cycle green.

Is your period as light as it could be?  This one’s for the ladies but men, if you want to tell your girl about it, she’d probably be impressed.  2 billion sanitary pads and 7 billion tampons are dumped into the North American environment each year. More than 170,000 tampon applicators were collected along U.S. coastal areas between 1998 and 1999. For real. To make matters worse, most tampons and pads contain surfactants, adhesives and additives while most pads contain polyethylene plastic whose production is a pollutant. Also, dioxin, a known carcinogen, is a by-product of the bleaching process of tampons containing rayon. In landfills, many of these substances can leach into the environment (groundwater, streams and lakes) causing serious pollution and health concerns.  Enter the greener alternative.  There are a few companies that make 100% organic cotton, unbleached or hydrogen peroxide bleached (instead of chlorine) tampons and maxi pads.  The tampons are applicator free or made of recycled cardboard and the outside packaging is usually kept to a minimum and made from biodegradable or recycled materials.  Seventh Generation, Natracare and Maxim are all good alternatives and can be found in most health food stores.  If you’re really looking to lighten your load on the landfill, try washable cloth pads.  They’re a great way to decrease your waste and increase your cash flow.   The Diva Cup is also an innovative, waste free, money saving option in the form of a reusable silicone cup.   Next month, take the opportunity to do the planet and your body a whole lotta good.