The Environmental Impact of Disposable Menstrual Products

On average, menstruators dispose of approximately 330 pounds of waste in their lifetime. The consequences of our daily habits may seem minor, but the cumulative effects of using disposable menstrual products can have a profound impact on the environment.

• It takes approximately 500 years for a single pad to decompose, highlighting the long-term harm caused by these disposable products.
• The United States alone generates an astonishing 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons every year, resulting in an estimated 20 billion pounds of plastic waste globally.
• The manufacturing process for these products requires significant energy consumption, further exacerbating the environmental toll.

• Plastic byproducts from menstrual products can end up in our oceans, harming marine life and contaminating the food chain.
• A significant portion of this waste also finds its way into sewers and is consumed by animals, perpetuating a cycle of harm.
• The plastic applicators used in tampons have also been shown to be detrimental to the environment.

At Heralogie, we're committed to minimizing our environmental footprint. We use sustainable materials whenever possible:

• Our mailers are crafted from Kraft paper, a biodegradable and natural material.
• Our packaging is made from recycled materials whenever feasible.
• The "plastic" bag containing our period panties is actually made from biodegradable cornstarch.
• The "body" or main fabric component is constructed from Tencel, a sustainably sourced fabric derived from beechwood trees. Tencel is created under strict guidelines to ensure minimal environmental impact, with 95% of processing chemicals recycled and energy-conscious manufacturing practices in place.
• The top layer of the gusset (crotch/absorbent area) is composed of organic cotton, while the bottom layer utilizes eco-friendly TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), ensuring waterproofness while minimizing environmental harm.

Although there remains no perfect solution for being 100% environmentally friendly in the manufacturing of any product, we do our best as a small business with the knowledge that the compounding effects the community we’re creating will do some long term good for the planet.