Fight against straws, plastic bags, bottles of water is common but what about pads. Most disposable pads contain the same amount of plastic as 4 supermarket bags! Who knew a pad was 90% plastic?
Iman Najeeb, a green at heart student, was always conscious about her impact on the environment. “I believe in a green lifestyle”.
So, lets get to it. “Feminine hygiene” you’re under investigation- brace yourself!

Image via Recircle

We tried tempting you to give menstrual cups a try for a better, cleaner future, via our zero waste periods post: http://blog.generation.com.pk//zero-waste-periods/
We know menstrual cups can seem a little daunting for a lot of you, so we’ve another solution; reusable cotton pads!
On our blog today Iman refers to using reusable cotton pads. “Instead of going to landfills where they don’t biodegrade, cloth pads can be washed and reused again,” Iman explains.

WHAT IS IT?

Reusable cotton pads are a modern twist to the age-old practice of using soft, gentle, washable and reusable cloth. “Cotton pads are really comfortable,” she says, stroking the soft, fluffy pads. “It feels like you’re just wearing panties” says Iman.
However, reusable pads are an eco-friendly alternative to all of that waste. How do they work? Cloth pads are most similar to sanitary pads, in that you simply put them in your underwear and they absorb your flow. When they’re ready to be changed, instead of tossing them, you rinse them in cold water, then add them into your laundry cycle.
 

 
Reusable cotton pads last anywhere from 5-10 years depending on how long your cycle lasts, how well you take care of them etc.

WHY SHOULD YOU USE THEM?

For the environment
Cloth pads are good environmentally. But from a pure hygiene viewpoint — sanitary pads and cloth pads are the same. Many disposable pads and tampons contain little bits of plastic that’ll still be hanging around in 500-800 years from now. We’re not even going to live that long, why should our waste?

Check out this video on reducing your female hygiene waste on the go!
For your bodies
Many disposable pads contain plastic chemicals and can even contain BPA and other plastic chemicals which can release harmful toxins. Yikes, that doesn’t sound good – brb ordering reusable pads for all the women I know and love.
For your wallets
Disposables Rs600 per month x 12 months = Rs7200 per year Rs36,000 for 5 years
Cloth Pads Rs6,000 one-time cost Rs6,000 for 5 years
This is a breakdown of average costs and look at all the money you’re saving! That just means more money for food, food over everything, especially pads!
And there you have it ladies, all the reasons why you should make the change from disposable pads to reusable pads.
Ready to Make the Switch to Environmentally Friendly Period Products? Start your eco-friendly period now by purchasing reusable pads at Code Green.
Cover image:  Code Green.