We all know we need to do more, leave less of a trace, reduce plastic and our own carbon footprint where we can and luckily there are more sustainable and reusable options than ever and that includes period products.
So I decided to put three very different options to the test with the main criteria being reliability, sustainability, portability, ease of use and budget, with the last one being very important as I believe that sustainable options should be more accessible for those, like me, on a tight budget.
This reusable menstrual cup is one of the most budget-friendly on the market as well as having a social conscious as with every purchase they donate to help someone in the UK in need. The actual cups are non-toxic, hypoallergenic and made from medical-grade silicone (latex, phthalate, BPA free) and can be used over and over again.
I've tried a few cups before and Hey Girls are right up there with all the well-known brands (and it's won two awards to back that up) with being easy to use and a great travel-friendly option although it can leak if you have a particularly heavy flow which I do right at the start of my period so I tend to not use these out and about on the first and second day but that's just my personal preference. I would recommend definitely recommend these.
I have been trying these out for a while now and love them, I have the Bloomers trail kit which consists of 4 different size pads and works really well alongside my menstrual cup - I find these particularly comfortable to wear at night and at the start of my period for heavy flow or at the end when I don't need much protection and use a smaller pad. Firstly it's fantastic to see these pads are made in the UK with Oeko-Tex-certified fabrics and they make the waterproof layer from recycled plastic bottles, diverting them from landfills.
They are also more absorbent than disposable pads and I can vouch for that as well as being very soft and comfortable to wear. You may not think that reusable pads are great for traveling but pairing these up with their Out & About Bag which can hold 4 to 6 pads in separate waterproof compartments with one side for fresh and one for use which is perfect for a weekend away.
Single pads start from £4.75 and packs of three pads from £13.25 and can be rewashed and reused time and time again.
3. WUKA period pants
These period pants are super easy to use, you literally use them like normal underwear except they fully absorb your period, meaning no need for disposable pads and tampons. They are organic certified, vegan and carbon neutral and they also use plastic-free packaging as part of their commitment to being as sustainable as possible. Despite these being the easiest to use it actually took me the longest to get used to them as I founded them a little thick but after using them a few times I really like them especially if I'm wearing jeans or close-fitting clothing.
