Tag: Trash

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My time of the month just went “Perfectly Green”

Happy International Women’s Day!  I hope everyone has had a lovely weekend. In spirit of this national holiday, I thought I’d finally write a post about a decision I made 4 months ago that completely changed my life.  I started to use a reusable menstrual cup for that not-so-lovely time of month.  My blog is all about how imperfectly green, but I am proud to say this might be my greenest move yet.

You may be thinking, “ugh that’s gross” and “wouldn’t that be uncomfortable?” and “how does that work?!” All were thoughts running through my head before I gave this a try.

But first, let me start with some statistics – cause I love a good horror to prompt me into action:

  • In one’s lifetime, an average of 11,000 tampons or pads will be used to cover menstruation. That’s 22 in a month or 264 a year! Imagine multiplying that number for every woman on the planet!

*Image by OrganiCup

  • It’s not just the tampon or pad, how about the waste? Besides the cardboard box, the individual plastic packaging is rarely recyclable and it generates more than 200,000 tonnes of waste per year. Average user will throw away 125 to 150 kgs of tampons, pads and applicators away in their lifetime, YUCK! And you know where they end up….landfills, and even worse, oceans and beaches.  In 2010, a UK beach clean found an average of 23 sanitary pads and 9 tampon applicators per kilometre of British coastline.  In the US,  12 billion pads and 7 million tampons pollute landfills annually.
  • Tampons, pads and panty liners are mostly made up of plastic, about 90% to be precise.  A pad is equivalent to about 4 plastic bags.  Also, similarly  cited in my post about reusable vs disposable nappies; it takes a tremendous amount of time for tampons and pads to break down,  upwards of 500-800 years. Imagine it having a longer life span than you and several generations! Especially when it’s wrapped in plastic.
  • Manufacturing takes a toll on the environment too; turning wood into soft cotton like fibres is resource and chemical intensive. Disposable of menstrual products leaves a carbon footprint of 5.3 kg CO2 equivalents.  Not to mention,  products also contain dioxin, chlorine and rayon which get soaked by ground water and are released as pollution into the air.
  • Finally,  its an expensive time of the month.  A study by Plan International UK averaged that a period cost £500/year for the average woman. This amount includes not just the cost of the menstrual products but also accessories like pain relief and new clothing/toiletries, because it is not easy dealing with this!  If a woman uses 11,000 or more disposables in her lifetime, she will buy 20 tampons/pads at average £3-5 a box, you’re basically going to spend thousands on trash.

So between the environmental impact and cost savings, I knew I had to give this a try.

My mom introduced me to it over a decade ago, at the time it was more like a menstrual disk. She said that it changed her life and I wish I had listened back then. I don’t think there was a whole lot of talk about  at that time, nor the sheer number of options.

I started to Google around and there are several brands offering reusable products. I found reusable menstrual pads (ones which you wash) but I was pretty sure I didn’t want to go that route; not only do I hate pads with a passion, but that wouldn’t work for me on the go, and the laundry requirement would mean a lot of water/energy consumption. Instead, I went with the reusable menstrual cup by Intima.

Intima has several versions and types of cups. I went with the Intima Lily Cup One because it was marketed as the best one for beginners. It has an easy-pull tab, and it folds into this adorable little pink clam shell case.

I won’t lie to ya, it was a bit awkward getting in and out the first couple times, mainly because you have to fold the cup to the right shape so it goes it properly and then opens to create a “seal” that then collects fluid and prevents leaks.  I don’t want to go into much detail but I did have a mishap the first 2 days I used it cause I didn’t quite get it right. But once I did, it was absolutely perfect. It’s made of soft silicone and very comfortable going in. You don’t feel a thing (just as you wouldn’t with a tampon when inserted properly). My favourite part is that it lasts for up to 12 hours, so if you’re a medium-flow person like me, you wont have to worry about it for most of the day.

So what if you have to change it? This is the awkward part but I don’t mind it anymore.  I can put it on in the morning, not have to deal with it until I come home. But if its a particularly heavy day, you might want to take it out, dump, wash and reinsert. The only way you can do this especially if you’re out and about is to go to a family or disabled bathroom so you can use the sink in privacy.  This is what I do but it’s rarely a need since the cup covers me for 99% of the time.  There are a few models I’ve seen which now have a “release valve” at the tip/end to dispose of menstrual fluid  without needing to pull out the cup entirely. I think I might have to give that a go next, but so far so good.  I am so glad to never again have to uncomfortably sneak of tampons to the bathroom at work, or deal with gross dangling strings and cold applicators.

So if you’re imperfectly green woman with a period and want something easy to reduce your carbon footprint now, this is seriously an amazing place to start.

Below are a few brands that I’ve read of that you can give a try. As I mentioned above, I’m not quite into the reusable pad option due to the laundry/water/energy requirement, but they are still a far better option than disposables.

  • Intima Cups – the brand I went with to start, has a great variety and very reliable
  • Tulip Cup – the one that has a “drain” or “release” valve
  • Glad Rags – has both reusable cups and pads, and great for educational resources
  • Flex – this is the one for you if you want to have sex while on your period
  • Diva Cups – the one that seems to be the most popular one on YouTube. Recommended for people with vaginas who haven’t given birth vaginally
  • Lunapads – the one all the girls seem to say is the most absorbent and leakproof if you want to go with pads.
  • Earthwise Girls – same as above but UK version
  • Greenlife – this brand makes a cup that’s made of a Fair Trade natural rubber.
  • ImseVimse – a Swedish brand that makes a lot of reusable products
  • OrganiCup – a great brand  made of soft, organic materials.
  • Monki x Lunette – a great brand if you want to support a company on a mission to help women around the world.
  • Eva Cup – this one is cool because it comes with an extra set and a water-based sanitising spray to keep you clean.

Above is definitely not an exhaustive list, but give them a go!  I wish I had known about these brands before I bought my cup and wrote this blog.  There are quite a few cute ones here I would have liked to try. However, in the interest of minimalism, reducing my spending and overall waste, as the expression goes, if it “ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” I love my cup and I’m a user for life (or as long as my cup lasts me)!

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It’s the most Eco-Unfriendly time of the year

Today, I want to talk about the most pertinent topic on everyone’s mind – the holidays.

Whether you observe an end-of-year holiday or not, it is very likely that your spending has gone up, and the trash associated with it.  The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the amount of trash people produce goes upwards of 25% just over the holidays! Some of you, with the best intentions aim to recycle holiday items, but we all should know by now, very little that goes in your recycling bin can and will be recycled – just ending up in landfills overseas. I hope you keep reading because there may be things you’re doing that you didn’t think were earth-unfriendly but with just a few small tweaks, even you can bring in the new year on a greener note!

Holidays share of waste and my goal is to minimise as much as possible. My personal goal each year is to have a waste-free Christmas. I think this year our family’s experience is imperfect but it’s a start. So how did we do it? 

I’ve raked through the Interwebs and talked to a few eco-experts to get some ideas. 

 

Gifts & Gift Wrap

I am a sucker for  beautifully wrapped gifts. However, it was only this year that it occurred to me that a lot of gift wrap is not recyclable. This article from the BBC explains that gift tags and paper often contain foil and glitter elements, which automatically make it impossible to recycle. A lot of fancy wrapping papers also contain plastic pieces and when its laminated into the plastic (the shiny look and feel) it’s a guarantee it will end up in the dump. Because of this, many recycling plants won’t take wrapping paper and, according to one study, about 108 million rolls get thrown away. When the bits of tape are left on, that is problematic too. 

Before I go any further and sound like the Grinch, you should know I am a very artsy person, so here are some ways I’ve gotten around it:

  • Use brown paper bags and get yourself some creative holiday stamps to decorate the bag and wrap gifts per usual.
  • Go retro and use newspaper, music sheets, or fabrics such as hand towels or pillow cases (this is an especially fun one because it serves as a second gift!)
  • Buy eco-friendly wrapping paper or fabrics. A few I like are: Etsy Happy Wrap, Re-wrapped, Paperchase and Brightstem. A lot of these can be found on Amazon too. 
  • Use twine or paper tape to seal your gifts

If you need some further inspiration, Glamour Magazine put some great pictures together. 

** TIP – when sorting out your paper, keep a separate bag and rip off the chunks with tape and recycle the rest to make your local recycler’s life a bit easier!

This year, I have also opted to gift some of my closest friends and family members experiences rather than things. Research out of the University of Toronto, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, concludes that experiential gifts forge stronger relationships than things. This is especially salient with kids, when toys are quickly forgotten.  Think of the emotional responses and memories you’ve made from great experience – the fear and awe of a safari trip, the high of a concert or pure bliss from a delicious meal. This will leave a longer lasting memory (and less of a carbon footprint!) than a material item. If you’re thinking of purchasing an experience for someone, here are some tips:

  • Purchase through a local service provider and ask about flexibility of dates/times so that your recipient can use it when its most convenient for them
  • Consider his/her hobbies; show how well you know and love by someone by supporting their interests or even a side hustle!
  • Know a bit about their spending/transport habits – don’t pick something too far away, or that requires additional logistical considerations. Easier you can make it, the more it will be enjoyed. 

This is probably easier with adults than with kids, but our family is making it a goal to give the gift of experience and things in the most environmentally friendly way possible .

Lastly, I just wanted to put a short spot out there for home-made gifts and gifts made by local artisans. The older I get, the more I appreciate them. I will not use this post to go over types in detail, as there are just SO many online and a simple search will get you there. However, I’ve ventured into making my own coffee scrub (seriously works, I made formula #5) and soaps. I don’t think there’s a better way to show someone you care than making something especially for them.  If you purchase from small businesses and local artisans, you’re helping your community and forging better relationships. This year, I put out a call to friends and family on Facebook asking them to let me know if their personal business/side hustle (jewellery making, clothing, personal training, massages etc), I made it a goal to at least get 25% of my gifts local.  I know many of you will be tempted to use your Amazon Prime count in the final hours (don’t worry I’ve been there too!) but as love is blind, as are we to the environmental cost of ecommerce. 165 billion packages are shipped each year (at least 5 billion through Prime), equating to over 1 billion trees. It’s one of many environmental issues we have and we need to take responsibility for reducing the impact packaging has on the environment. 

Holiday Parties

Are you hosting a get-together this year? If so, there is a lot to consider. If it’s a small gathering, you may use your regular dishware and cutlery which is ideal. However, if you have a large party, you may itch to use disposable materials. 

It’s better not to, but if you do, here are some options if you need it:

Also, what food are you serving at your party? Without spending too much time here talking about the myriad of issues around unsustainable livestock/farming practices, the most obvious suggestion here is to buy from a local farm/butcher committed to sustainable practices. I am impartial to seafood, but I am struggling to eat it knowing that fishing gear is making up 46% of the waste pile of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. 

I love farmers markets with a great passion. A quick Google search for farmers markets in your area should get you to some great options. Of course, once you find one and go, don’t forget your reusable bags!

Also, when your guests arrive, make sure to set up at least refuge bags – one for trash and one for recycling. Your garbage man/woman will thank you. 

Decorations

This is probably the hardest one to tackle. It seems like just about every holiday decoration item is made of crap that will last centuries beyond us, and not in a good way!

For starters, here’s my no-no list for decorations:

  • Tinsel – this is completely and utterly non-recyclable, so please don’t do it. RecycleNow has outlined a few items here for further consideration. 
  • Plastic/Glittery Ornaments (Tree and stand-alone) – just dont do it. They break easily and nothing can be done with them
  • Pre-made Party Poppers – this one was hard to let go. I love these things; but the little gifts inside them, almost no one keeps. They are wasteful as is the popper itself, which is typically made of non-recyclable material. Note there are a lot of DIY options online that use balloons and other non-reusable materials that just seem like a complete waste (you’ll end up spending more time to just create more waste?). Check out this eco-friendly DIYer. If you do it, hold the glitter and confetti please!

My home is minimalist in design and decor. I’ve just put lots of branches, pine cones, candles and holly around the place to spruce it up, but I can’t afford much more than that and that’s a good thing. You don’t need to literally deck the halls to celebrate the holidays.

Now let’s talk about trees! The debate on which type of tree is the most eco-friendly is an often-discussed topic this time of the year. In most of my research online, people argue that a potted tree is the best choice. You treat your tree like a regular plant and you move it to your garden after the holidays or donate to a local park (if they take them) or send them a recycling center to turn into mulch. 

In London where we live, there seems to be a lot of tree cycling services, which provide mulching service right after holidays. I would have loved to buy a real tree this year, but we have a small flat with little space, so what to do?

For starters, I used to think artificial trees were the best option, after all I could use them year after year. To some extent this is a good thing (we should all keep reusing) but we do eventually discard such trees. Additionally, when its artificial pines flake off, they go straight to the trash. These trees are made of chemicals like PVC and sometimes lead. They are not recyclable and end up in landfills where they sit for years. 

So what are some greener ideas for Christmas trees?  Here’s a shortlist of some alternatives that are green, super chic and non-traditional (if you want to go that route!)  

  • Hanging Christmas Bulb Tree This is a super cool, ultra modern take on a tree. It floats and its beautiful. Only con if you get new ornaments, not sure how you’d add them to it (you may have to make a new one each year to incorporate new ornaments). However, if you want to create something unique, this is a great option.
  • Stick Christmas Tree This is the tree of choice for our family this year. It’s an eco-friendly alternative helps you clean your yard and celebrate the holidays at the same time!  I bought mine online, as I don’t have a yard to get raw materials, but I love the idea of making this.  All you have to do is grab a few sticks, stack from from short to long and attach to some rope using a staple gun. Use your regular lights, popcorn on a string or any other decorations of choice and voila! It’s also a great space saver!
  • Ladder Christmas Tree I saw this online and fell in love with the idea. We don’t have one but if we did, I would do this in a heartbeat. I love that they repurposed a ladder for a tree. The added bonus is you can stack your gifts under it. Gorgeous, right?
  • Strand of Lights Tree  I did this one year when we were living in the US and had our dog and two cats with us, and it was absolutely perfect. This space-saving and pet-proof “tree” will get you in the holiday spirit. All you need is a string of lights and either bits of tape or command wall anchors. You just place the anchors strategically to create an outline of a tree. 

These are just a few of the greener things we’ve incorporated into our holiday celebrations this year. I hope these inspire you to try them too! There are also these great books to check out if you want to dig further:

If you have any ideas or suggestions, definitely shout them out to us!