Ditch the Disposables!

Paige Schaffner The DivaCup

For years disposable feminine hygiene products, such as pads and tampons, have been the “go-to” for menstrual care. They’re second nature – and we’ve learned to live with the hassle of this added monthly cost, additional bathroom breaks, not to mention sacrificing valuable shoe-space in our luggage for a box of emergency tampons. But however inconvenient disposable feminine care products might be, there’s a bigger problem with mainstream pads and tampons and plenty of reasons you should consider ditching the disposables!

Here are some fun facts tampons and pads never told you:

• Sanitary pads can be made up of 90 percent plastic and one box of sanitary pads is equal to four plastic bags! Yuck.

• When using tampons, a woman’s body may be exposed to a combination of harmful materials, such as rayon or cotton that contain traces of chemicals of concern, plastics, fragrances and dyes.

• During its manufacturing process, cotton (and yes, including cotton used in tampons) can be exposed to fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.

• Also found in some mainstream tampons is the synthetic fiber rayon, which contributes to environmental pollution and can leave trace residue on the vaginal walls.

In addition to health concerns, there is the waste factor. On average, a woman will use approximately 17,000 disposable feminine hygiene products during her menstrual years — most of these products end up in landfills. What’s more, a woman can spend up to $5,000 on disposable products over her menstrual years – no thank you!

Good news! There are other options for menstrual care.

Such options include cloth pads and menstrual cups. Menstrual cups have been around for over 80 years, but the truth about them has been lost in the frenzy of disposables! Today, the stigma surrounding menstruation is decreasing and period conversations are becoming more positive. In response to positive period talk, sustainable options, like The DivaCup, menstrual cup are becoming more popular and accessible.

It’s time we had a better period experience: better for our wallets, better for the environment – and most importantly, let’s take control of our health and feel good about what we are putting into our bodies.

Diva International Inc., maker of The DivaCup and DivaWash is excited to announce our partnership with Women’s Voices for the Earth. The partnership is based on a vision that the company has to be committed to promoting a toxic-free future and healthy working environments for their organization, products and customers. Together, the partnership will strive to create transparency between harmful, toxic consumer products and encourage brands to disclose the ingredients in their products, as well as increase the awareness of toxic chemicals in our daily environments.

Every experience with The DivaCup, or any menstrual cup, is different. Some may have positive experiences from the beginning and for others, it may take a little longer to fully understand and get the hang of it. In the end, the benefits can be life-changing! Don’t believe it? Learn more what women are saying about The DivaCup.