Reusable sanitary pads which help other woman have better periods.

PR. I'm no stranger when it comes to making my periods more sustainable. I've sworn by period pants for the last couple of years however something I haven't tried is reusable sanitary pads.

Trade to aid is a fantastic non profit social business specialising in reusable sanitary products. They supply reusable pads which is amazing in itself in terms of sustainability, but what's even more amazing is that they're helping end period poverty. For every pack of sanitary pads sold they donate a pack to a refugee in need of period products.

What are reusable sanitary pads?

When asked, many people are still not aware of reusable period products. Thankfully though I believe this is changing as year upon year there seems to be more sustainable options readily available to us. Reusable sanitary pads being one of them.

Simply put, reusable pads work in the same way a disposable pad works, apart from that they're not thrown away after use. Instead reusable pads can be removed, washed and reused.

Benefits of reusable sanitary pads.

There are many benefits of using reusable sanitary pads.

• Cost. On average we spend £13 a month on disposable sanitary products, which works out at around £10,000 in our lifetime. Switching to reusable sanitary products is a much cheaper alternative. Although sustainable products may seem expensive at first, in the long run they work out as being so much more affordable.
• Environmental issues. Sanitary products play a big role in the impact health and beauty products have on the environment. A massive 200,000 tons of sanitary products end up in UK landfill each year. Once in landfill, these products can take hundreds, if not thousands of years to biodegrade. Using reusable sanitary pads obviously doesn't incur these environmental issues.
• Sustainability. Reusable sanitary products are typically made up from cotton and other natural materials that can be easily sustainably sourced. Once purchased, the pads are recycled simply by washing them. This means less waste, less environmental destruction and less sanitary products ending up in landfill.
• Reduces commercialisation of periods. It's no secret that menstruation is a profit industry. But why should it be? By using reusable products we are sending a message to billionaire industries that profit from normal bodily activity is wrong.

How to use Trade to Aid reusable sanitary pads.

Reusable pads are really easy to use. There's really no stress or hassle involved at all.

To wear you simply place the reusable pad in your underwear, the same way you would a disposable. Instead of sticking the pad to your underwear, the Trade to Aid reusable pads have a popper which fixes underneath.

Reusable pads can be used for roughly the same amount of time as a disposable would. Depending on your flow, you may need to change the pads every four hours or so. However with that being said you may find you're changing a reusable pad less frequently as they are much more absorbent than disposables.

How to wash reusable sanitary pads.

A common concern with reusable period products is how to clean them. Thankfully however you needn't worry. Washing your reusable sanitary pads is super simple.

1. Rinse or soak the pads to help remove any excess blood.
2. Wash your reusable pads in the washing machine. They can go in with your normal wash at 40 degrees but don't use fabric softener as this can leave a residue which affects the pads absorbency.
3. Air dry the pads. Don't tumble dry as this can warp and damage the pads.
4. Once completely dried store the pads in a closed dark area.

Pretty straight forward right?

What is period poverty?

Period poverty is a global issue where financial constraints prevent people from accessing sanitary products for their periods. Without access to these products, women and girls are forced to either improvise or not use sanitary products at all.

Unfortunately period poverty doesn't just apply to sanitary products. It's also access to lockable safe toilets, hygienic waste disposal systems and hand washing facilities.

Lack of education and increased menstrual stigma create a cruel cycle which prevents people from seeking help.

Trade to aid's mission.

Trade to aid's mission it to alleviate period poverty around the globe.

• No child missing school because of their period.
• No woman missing work because of their period.
• Alleviating the taboo of periods and myths surrounding period products.
• Providing menstrual hygiene education.
• Providing education for men and women to better understand what periods are and why they happen.
• Facilitating easy, low-cost access to sustainable period products.

Help end period poverty.

For every pack of reusable sanitary pads you buy, Trade for Aid donate a free pack to someone in need in a refugee camp. They're also working with menstrual education programmes to help end period poverty, but they need your help.

Ending menstrual stigma and period poverty is another piece of the puzzle. Lets normalise talking about periods, help the environment and help combat period poverty with Trade to Aid.

Women and girls around the world have worked tirelessly to liberate their rights and seize ownership of their bodies – their destinies and their potential – and live the life that they have always deserved.

Trade for aid.

My experience with reusable sanitary pads.

I've used period pants over the last couple of years however there are days where I've been stuck for washing and have used disposable pads to get by. Now I have these from Trade for Aid I don't know why I didn't make the switch sooner. It seems like a no brainer!

All pads, even the light flow ones are highly cushioned meaning they're extremely comfortable to wear. Much more comfy than a disposable. I often find disposable pads to be quite rough however with the reusable ones from Trade for Aid that isn't the case at all. I was also surprised at how absorbent the reusable sanitary pads are. Once removed I was shocked to see the amount of blood contained within the pad when rinsing. Washing has been super easy for me too. As they can go in with normal linen, the washing process is really simple. I found that the pads also dry super quickly too!

Looking back, considering I made the switch to reusable period pants, I can't believe it's taken me so long to try reusable sanitary pads. I really enjoyed using these last month. They made my period much more accepting and comfortable. They'll quickly become a staple in my monthlies drawer I'm sure!

Have you tried sustainable period products before? Did you know things like these were available?