When it comes to periods, we’re used to sticking to what we know. We know the silky smooth plastic tampon applicator does the trick, so why change it?
Two words: Mother Earth. Period care products contribute to so much of the world’s waste, but it doesn’t have to be that way. One small change can make a difference.
Periods are personal, and not everyone can or wants to use reusable products. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. From disposable to recyclable options, we hold all of our alternatives to the same high standards.
The problem with traditional period care
With a high volume of single-use period products discarded daily, period care tends to have a high cost for both your wallet *and* the planet. It’s estimated that people who use tampons will throw away anywhere between 8,000 and 17,000 during their roughly 38 years of menstruation—adding up to 300 pounds of waste per person. That’s… a lot. So, what do we do about it?
Here at Hive, we want to make it easier for you to upgrade your period care routine so it’s safer, sustainable, and of course, suitable for your lifestyle. We’ve researched all the risks of existing products on the market—from safety to sustainability—so you know what to avoid and the brands that do it better.
Let’s break it down by some of Hive’s standards:
Ingredient integrity
The ingredients in your products matter. That’s why we avoid period care brands with herbicide-tolerant, GMO cotton and synthetic plastic materials that might contain BPA or VOCs. They’re not safe for you and definitely not safe for the environment.
Not to fear, though. Hive has alternatives with the best of the best ingredients, including Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Certified cotton, chlorine-free wood pulp, and BPA-free silicone. Brands like Rael make the tampons you’ve known and loved since you were a pre-teen, without all those harmful chemicals.
Recyclable packaging
When thinking about waste and environmental impact, we try to look at the bigger picture (aka, the product *and* its packaging). Most period care products and wrappers are disposed of in the trash, but we’ve got just the solution(s). If you’re looking to cut down on waste, look no further than joni. Their organic bamboo liners and pads come with home compostable wrappers and recyclable packaging—a double win. And for those of you who can’t bear to part with applicators, we’ve got you covered. Rael’s organic tampons have applicators made of smooth, rounded cardboard or BPA-free plastic.
Low carbon footprint
Everything has an impact, good or bad. While it’s not always easy to determine which brands are reducing their CO2 emissions and which ones are not, you can always go with what you know. For example, Saalt’s reusable period cups save thousands of single-use period products from the landfills and oceans—just one of the many big ways your period routine can make a (positive) impact.
Cause champion
Switching to reusable or ethically produced products is a privilege that not everyone has. Globally, approximately 500 million people experience period poverty, meaning they don’t have access to essential period care, which ultimately impacts their health and education. That’s why it’s so important when brands like Cora give back. In 2020, they proudly donated 12.4 million pads and tampons to 1.5 million people, 81% of those donations going to organizations serving BIPOC communities, including Support the Girls, #HappyPeriod, and Homeless Period Project.
Our brands prove there’s a way to prioritize both menstrual health and the health of our planet. If you’re looking for a more sustainable period care routine, we’ve got everything you need.