By Anna Geannopoulos
I am going to talk about tampons in this column. If for some reason the word tampon makes you cringe, I offer you these three options: pretend the word tampon is the word trampoline, be happy I’m not going to use the word menstruation or stop reading now.
Ever since the day that some kid that confused our jackets on the ski bus yelled, “Who put tampons in my jacket?” and preceded to throw them throughout the entire bus, people have know that I was a “pearl girl.” A term that means I use the Tampax Pearl brand with plastic applicators.
In all my years of using them, I never put much thought into the amount of unrecyclable plastic trash I was creating. But, as someone who takes plastic bottles out of the garbage so they can go in the recycling bin, I need to admit my hypocrisy. In all areas of my life I live by the rules of reuse, reduce, and recycle, except with feminine hygiene (I’m sorry I know that is a terrible phrase).
Not only are millions of discarded plastic applicators resting on my conscious but panty liners and pads made of synthetic materials and adhesives, each complete with their own individual plastic wrappers.
There are a couple quick fixes to this: cardboard applicators and applicator-free tampons. But, when it comes to panty liners and pads the only real way to avoid creating mass amounts of trash are reusable options like Luna pads. And the only way to solve the problem altogether is deserting tampons for the holy grail of eco-friendly (hard-core) monthly bleeding: the Diva Cup.
The Diva Cup is a reusable plastic container that sits inside you much like a tampon. Because it collects instead of absorbs, you can keep it in longer and there is no threat of toxic shock syndrome. When it is full, you simply pull it out, wash it and replace. The best part is that Diva Cup can last up to 10 years, saving you money and reducing your waste.
Okay, calm down, stop cringing at the vicinity of the words reusable, cup and pad and start thinking about abandoning tampons altogether.
Scenario one: you’re going on your dream vacation, you only have a certain amount of space in your suitcase would you rather waste it on (here it comes again) feminine hygiene products or shoes, more clothing options, shampoo and books?
Scenario two: you’re anywhere on your period and trying to have fun, would you rather constantly worry about switching your tampon or confidently know that your Diva Cup is collecting everything and keeping your favorite skirt, pants or bikini bottom spotless?
Picture it, no more awkward moments where you make an excuse to take your purse with you to the bathroom; no more secretive string-tucks at the beach; no more idiots throwing your tampons around the bus because they picked up the wrong jacket.
I understand if some women are not willing to leave tampons and applicators behind just yet, but maybe consider doing mother earth a solid and switch to cardboard.
