Greenpeace estimates that the disposable period products industry is one of the most polluting in the world. Yet, it is an invisible, intimate pollution that is rarely discussed.
Between the intensive cultivation of cotton, the chemical transformation of rayon, and the mountain of plastic waste, what is the true environmental cost of our periods? Decoding an ecological disaster in two stages: production and waste.
Article Summary
1- Production: Cotton, Rayon, and Petroleum
The impact begins long before the product arrives in your underwear. The manufacturing of raw materials is an ecological sinkhole.
Cotton: The thirst for white gold
Cotton (present in tampons) is a very demanding plant.
đ§ Water consumption: It takes between 7,000 and 29,000 liters of water to produce 1kg of cotton (organic or not).
â ïž Pesticides: Cotton alone accounts for 25% of the pesticides used worldwide!
Rayon (Viscose): Heavy chemistry
To obtain this absorbent core, wood pulp is transformed through harsh chemical processes:
1. Caustic Soda baths (pollutes soil and water).
2. Mixed with Carbon Disulfide (toxic).
3. Cooling with Sulfuric Acid (Vitriol).
Plastic (Pads): 100% Petroleum
A classic sanitary pad contains up to 90% plastic (polypropylene, polyethylene, SAP). It is literally transformed petroleum that we wear against our bodies.
2- Waste: 3 Montparnasse Towers per year!
This is the tip of the iceberg. Once used (for a few hours), these products end up in the trash, incinerated, or landfilled for 500 years.
- Each menstruating person uses about 290 period products/year.
- This represents 4.5 billion pieces of waste thrown away each year in France.
- Total volume: +1 million m3 of soiled waste.
To visualize:
đ This represents 10,700 semi-trailers bumper to bumper (176 km of traffic jams!).
đą Or the volume of 3 Montparnasse Towers filled with waste, every year, just for France.
3- Invisible pollution (Microplastics)
Pollution does not stop at the trash can. A 2016 study identified rayon fibers as one of the major sources of microplastics in the marine environment.
These micro-particles, coming from the degradation of tampons and pads, end up in the oceans, poison marine wildlife, and move up the food chain... right to our plates.
4- Comparison Table: Disposable vs. Sustainable Impact
Faced with this observation, switching to reusables is not a small gesture, it is a personal ecological revolution.
| Over 5 years | Disposable Products | Luneale Menstrual Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Waste | ~ 1,500 products thrown away (packaging + applicators). | 0 waste (1 reusable cup). |
| Budget | ~ 250 ⏠to 400 âŹ. | ~ 25 ⏠(One-time purchase). |
| Water Impact | Huge (Cotton cultivation + Continuous industrial process). | Minimal (Just washing with clear water). |
| Composition | Plastics, Chlorine, Possible pesticides. | 100% inert Medical Silicone. |
5- Conclusion: Taking action
It is not inevitable. Today, we have a choice.
- The radical solution: Switch to La Cup Luneale (Absolute zero waste).
- The textile alternative: Washable menstrual panties (a little water for washing, but sustainable).
- The compromise: Organic disposables (biodegradable, but still water-intensive and single-use).
Every cycle is an opportunity to vote for the world we want. And you, when are you going green?
(1) Study on microplastics and rayon (Sage Journals)
(2) Consumption figures in France based on 15.5 million menstruating people.
