Feminine Hygiene Goes Green

During the last few years, women have become more aware of the possible side-effects and dangers that come from using mass-market feminine hygiene products. The Tampon Safety and Research Act of 1999, passed by Congress, stated many tampons, sanitary pads and even diapers contain dioxins, by-products of the bleaching process used in the manufacturing of paper products. The EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer confirmed dioxins are possible human carcinogens that also put women at risk for “effects that could suppress the immune system, increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, reduce fertility, and interfere with fetal and childhood development.” The bill goes on to cite an independent study that found mass-market tampons contain additives such as chlorine, absorbency enhancers, synthetic fibers, deodorant and fragrance. These additives, especially synthetic fibers, amplify toxin production associated with toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a bacterial illness that occurs mainly in menstruating women.

In order to avoid many of these problems, some female consumers have turned to the natural and organic marketplace for options. There are many innovative products that women can use as safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives.

In the 1999 bill, Congress found 73 million women in the United States use tampons, and that a single woman may use as many as 16,800 in her lifetime—24,360 if she’s on estrogen replacement therapy. The Women’s Environmental Network stated one woman will use 2,190 disposable pads a year. The amount of waste is staggering, even before factoring in the wrappings and packaging. In its 2006 world-wide clean-up, the non-profit Ocean Conservancy found almost 20,000 tampon applicators underwater and along shorelines. While this is a vast improvement from its 1998-1999 study, in which they found 170,000 applicators, it’s still a distressing amount of waste.

The natural marketplace is trying to ease the flow of environmental damage by offering products that are friendly to both the body and the environment. Jade and Pearl sea sponge tampons, for example, are an all-natural alternative to cotton tampons. Sponge tampons last approximately six months before they need to be replaced and are 100-percent biodegradable. Supplied via GladRags, the sponges are easy to clean and can be refreshed using a bevy of natural cleaners.

Menstrual cups provide another alternative to tampons. They collect the menstrual flow inside the vagina, as opposed to absorbing it, which, according to Diana Morgan of GladRags, “will not dry out a woman’s natural moisture as tampons do, minimizing irritation.” The cup can be comfortably worn during any activity. “They’re cleaner than tampons; you’re not touching anything,” says Susan Carskadon, marketing and sales manager for the DivaCup. In addition, with proper use and care, a cup will last 10 years or more, saving women hundreds of dollars and dramatically reducing product waste.

Different kinds of menstrual cups use different materials. The Keeper, which has been on the market for almost 20 years, is made of all-natural, soft gum rubber. The Moon Cup and the Diva Cup are both made from silicone, an option for women with latex allergies. “This is medical-grade silicone, the same that’s used in heart valves and knee replacements, so that really gives women a lot of confidence,” explains Carskadon.

There are also options for women who don’t want to switch from tampons. Natracare originally introduced organic cotton tampons in 1993, and offers them in both applicator and non-applicator versions. Seventh Generation more recently developed its own line of tampons made with organically grown cotton. The tampons are whitened without using chlorine, eliminating residue from chlorinated hydrocarbons, including dioxin, and are free of rayon, dye and fragrance. Seventh Generation uses 100-percent recycled material in the packaging, and there is no applicator, eliminating unnecessary waste. However, Loveman said Seventh Generation is in the process of launching a tampon that comes in a 100-percent recycled cardboard applicator that is biodegradable.

Perhaps one of the most popular natural options is cloth pads. Comfort seems to be the key attraction, as Morgan said GladRags are “soft and breathable,” compared to plastic pads. GladRags makes a variety of cloth pads, which are made from “100-percent cotton and come in conventional cotton, organic undyed cotton and organic color cotton.” The pads are reusable, machine-washable, and can last more than five years.

For women who want the convenience of a disposable pad without chemicals or waste, Natracare developed pads that are chemical-free and made from natural materials. The moisture-barrier layer is made from BioPlastic, a biodegradable material made from plant cellulose. The pads are free of rayon and plastic, tend to be less bulky than cloth pads, and have an adhesive strip like mass-market pads, but are biodegradable and even compostable.

Unfortunately, according to Morgan, “many women are not aware of alternative feminine hygiene offerings. Women are inundated with commercials for disposable tampons and pads, and so this is the education that they receive as they begin menstruating—‘disposable options are the only clean, healthy way to absorb your flow.’” GladRags and other menstrual alternative companies have been working hard to re-educate women about their options. Carinne Chambers, owner and vice president of DivaCup, said, “It’s really about education. Women are very set in their ways, in general, and tampons and pads have been around for a long time. We’ve been told about that, and mostly only that, for our entire lifetime. It’s really about getting your head around a new concept. Once women take a minute to think about it ... their minds are changed.”

Courtney Loveman of Seventh Generation echoed the sentiment: “We struggled with how to make women aware of the existence of natural feminine hygiene options. I would say very few of them are aware. It’s just not a subject people talk about in public conversation.” In order to help educate women of their hygiene options and what they can do to help with the environment, Seventh Generation launched www.Tamponification.com, which allows women to discuss menstruation and their choices in an open, safe and even funny forum. With such a strong push for continued education for women about their options from these companies, the natural feminine hygiene marketplace will continue to grow. 

So Fresh and So Green

The popularity of natural intimate care products, such as personal lubricants, soaps and wipes, is on the rise.

Oceanus has developed a personal lubricant, named for and made from carrageenan, an ingredient naturally derived from Irish moss seaweed, also known as carrageenan moss. The lubricant is water-based and silicone-free, making it non-irritating and safe for sensitive skin. “Our product is not derived from petrochemicals,” said Stephen Roman of Dreamspan Product Innovation. “This makes our product much more environmentally friendly both from the perspective of not having to utilize our precious, non-renewable, natural resources as a starting material and not producing harmful byproducts in the process.” Eco-Essentials’ Sylk personal lubricant, made from extract of the kiwifruit vine, contains grapefruit seed extract, a “natural preservative, considered to be both antibacterial and antifungal.” Sylk is not flavored, colored or sweetened in order to preserve sensitive skin and to avoid triggering any skin allergies. Clotho Corp’s S.T. Health line includes a protective liquid soap and Septania wipes. The soap contains antioxidant sea buckthorn oil, chamomile to reduce irritation, plus vitamins A and E. The Septania Wipes contain witch hazel and chamomile, both of which help reduce itching and irritation, and have a soothing effect. The wipes are also perfume- and detergent-free. Both the soaps and the wipes “have a pH 4 to 5 range, which suits intimate areas and helps the body’s natural protection mechanism in the prevention and treatment of itching,” according to Clotho Corp.’s president, Vlad Shenker.

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