How to Switch to a Zero Waste Period: My Routine

Today I’m excited to share my zero waste period routine! I’m also going to share the process I went through to make the transition to a zero waste period. My period products were the one place I always told myself I would never sacrifice my own comfort for sustainability. So, believe me, if I can have a zero waste period, so can you!

Don’t think you can make the switch? So did I! But I did it, and I am much happier during my period now than I was before!

In this post I start by sharing my own personal journey, then outline my full period routine, and then go into different products options you can try. I also provide links to resources that I found helpful when I was researching different zero waste period options.

If you are interested in checking out the other Zero Waste swaps I made last year, you can check out my post Zero Waste Swaps I Made in 2020 and My 2021 Goals!

My Journey to a Zero Waste Period

When it comes to my period, I have always been super particular about the products I use. I wanted my period to be as unnoticeable as possible. Once I found the perfect pads, liners, and tampons for myself I used those same ones religiously for years. The amount of garbage I was producing with my period products always bothered me, but I didn’t want to sacrifice the peace of mind I felt during my period that had taken so long for me to find. The only reusable pads I had ever tried felt like wearing thick blankets in my underwear. Because of this, I always thought that reusable period products could never compare to the comfort I felt with my favorite disposable products.

I told myself I would never switch to reusable products unless they were just as comfortable or better than my disposables. I thought it would be an impossible task and didn’t want to waste money on things I’d never use. One day I saw how quickly the garbage filled up in my bathroom and I couldn’t live with it anymore!

Making My First Zero Waste Swap

When I first made the decision to start reducing the waste created by my period, I started by deciding on one product to replace. I started with the disposable product that would cause the least disruption to my routine. For me this was my overnight pads. I knew that when I was asleep I wouldn’t notice if I was wearing a thick cloth pad. I started with the pads I already had, which where Luna Pads (the brand is now called Aisle). These where the ones I mentioned in the earlier that had originally discouraged me because they felt like little blankets. They worked pretty well and I didn’t have problems with leaks. When I was sleeping, I didn’t really mind the blanket feeling. They only really felt uncomfortable when I moved around in them, which I didn’t do while sleeping.

Finding the Perfect Zero Waste Liners

Things really took a step forward when Instagram advertised Hannah Pads to me. I had never seen reusable pads that looked so thin and cute before! Hannah Pads use a light coloured fabric as their base, which really contrasted with every other reusable pad I had seen. They also use cute prints on the backs of the pads. Another feature I love about them, which you can see in the picture below, is the rubber grip design over the print that keeps them from sliding around while you wear them. Everything about their appearance feels so well thought out. The fact that they are so beautiful makes me want to wash and take care of them.

I ordered a set of 5 liners to replace the small, thin, disposable liners that I was using as a backup with tampons and on days that I expected my period might start. They are super thin and just as comfortable as my old disposables! With every other reusable pad brand I looked at, the liners they offered where just as thick as their regular pads. I didn’t think it was possible to find slim, breathable liners until I found Hannah Pads! I’ve been absolutely in love with them since the first day I put one on!

Making the Leap to Menstrual Cups

The last thing on my list to swap out was my disposable tampons. I had always been really nervous about the idea of inserting a menstrual cup. Since I had been looking at so many reusable pads on the internet, I kept being advertised different menstrual cups. I started to look at the different resource material on the websites and Instagram pages that were advertised to me.

I saw a lot of reviews from women that said using a menstrual cup had changed their life. That inspired me to do some of my own research. I stumbled on a YouTube video by Nisha Balsara titled FIND YOUR PERFECT MENSTRUAL CUP! I found the video super informative and straightforward. It inspired my to finally make the leap and buy a menstrual cup. However, I didn’t really know enough about my body yet to make a choice based on my anatomy, so I went for a Diva Cup because I thought it would be a good place to start.

Trying the Diva Cup

I got the hang of using my Diva Cup by the end of my first cycle. At first I found it hard to fold and insert, but overtime the cup because a lot more flexible. It’s almost too flexible now in my opinion. Now I have no trouble taking it in and out. To make my Diva Cup comfortable, I ended up having to cut off almost all of the stem. Now that I know more about my specific body, I will probably choose a better suited cup when it comes time to replace mine.

Switching to a menstrual cup has been a game changer for my period! Because menstrual cups have a lot lower risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome than tampons do, you can keep them in for up to 12 hours. This means that you can use them over night. Once you have your menstrual cup inserted you can basically forget about your period for the rest of the day! After I had my menstrual cup, I was also able to stop wearing the blanket-like overnight pads! That cut down the products I need for my period to just my Diva Cup and my 5 tiny Hannah Pad liners!

Where I’m at Now

Now my period is almost completely zero waste! I still don’t like to insert my Diva Cup in public bathrooms so I keep a few of my leftover tampons in my bag in case my period starts when I’m not at home. I’m not usually away from home for more than 12 hours so I have never had to empty it in a public bathroom.

One area that I still have to test my routine is while traveling. Since we haven’t been able to travel much in 2020 (or 2021 so far) I haven’t had to bring my products to other places yet. That will be my final test!

The right zero waste period products for you should feel even better than your old disposables!

It wasn’t an easy journey, but I’m happy to say that I’ve found the perfect zero waste period products for myself! You can do it too! The key is finding the products that work best for you. I firmly believe that if you are unhappy with your zero waste products, you just haven’t found the right ones yet. The best products will be different for everyone because every body is different and every period is different. Don’t get discouraged!

If you are interested in checking out the other Zero Waste swaps I made last year, you can check out my post Zero Waste Swaps I Made in 2020 and My 2021 Goals!

My Zero Waste Period Routine

Washing My Diva Cup

When I wash my Diva Cup I’ll either use Diva Wash, or I’ll use Doctor Bronner’s baby unscented soap, which is what I use in my bathroom dispenser. When I bought my Diva Cup there was a sale on Amazon where you basically got the Diva Wash for free, otherwise I would just have used the Doctor Bronner’s. I always use cold water initially because washing blood with hot water will cause stains. Every few cycles I will also boil it.

Washing My Hannah Pads

To clean my Hannahpad liners, I hand wash them in cold water in my bathroom sink. I keep unscented laundry detergent a small refillable travel bottle. If they don’t come completely clean after an initial wash, I soak them in cold water with detergent on the stains in this Tupperware container over night. If they don’t come clean after soaking, I’ll use my solid stain remover block and sock them again. So far they’ve always come completely clean after this. When they’re clean I hang them to dry on the hanger with cloths pegs system I created that’s pictured below. I also hang my face masks here after I wash them. My period routine turned out to be the perfect way to use the odd little nook in my bathroom.

Storage

When I’m not on my period, I am able to store all my products in the tiny box my Hannahpads were mailed to me in. They take up such little space in my medicine cabinet!

Different Zero Waste Period Products

When it comes to reducing your period waste, there are a lot of product options out there. These are by no means all the options, but they are a good starting point for figuring out what works for you.

Menstrual Cups

Menstrual cups are a good option for someone who is used to using tampons for their period. Inserting them is more hands on than inserting a tampon, but learning to use them will help you become more comfortable with your body. This option is the most cost effective because you really only need one for your whole cycle and they can last up to 5 years.

My top picks:

The Diva Cup

Nixit (Suction free option)

Compare menstrual cup options here:

https://putacupinit.com/compare-shop-menstrual-cups/

Reusable Pads

Reusable pads are a good swap for someone who mainly uses disposable pads or for anyone not comfortable with menstrual cups. They are also a good backup for individuals with heavy flows or who worry about leaks while using menstrual cups.

My top picks:

Hannah Pads

Period Aisle

Check out Green Metropolis’ list of their top 12 reusable pads of 2021:

https://www.greenmetropolis.com/best-reusable-menstrual-pads/

Period Underwear

This option is good for someone who isn’t comfortable with menstrual cups but also doesn’t like the bulkiness of reusable pads. Period underwear is good for someone who struggles with leaks and also a good option for young girls just starting their periods. A lot of brands also offer other period where, such as bathing suits and active wear.

My top picks:

Thinx

Ruby Love (Cute Period Swimwear)

Check out Good House Keeping’s list of their top 7 period panties for 2021:

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health-products/g27421796/best-period-panties/

Disposable Options that are More Sustainable

If you are someone who is not quite ready to switch to reusable period products, but still care about your environments impact, you can try finding a more sustainable disposable option. Look for products that are made from cotton or other natural materials and tampons that don’t have plastic applicators.

My top picks:

Natracare (Widely available, at least in BC drugstores)

O. B. Organic (Offer a tampon with a plant-based applicator)

Check out Greatist’s list of their 12 Best Organic Pads:

https://greatist.com/health/organic-pads#best-organic-pads

More Resources to Check Out

My ZERO WASTE period routine & all the WEIRDNESS that comes with it by Shelbizleee (Video)

MENSTRUAL CUPS // 8 things I wish someone had told me by Gittemary Johansen (Video)

YouTube playlist of Safiya Nygaard’s period product trial videos (Video)