pharmacy. It is made of cotton, bleach, and plastic – Bisphenol A (BPA) and Bisphenol S (BPS).
The plastics in pads like BPA and BPS (which are also used in water bottles, DVDs, etc) have “confirmed toxicity” and can be irritants to the sensitive areas that it is exposed to.
BPA and BPS, also known as bisphenol-A and bisphenol-S, are compounds used to produce plastic. BPA has a low, acute, but confirmed toxicity. This leads some manufacturers to replace it with BPS (among others), but that has raised serious health concerns as well. BPS has been proven to enter the body through dermal absorption. In 2017 the European Chemicals Agency declared BPA a major health concern for the endocrine system.
Bleach is a known irritant, whether it is a tingling on the scalp at the salon or the rough patch it leaves on skin that comes into contact with cleaning bleach. In the long run, bleach can also darken the skin with continued exposure.
The cotton used in pads is sprayed with pesticides and herbicides, which, coming into contact with vaginal fluids, can create rashes and burning.
Thank goodness there’s been an alternative to sanitary napkins for almost 90 years – and no, I’m not talking about tampons. Tampons are made of the same bleached and pesticide-ridden cotton and can be even more harmful since it enters the vaginal canal. The cotton strands can attach to the inner vaginal walls due to dryness or prolonged use and cause TSS, or toxic shock syndrome.
I’m talking about menstrual cups. For those who aren’t aware, these are cups made of medical-grade silicone that are inserted like a tampon — and instead of absorbing, they collect the blood and clots in a cup. This can be removed and washed every few hours. Selecting the right brand of cup is crucial in ensuring that you opt for the safest product.
In short, they’re cheaper, more discreet, and easier to carry around than pads are.
Cups are a one-time investment. Spend (much) less than Rs 1,000/- at once, and you’re set for around five years. The average Indian woman spends almost Rs 40,000/- on sanitary ware (according to my discounted calculations.) Finally, choose the right brand. The packaging will be planet-friendly, which makes the purchase almost negligible compared to the 9 thousand metric tonnes of material that will last on the planet for 800-900 years.
Just this one change in your life can help the planet. I encourage all those with two X chromosomes to try it out.
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