14 best sustainable period products: Sanitary pads, menstrual cups and tampons

Best: Overall

Period-proof underwear has come a long way. It once suffered from the unglamorous comparison to a baby’s nappy, now there are options that are sleek and even downright sexy. Wuka’s latest launch – the seamless midi brief – has been a hit, and for good reason. Made from recycled nylon, generated from old plastic bottles, the pants are incredibly smooth and silky. They hug the body but don’t dig in and we were impressed with how discreet they looked – even when worn under a satin slip skirt, there was no significant visible panty line (VPL). At the same time, they felt secure and absorbent. There are three flow intensities to choose from: light (one tampon’s worth), medium (two to three tampons worth) or heavy (up to four tampons worth). Wuka is also donating one per cent of sales to its charity partner, Surfers Against Sewage.

Best: For period-proof workouts

Having made its mark on the reusable period underwear market, American brand Thinx recently unveiled its latest offering: period-proof activewear. Our in-depth review of the range put it through its paces during a run, HIIT workout and gentle yoga session. 

The cycle shorts have the lightest absorbency (they can hold up to two tampons worth of blood) of all the items in the activewear range, but they are still a great addition to your period-wear kit. Made of a super soft material, they have side pockets, an inside pocket suitable for a heat pad and a supportive double layered high waistband – they’re comfortable and perfect for gentle exercise, like yoga or a walk. Given their absorbency, we did find that for optimum comfort and dryness, they were best worn for specific activities rather than for a very long period of time.

Best: Sustainable menstrual cup

If the idea of figuring out which size menstrual cup has got you all in a muddle, then try Saalt’s quiz, which promises to decipher which size and firmness are best suited to you. In fact, the brand is all about simplifying period care. 

The cups come in either a small or regular size, but there is also a specialist teen cup (£25, Saaltco.uk) and a soft cup, made of an ultra-soft silicone. One of the great things about Saalt is the fact it understands that each person’s needs are unique, and we love that its aim is to find the goldilocks cup for each individual.

Made of 100 per cent medical grade silicone, the cup provides 12 hours of protection and can be worn comfortably overnight – the small size can hold a capacity equal to three tampons, while the regular can hold up to four. We found the cup to be really easy to use and loved the pastel colourways available, such as seafoam green, Himalayan pink and ocean blue. Just because it’s period care doesn’t mean we don’t want to have fun choosing and Saalt certainly gets that. The cup is packaged in a cardboard tube and comes with a cotton pouch for storage.

The certified B Corp also gives two per cent back to fund initiatives in menstrual health, education and sustainability. 

Best: Plant-based applicator tampons

Flo – dreamt up by besties Tara and Susan as they chatted in a university toilet – certainly knows how to get our attention thanks to its vibrant and fun branding. The cute cardboard ice cream style tubs are packed with GOTS-certified organic cotton tampons wrapped in plant-friendly materials. The eco-friendly compact applicators are plant-based (derived from sugarcane) and it also offers an applicator-free tampon version. For those preferring pads, Flo’s liners and pads are made from 100 per cent natural bamboo, housed in biodegradable wrappers and are ultra-absorbent without being bulky.

As well as working to eliminate plastics in its supply chain, Flo is also vegan and cruelty-free. And we were pleased to see that it also works with a range of charities fighting period poverty – such as Bloody Good Period and the Orchid Project, which work to end FGM – by donating five per cent of profits to women and girls in need. If you’re looking for a simple plastic-free swap for your period products, then this is the one to choose. We also think they’d be a great choice for teens owing to the colourful branding and subscription box options (from £4.99, Hereweflo.co).

Best: Reusable tampon applicator

Single-use plastic tampon applicators are a nightmare for our planet. During the Marine Conservation Society’s 2018 Great British beach clean of more than 494 beaches in the UK, volunteers found approximately 580 tampon applicators. It’s an issue that Dame is trying to fix with its reusable tampon applicator – a world first. The award-winning design launched in 2018 is a breeze to use, self-sanitising and is compatible with any applicator-free tampons. Simply rinse off the reusable applicator and zip it away in its accompanying pouch once you’re finished.

Although the price is higher than you may expect, it’s certainly an investment as the medical grade reusable applicator is designed to last for life. Excitingly, the brand has also recently launched a hugely popular reusable pad (£34.99, Wearedame.co) option with a clever drybag for storing them when you’re on the go.

Best: Cup for people with a low cervix

Considering the huge variety, we really could be here all day listing the menstrual cups on the market. As well as being simple and comfortable to use, one of the things we loved about Bettercup was its simplicity and ethos. It’s packaged neatly in a small recyclable cardboard tube and for every sale, a Bettercup is donated to someone who needs it most. Founder Ruth has partnered up with her sister who teaches at a school in Zimbabwe to gift the menstrual cups to female teachers and teenage students there.

Made of 100 per cent medical grade silicone, the cup comes in two sizes and comes with a GOTS-certified cotton bag. It’s also worth noting that it features quite a short stem, so might be a better option for those with a low cervix.

Best: Period pants

Having just launched in the UK, Pantys was founded in Brazil three years ago by Emily Ewell and Maria Eduarda Camargo with the mission to combine innovation and sustainability to improve the quality of life for women. Certified as a B Corp, each product comes with a breakdown of its carbon footprint on the packaging. It’s detailed by category so you can see the percentage created by categories such as material, production and transport –  it makes for a fascinating read. Pantys also claims it makes the world’s first clinically tested period underwear.

Proving that period absorbent underwear doesn’t have to be reminiscent of Bridget Jones’s big pants and really can be sexy, Pantys’s range includes a tanga and bikini style, as well as hot pants with mesh side panels. Our favourite was the best-selling bikini style (medium flow), which we happily added to our drawer for everyday wear. We considered it a good option for lighter flow days as it provides protection but is ultra-slim and lightweight.

We also love that the style comes in pink and red options, meaning that the time of the month doesn’t have to equal a run of black pants. The brand has a stylish postpartum collection and breastfeeding bras too which are worth checking out if you’re in the market.

Best: Organic cotton pads

Scandinavian brand Lunette might be best known for its menstrual cup (which it sells in a variety of colours, from blue to orange and purple), but the brand also produces a range of reusable pads. Made of 100 per cent organic cotton, the pads are simple: soft off-white material with red poppers to secure the pad. A bamboo viscose layer and a waterproof coated PUL-fabric blocks moisture, meaning there are no leakages. We found them to be super soft and comfortable. As well as being a straightforward swap for single-use menstrual pads, the pads are equally useful for minor bladder leaks and postpartum needs.

Available in three sizes: mini, medium and maxi, the mix option allows you to try one of each and comes packaged in a recyclable cardboard envelope, which we liked.

Best: CBD tampons

From soft drinks to beauty products, there’s a wide range of CBD infused products out there, and femcare is no different. Welcome to Daye’s CBD tampons, which are made with 100mg of high potency (30 per cent) pharmaceutical-grade hemp-derived CBD. They’re also made of 100 per cent organic and unbleached cotton and are sanitised using gamma rays to reduce the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS).

If you’re wondering whether they’ll get you high, the answer is no. The tampons, designed to aid with menstrual cramps are created with completely THC-free CBD. Daye also has its own medical advisory board and is passionate about raising standards when it comes to regulation, especially considering the fact plasters are more regulated than tampons.

We tried a mixture of its CBD and naked (non-CBD) tampons, which arrived in a neat, branded cardboard box and were packaged in a stylish tin. To purchase, you have to select a subscription box of either 12 or 18 tampons, which you can then modify to suit your needs.

As well as being pleasant to use, we liked that Daye’s applicators are made from renewable sugarcane and the tampon wrappers are water-soluble, without breaking down into microplastics.

Best: Period subscription box

An organic and sustainable period subscription box, Callaly has something a little unique up its sleeve: the tampliner. A combination of an organic tampon and a soft mini liner, it looks a little unusual and a bit intimidating at first, but after following the detailed instructions it’s pretty simple to use. Wrapped in a biodegradable wrapper, the pantyliner is designed to sit inside the labia, or vaginal lips so that only the tampon string hangs outside of the body.

The period starter kit subscription box arrived in a letterbox friendly cardboard box, which included six liners, four pads, six tampons and four tampliners. We loved the mixed selection, but there is also a customisable option. And we liked the fact that items came grouped together in a compostable wrapper. Callaly has also created a teen period kit, which has a useful mix of products and comes in the brand’s thoughtful discreet packaging.

Best: Reusable pad for mums

Having started an eco-friendly reusable baby products brand named TickleTots from her kitchen table in Shropshire, founder and mum of two Sophia has expanded into feminine hygiene products with Fern’s reusable pads.

The pads, which come in either a floral or fern print, have a waterproof fabric back and an absorbent core made of a blend of 100 per cent GOTS-certified organic cotton and bamboo fleece. We found the reusable pads to be super soft and found the design, while its waterproof wings felt secure. You can also purchase a zipped wet bag (£7.95, Tickle-tots.com) for storing the pads in, which is really handy, and pads can be bought either singularly or in a period gift box.

If you’re looking for something substantial if you have a heavy flow, these are a nice option. The heavy pads (£7.95, Tickle-tots.com) are especially good if you’re worried about leakage overnight and we liked the fact that the pads feature two poppers which means they can be adjusted depending on the size of the pants being worn.

Best: For giving back

Founded by a mother and her two daughters, Hey Girls is dedicated to helping tackle period poverty in the UK. For every box of product sold, the brand donates one to girls and women from low-income families in the UK.

The environmentally-conscious brand has a wide range of products including period-proof pants, reusable sanitary pads (from £34.05, Heygirls.co.uk) and subscription boxes. The daytime period pads are made of a super-soft combo of bamboo and corn fibre and were a firm favourite for us. The latest launch though is the 100 per cent certified organic cotton tampons with a biodegradable cardboard applicator.

Best: Reusable pants

Australian brand Modibodi has a huge array of designs and options when it comes to period underwear. The brand’s offering includes a teen range, a maxi 24-hour option (great for shift workers) and sleep shorts. We particularly liked the idea of these detachable bikini pants, which feature a hook and eye closure on each side – great for those who struggle to change regular underwear.

We found the pants to be soft and figure-hugging, without being too tight and really liked the style of them. They also have a breathable and super absorbent lining and are easy to wash. Whatever your preferred underwear style, it’s worth checking out Modibodi’s extensive range.

Best: Sustainable budget option

Well-established brand Natracare has a solid range of trusted and simple period care products. If you’re looking for a simple swap from single-use period products, then Natracare is worth checking out for its organic cotton tampons, plastic-free pads and natural panty liners.

We also thought the price point was pretty good as some organic cotton tampons are more expensive and might not be as accessible for some. Plus, the products are widely available, which is good news.