Creating Sustainable Cycles

Written By Anjali Jaster

by Anjali Jaster, Contributing Writer

I care about the planet. I am worried about global warming. I am a vegetarian. I recycle. Compost. Drive an electric car. I remind my family to turn lights off and minimize running water. I try to be aware of my own actions and choices. I am also a menstruator. And unfortunately, in a world crammed with self-conscious and judgmental humans, sustainably bleeding is not always easy or comfortable. A spot of blood on white jeans is embarrassing, the act of stealthily carrying a tampon to the bathroom awkward, and sickly cramps seem to have no place in our busy and androcentric lives. So, adding an emphasis of sustainable practices to menstrual cycles, and a pledge for sustainability, can be a difficult undertaking. The fact that our periods seem to hardly be embraced or societally understood makes the task no simpler.

In the five years that I have had my period, I have mainly chosen pads as my menstrual product of choice. They are what I find comfortable, simple, and stress-free. However, I find the amount of waste in a sanitary napkin appalling. I am consumed with guilt whenever I rip open the soft plastic, and feel just as bad when it is time to dispose of a used pad. I know that there are alternatives; I own plenty of period underwear — and they can be wonderful. But they don’t always hold as much blood as I want. Plus, I was afraid to wear them at school because of incidental bleed-throughs, or the gross idea of having dirty underwear sitting in my bag when I needed to change them. Not to mention the frustration in considering when I would be home next to change my period underwear, or if my flow would be light enough to even wear a certain pair. 

With a disposable pad, there is less worry, less time used, less cleaning, less smell. However, I also know that until humans no longer exist, there will be periods — and there will be waste. And with glaciers melting, oceans rising, more wildfires, and a lack of rain, Mother Earth does not need more plastic in her soil, or additional trash killing her animals. Furthermore, it has been estimated that more than 200,000 tons of period products are discarded every year. The microplastics that break down after these items have clogged sewers and filled the ocean are seriously dangerous for our ecosystems. Not to mention that it takes hundreds of years for them to decompose.

I understand that sustainability is currently not a world-recognized idea. Moreover, in most areas of life, being sustainable takes up more time — and unfortunately, sometimes more money. But for those who can invest in alternative products, please do. And for those willing to take the time to use and clean them, consider making a change. The planet’s future rests in our hands. By no means is it only the responsibility of menstruators to make the change — nor is it simply uterus-holding individuals who have the ability to make different consumer choices. However, I do believe that the feminine impact could be immense, beautiful, and powerful.

It is important to note that with period poverty impacting more than 500 million females across the globe, sustainability is often an added layer that is simply inconceivable. With minimal access to running water — and even privacy — for these girls and women, the importance lies in taking care of their bodies, and not allowing menstruation to inhibit their everyday tasks and lifestyles. Thus, the priority is to provide an abundance of safe and quality menstrual products to those who cannot access or pay for them — even if this means not all of these products can be reusable at this time, due to the locations and circumstances of these individuals. Once the scales have been tipped, with more favor towards equal avenues for all menstruators, then the system and products can be perfected. And of course, sustainability is still the end goal, because, as plastic production continues, the consequences become more dire for the Earth. Luckily, the more consumers are willing to buy products that are organic and multi-use — which causes increased demand — the more savings benefits will result for those buying ecological pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and underwear. Eventually, these essential products should become more accessible — and hopefully affordable — for an ever-increasing number of menstruators.

Bleeding is one of the most naturally human things that people with uteruses experience. It can even be empowering once we are able to remove the stigma about being dirty, overly emotional, and unchaste when we are menstruating. We are on a cycle that creates patterns with the moon, seasons, weather, and humans around us. Periods create a rhythm which influences the basis and structure of the ways we manage our lives. Menstruating is not always easy, it is often frustrating and painful, but it is an essential part of our bodies and ourselves. Periods are instinctual, intuitive, simple. Our bodies deserve extensive gratitude and awe for the cycles they create. Even though in the moments when our periods start a day early or our cramps change our rate of efficiency, it can seem easier and better to complain, rush to start using birth control in order to manage symptoms, or wish for the reproductive anatomy of a man.

Because periods are organic, the products that we use should be too. Not only are they better for our bodies, but they are also considerably superior for the environment. However, I do not just mean organic cotton or fabric, although there are certainly great benefits to those advances. We can choose to invest in innovations that will result in a better sense of being one with the Earth, which will also minimize what must be discarded — besides the blood and tissue from our bodies. Menstrual cycles are purposeful as they lead to new life, and the reason for reproduction is to provide the Earth with more plants, humans, and animals to support the growth of the planet. Unfortunately, most human choices and developments have been detrimental to the health of our world.

However, there can be symbiosis, and a natural balance is worth fighting for. Yes, there are many steps, and many areas of human life need reorienting and a reassessment of values. But the progress can be slow, and that is more than okay. And with the unbreakable relation that people with uteruses already have with the rhythm of life, our part is worthy and needed. While not easy, our choices will be influential. Compostable products have become my new go-to when I am bleeding heavily, or want less bulk for exercise or being in public. Underwear with just a thin lining are magical when I am waiting for my period to start, or when I only have spotting or discharge. I will then use regular period underwear at night or a few days into my cycle. True, the underwear require more thought if I want to be 100 percent sure to not risk a leak. And while I don’t find getting blood on my hands disturbing, the washing process can be a pain. Nonetheless, it is my passion to be sustainable, and my concerns about the fate of the planet make it worth it. Frankly, I could and should still do more. I can avoid buying products that require shipping, invest in reusable pads to not create any waste (even though what I use is compostable), and minimize the water I use to clean my underwear. Recognizing new resolutions on my part will probably always be necessary in our ever-evolving modern world, and it is a challenge I will accept.

Realizing and embracing our body’s deep connection that is rooted into the soil of our beautiful Earth is the first step. Then, imagine the ways in which menstrual products could look. With the innovative technology and passionate minds in our world, change is certain. But it is the moral and sustainable change that will continue to honor the cycle between the planet and menstruators. With the existence of over a billion people with their menses, we have the ability to create a legacy of Earth lovers, peacekeepers, attuned consumers, and harmonious bleeders. It starts with me, but it also starts with you. This positive transformation begins with the new and continued flows of blood that will come today, tomorrow, and with the next moon. 

Sustainable Menstrual Products

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