Organic feminine care market products include sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups, panty liners & shields and panty liners & shields that are free of chemicals to help reduce waste and plastic pollution.
However, no evidence suggests organic tampons are safer for women than traditional ones; in fact, they could contain similar hormone-disrupting chemicals as their conventional counterparts.
Eco-friendly
Switching to organic pads or tampons can help lower your environmental impact. Cotton used for these products is grown without pesticides, meaning fewer chemicals entering the environment and faster degradation; plus they won’t pollute landfills as quickly.
Choose organic tampons certified by an independent third party, without fragrances or endocrine-disrupting chemicals, since such hormones can enter the bloodstream via vagina and cause problems like endometriosis, cysts or low estrogen levels.
Organic menstrual products are often home compostable, making it easy to recycle them after use. Furthermore, organic options typically feature less plastic applicators – which contribute significantly to global pollution – making these an eco-friendly option that you can reuse time after time or dispose of when no longer necessary. Brands like Natracare and Ohne offer plastic-free options with reusable applicators which can be reused over and over or even when no longer required.
Non-toxic
No matter which form of period care products you prefer – pads or tampons – non-toxic options offer great advantages. Free from PFAS, phthalates, styrene, endocrine disruptors, fragrances, etc. they can help ease cramps and pain when applied regularly and they feel just as comfy!
Many consumers opt for organic tampons because they do not contain bleach, which emits dioxin. Dioxin can be produced when wood pulp is bleached with elemental chlorine gas; however, studies have demonstrated that tampons don’t pose significant dioxin exposure risks to our bodies.
No matter the claims that organic tampons are safer, they don’t seem to have any bearing on Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), an uncommon but potentially life-threatening condition caused by wearing too long or not changing regularly enough. Though TSS may occur from overexertion of tampon use alone or through multiple causes combining together, many factors also increase its risk.
Non-irritating
Many women find conventional tampons irritating, and organic ones may offer relief. Crafted from one hundred percent cotton, organic tampons do not contain dyes, plastic components in the string or applicator, bleach fragrance phthalates pesticide-treated cotton as well as cellulose that may aggravate irritation.
Researchers have discovered that menstrual products contain detectable levels of chemicals known to disrupt hormones. These chemicals include phenols, parabens and volatile organic compounds – substances which are absorbed directly by vaginal tissue thanks to permeable barriers and first-pass effects. This discovery highlights the need for further investigation of menstrual products use.
Furthermore, it’s essential to select brands with sustainable practices that adhere to ethical principles. Search out companies who source cotton from responsible farmers and give back to those in need – this helps reduce environmental impact as well as TSS risk, an illness which causes fevers, low blood pressure and rashes.
Comfortable
Organic menstrual products provide peace of mind knowing you’re safeguarding vaginal tissue against chemicals that can interfere with hormones and cause endocrine disruption, commonly found in traditional tampons and pads.
Most women find switching to organic tampons more comfortable, with reduced itching and cramping, as well as healthier for the environment as they don’t contain synthetic materials or bleach. Furthermore, organic cotton material makes for more eco-friendly production that’s free from phthalates, deodorant fragrance or dyes – plus they tend to biodegrade more easily!
Organic tampons and pads use organic cotton harvested using sustainable farming practices, and do not contain dyes, fragrances, endocrine-disrupting dioxins or BPA (found in plastics and non-biodegradable applicators), unlike mainstream brands that often do. Look for third-party certification such as GOTS, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 or Made Safe to verify quality assurance of organic tampons before purchasing them.