Now, the zero waste trend is also about rules.
Abandoning disposable hygienic protections for period panties allows you to have periods that do not pollute either our body or the planet.
As a bonus, we can find pretty ones.
Two billion.
This is the number of tampons and towels thrown away each year in France alone.
Disposable, non-recyclable protections that are regularly questioned because of the chemicals and other pesticide residues that many of them contain.
Fortunately, alternatives that are more respectful of the body and the environment exist.
On the occasion of May 28, World Menstrual Hygiene Day,
20 Minutes is
interested in periods in zero waste mode.
Polluting hygienic protections
Glyphosate, plastics from petrochemicals, phthalates and dioxins: as we have said, the composition of disposable hygienic protections is regularly pointed out by consumer associations, who warn of the presence of “potentially toxic residues” contained in tampons and towels.
A source of pollution, as underlined by the Ecological Transition Agency (Ademe), which has studied “the environmental impacts of absorbent hygienic protections”.
And these products (which also cover baby diapers and protections against urinary leakage) pollute at all stages, from their production and the extraction of raw materials to their end of life. "The production of fibers and textiles, the consumption of electricity and heat to assemble the various components, contribute to climate change [with greenhouse gas emissions] and to the depletion of fossil resources", notes Ademe. A process which also has "an impact on human health and aquatic ecotoxicity".
In her lifetime, a woman will use up to 15,000 disposable sanitary pads.
However, a towel takes between 500 and 800 years to decompose.
Once in the trash, tampons, towels and their plastic packaging end up buried or incinerated.
At this rate, having your "ragnagnas" costs candy: on average 3,000 euros in a lifetime, just in towels and tampons.
“I had my first zero waste period, I feel like a“ consumer ”!
"
In comparison, washable and reusable period panties - some of which have an absorption capacity equivalent to four tampons - prevent a significant amount of waste. “We can express our ecological sensitivity on a daily basis, whether with clothes produced in an eco-responsible way or by adopting organic and bulk food. So why not with the rules? Asks Laure, who recently bought and tested two period panties. I still use tampons, and I can't see myself without them, especially in the summer at the beach. But I find it interesting to reduce my period waste just with two panties bought at the supermarket ”. This is the case with the Naturalia brand, which has been marketing very high-performance, organic, ethical and made in France menstrual panties for a few months.
Among the brands available in France, Elia lingerie is part of a global virtuous approach. “Our menstrual lingerie is 100% made in France, in certified organic cotton, and made with absorbent plant fibers from forests managed in an eco-responsible way, to ensure better conservation of resources. We even set up a predictive algorithm that allows orders to be anticipated, so as to produce only the right amount of panties, ”
Marion Goilav, his co-founder
, explains to
20 Minutes
.
Arguments that convinced Melissa, who has just converted to period panties. “In recent years, there has been a lot more talk about zero waste consumption and issues related to women's health, such as toxic shock syndrome caused by tampons, which I have used for many years. I was diagnosed with endometriosis, and although the causal link was not proven, I made the choice to stop using tampons altogether. But with each cycle, I filled the bathroom trash can with my towels that were moderately comfortable and felt like I was wearing a diaper. So I wanted to go to zero waste. We were in full re-containment, teleworking, I said to myself that it was the right moment. Few months ago,I ordered a selection of period panties adapted to my flow, and I had my first zero waste period! It's very gratifying to think that you haven't generated any. With this approach, I feel like a "consumer", it's a real revolution! "
Effective and pretty panties
Before, the special period lingerie meant for many women a small collection of faded panties, ready to be sacrificed on the altar of menstruation.
But that was before.
Because today, in addition to being effective, period panties are also pretty.
Colors, lace and lurex, high waist or thong version, the Loop brand has taken care of the look of its period panties.
"Why would having your period mean not being able to wear underwear that is as elegant as it is comfortable?"
"Asked Morgane Tireau, co-founder of the brand, who no longer wants women" to live their periods as a constraint.
Less constraints, but more investment, since it takes an average of thirty euros per panty. "Initially, the price slowed me down", confides Laure, who "intends to buy others, gradually, especially as it will pay off in the long term". A good calculation, since a period panty has a lifespan of three to five years.
On the maintenance side, just rinse them in cold water before washing them in the machine with the rest of the laundry (in a lingerie net and without fabric softener).
And in practice, “it's very liberating.
We put one on in the morning and one in the evening, it's comfortable and pretty.
In short, it allows you to forget that you have your period, summarizes Melissa.
As a bonus, we no longer have the fear of seeing the English disembark when we forgot to replenish tampons and towels at the supermarket.
If one day I have daughters, I will buy them direct, it really changes my life!
"A call of the foot already heard by several brands, including Elia and Loop, which offer models adapted to young girls from their first period.
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