Disposable pads can take around 500 to 800 years in landfills before decomposing. Tampons can take up to 800 years in landfills before decomposing. Sounds pretty bad for the environment, doesn’t it? Fortunately, sustainable alternatives for feminine products have now become an option, offering benefits both to the environment and to your own body. 

Most people know about popular period products such as tampons and pads, but there are many lesser known products such as period underwear, menstrual sponges, and menstrual discs. These products offer a more comfortable and sustainable alternative to the usual period products you see.

There are a large variety of menstrual products that people can use to manage their periods. Most commonly, pads and tampons are used, with menstrual cups becoming more popular in recent years.

What is period poverty? According to the National Library of Medicine, period poverty is the lack of access to safe and hygienic menstrual products during a woman’s monthly period. These products include pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. This term also refers to a lack of education necessary to use period products.