With the environmental problems that we hear and read everyday. It is time for us women to do something to help in reducing these problems. Presently, millions of girls/women use feminine hygiene products such as sanitary napkins, tampons, applicators, etc. We often use tissue paper to wrap our used feminine products before we dispose them in the trash bins or we flush them at the toilet bowls. These actions could lead to adverse effects to the environment.
Statistically, an average female uses more toilet paper than a male does. An average female would consume 450 rolls of toilet paper throughout their lifetime for the disposal of used feminine hygiene products alone. Just imagine how many trees are cut down to produce toilet papers. These resources are wasted because of the toilet paper that we use to wrap the used feminine hygiene products. Everytime we flush down the toilet these used products will go to the sewers and may cause drainage blockages. These blockages may overflow and may pollute the marine life.
There is a great product that can help us women do a proper disposal of the feminine products that we use and that it is very Earth-friendly. Use Sani Sac, a sanitary, sealable, degradable plastic bag. It provides a more discrete, safe and sanitized disposal of menstrual products. It will reduce accidental contact to germs because the used products are safely sealed in the bag. Sani Sac will also reduce the unpleasant smell of menstrual waste in the bathroom trash can. These bags bags degrade and oxo-biodegrade which is very earth friendly. Visit their site www.GoldenGroupInternational.com for more information. Each of us can make a big difference if we will do our own share in saving Mother Earth!
Article by Ma. Theresa Cimafranca
November 9th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Great article, and challenging issue which needs non embarrassed debate.
I personally use the Mooncup. It cuts down on all sanitary waste. I am in love with it! it is far more comfortable, its safer and has now saved me hundreds of pounds. (its a rubber cup- but dont be too squeemish- click the link to read more!) but the sanisac might be a good inbetween measure!
http://www.mooncup.co.uk/
November 10th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
How can using a PLASTIC bag possibly be better for the environment than toilet paper – at least paper is from a renewable source – plastic bags come from oil! And as these bags have two layers, only one is actually biodegradable. Surely it must take more energy to produce and distributed these plastic bags than to produce toilet paper that is already present in the washroom? Plus, very few women actually use toilet paper to wrap their feminine hygiene products now – most pads come wrapped in plastic anyway, this cover can easily be re-used for the soiled item… reduce, reuse recycle, people!
November 17th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
The problem is that people are flushing tampons down the toilet because it seems more sanitary than wrapping in tp and placing in the trash. In the waste water stream they create havoc with plumbing and sewage treatment plants and they end up on beaches when storms overflow the combined sewer systems. Here they endanger marine wildlife who mistake it for their natural prey. An alternative little bag called “Scensibles” is completely biodegradable and hastens the breakdown of anything it encloses when placed in the trash. For more environmental info and free samples check out the website http://www.scensiblesource.com
November 27th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
Another product to deal with a product…there’s nothing green about that. I use a rubber menstrual cup (they also come in silicon) and cloth pads I made myself by felting some wool and covering that with cotton flannel (from old sheets). No more expenses and simple to deal with. Some women just place the used pads in a (covered) bucket of cold water until wash day, then wash with their regular laundry and use the waste water from the bucket to water plants. I rinse immediately in hot water (a more wasteful approach, I’ll admit), air dry and wash with my next load of laundry.
Generally, if you need to buy some new product in order to be green, investigate it thoroughly to ensure it really IS green.