Because of this, Seventh Generation has teamed up with the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (OCRF) to dedicate one day as “Let’s Talk… Period” Day which aims to place more focus on this important issue and to educate women about ovarian cancer. Another goal of this event is to raise the donations needed to help educate women on the signs of ovarian cancer.

If you go to the “Let’s Talk… Period” Day website on September 1st (yes tomorrow) and register your email address, Seventh Generation will make a $1 donation to the OCRF, with an overall donation of $22,000 representing the women that will be diagnosed this year. The website has information on ovarian cancer signs, symptoms, risk factors and prevention, because the best way of prevention is through education.

As a thank you for logging in and participating, Seventh Generation will be giving each registrant a coupon for their organic cotton tampons that are not bleached with chlorine, free of rayon and don’t contain added perfumes or dyes. See the video below to find out what’s in most tampons…

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The bad news - there can only be two winners. Bummer. However, If you’re not a winner, I urge you to check out Moonpads anyhow – they’re a great deal in the long run, and Annie Rose (creator of Moonpads) even has seconds offered up at times.

Now, just as a recap here’s what our two winners will receive: a great starter gift pack from Moonpads Reusable Menstrual Pads. Each of our winners will get to choose her choice of 3 reusable pads in any style or color available.

And our two randomly drawn winners are…

Samantha Pruitt who said, “i think this a pretty interesting idea, ever since i heard about it i’ve been wanting to try it out. The materials of usual pads sometimes irritate my skin, so i think this would really help with that.”

AND

Melissa D who said, “I have to admit the idea of reusable Menstrual Pads is something I’ve never imagined! And now you have me thinking about all the waste involved in disposable pads. What a fabulous green idea!”

Congratulations to Samantha and Melissa! I’ll be emailing you with further details by tomorrow. I’ll need to hear back from you within a week or I’ll have to choose an alternate winner.

Again thanks to everyone who participated and many hugs to Annie Rose of Moonpads for sponsoring such a successful green giveaway here at Tree Hugging Family.

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• They don’t carry the cons of conventional products.
• In your life you’ll go through just how many pads and tampons. Tossing all those in the trash is such a huge shock to the planet. in your life.
• Reusable pads save you time. No running to the store at the last minute – or even each month.
• Need a $ shock about non-reusable pads: Disposable Pad or Tampon Cost Pad Calculator. You’ll save BIG bucks going with reusable pads.
  
• Good reusable pads last forever. As I’ve noted here before, in eight some odd years I’ve bought new exactly twice, and only twice because I bought two different kinds. That’s a huge monetary savings.

Here are some non-disposable options:

• Moonpads
• Glad Rags
• The Keeper
• Luna Pads
• The Diva Cup
• Make-It-Yourself Menstrual Pads
• Pleasure Puss Menstrual Pads – Singles
  
• Sckoon Organic Cotton Cloth Reusable Menstrual / Postpartum Pads

You can also find plenty of other reusable options on Etsy – just do a search for reusable pads.

If you’ve got any other pros of reusable pads, let me know in the comments. Next up winners of the Moonpads Reusable Menstrual Pads Giveaway.

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• Basic cons of conventional products
• Natracare Tampons & Pads Review
• Green Product Review: Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Ultra-thin Pads with Wings

Really though, you don’t even have to go there. You can use reusable pads and cups. I discussed this before in an extreme green post here, but not in-depth.

Here are some non-disposable options:

• Glad Rags
• The Keeper
• Luna Pads
• The Diva Cup
• Make-It-Yourself Menstrual Pads
• Pleasure Puss Menstrual Pads – Singles (what’s with the name?) seriously?
  
• Sckoon Organic Cotton Cloth Reusable Menstrual / Postpartum Pads

You can also find plenty of other reusable options on Etsy and other sites. Let me know in the comments if you have a favorite not listed above.

Why reusable:

Why not is a better question. Do you realize how many pads and tampons you’ll go through in your life. Even with disposables that are more earth friendly that’s still plenty of trash and plenty of money out the door. You can save resources, time, and money by going with reusable options.

Need a $ shock: Disposable Pad or Tampon Cost Pad Calculator

I haven’t used too many reusable – why? Because they flipping last forever. At least the ones I have. In eight some odd years I’ve bought new exactly twice, and only twice because I bought two different kinds. That’s a huge monetary savings. Plus I’ve thrown away a considerable small amount of trash compared to other women who continually use disposables. I’ve used the reusable pads for travel even, although that honestly is more work, so I don’t always.

What I’ve tried:

Luna Pads – average flow: I liked Luna Pads for postpartum use because these suckers really work (and you know how the flow goes after childbirth). That said, I’m not a fan of them as everyday monthly pads. They’re a little thick for my liking. You can tell they’re there (way more than other pads.) Still, here’s the thing; I bought mine about eight years ago and when I checked out the website today, it appears they’re making their pads thinner. So maybe they’re less bulky now-a-days.

You can use these without changing the whole set-up each time. They come with liners and just the liner can be changed vs. the whole pad, which cuts down on laundry.

Pros: Hold up great. Wash and wash and dry them and they’ll still be in great shape. Also I like all the design choices and they also now offer organic. I’m not sure they had organic eight years ago. They don’t leak and wash right up. They come in all types of flow sizes, including panties, and liners.

Cons: As noted, bulkier than normal pads and other cloth pads. But this is questionable.

Here’s the newest image of the average pads – which really do look thinner than the ones I own.

Glad Rags:

I LOVE Glad Rags. The only thing I don’t like is that mine aren’t organic ( I can’t remember if they didn’t have them in organic 8 years ago, or if the place I got them didn’t carry them, but mine are basic cotton). I’d get organic if I were you.

Glad Rags are super easy and not bulky. Although, I have light to average flow, so if you have heavy they might be bulkier, because of how they work. You can use each wrap around pad (snap-shut) with one insert or two – so if you have a heavy flow and use two, it might get bulkier.

Pros: Last, and last, and last. I’m just now thinking about replacing my original nine pads. But more because I want the organic ones; overall they likely have a couple years use left in them. I’ve seriously washed these pads hundreds of times and the fabric is still in top notch shape and the snaps on every single one works. Comfortable, not bulky. Work well with no leaks (of course that will vary depending on flow). Wash well. Glad Rags notes that you should soak your pads after use, and I used to, but frankly, I got lazy, and quit. Yet, they still come clean – so good for lazy folks may be a pro. If I had white, I’d soak them each time though, to make sure they don’t stain. (I have violet).

Cons: Hmmm, cons. You know, there are very few cons. The thing I like least about them is that if you dry them in a dryer (I sometimes toss them in with towels), then don’t snatch them out right away, they come out a little too wrinkled, and don’t lay as flat. Overall though, I can’t think of any serious cons.

Below are regular cotton – they come in a ton of colors. And the white you see are the organic cotton, which also come in a variety of colors now.

As for other reusable pads, I haven’t used them, because there’s been no need to buy any more. I also haven’t ever used things like the Diva Cup or the Keeper because honestly, I can see myself making a huge mess with them, and more importantly I’m simply partial to pads.

However, I know women who have used and loved both the Keeper and Diva Cup. The only cons I’ve heard have been leaks once in a while and that there’s a learning curve with ease of use – but that doesn’t sound so bad to me. Still, I’m not comfortable really commenting since I haven’t used them.

If you have please feel free to contact me if you’d like to write a review here (either anonymously or not – if you have a blog we’ll let you link to it in your review) OR simply leave a comment. Honestly, I just don’t want to pay for one just to do a review here, so unless some of you have used them, reviews are out. Sorry.

I’ll be back this week with a round up of all the products we’ve looked at in the last two weeks.

Questions for you: Have you used reusable options for that time of the month – or are you considering it? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in May 2008

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First a speech:

Now the last review brought up some concerns because I said, “A tampon is a tampon” – likely some of you disagree, one person said so, but I bet there’s more of you. Here’s the deal – I’m just one girl with one type of cycle and one set of experiences so all I can say is what I know.

If you have a different experience with a product (any product) that you see here at Tree Hugging Family always feel free to leave a comment or send us an email (with your name or not) and we might post it. I say “Might” because Peggy and I think a few of the comments and emails we get are from companies not readers. If we suspect your glowing review is company based and thus biased we won’t post it. But we do value reader input.

Back to reviews:

Today I’m reviewing Seventh Generation Chlorine-Free Ultra-thin Pads with Wings – I’ve only used regular absorbency. The eco and health perks from their website include:

• “Whitened without chlorine
• Ultra-thin absorbent layer
• Safer for sensitive skin
• Wheat-based absorbent core
• Contoured wings for best fit
• Secure, no-slip adhesive
• Packaging is recyclable”

They also disclose all ingredients on their website, right smack in plain view, along with their Material Safety Data Sheets, in both English and Spanish.

Ingredients include:

“Ultra-thin pads are made of a combination of absorbent materials, polyolefins, adhesives, and a silicone-coated paper. The top layer is a non-woven polyolefin cover sheet. The absorbent materials consist of chlorine free wood pulp, chlorine free airlaid fabric, and Lysorb, an absorbent gel. Lysorb, also known as SNAP (super absorbent natural polymer), is a polysaccharide derived from wheat. Polysaccharides are complex sugars found in many natural substances, like the fibers of cotton, wood, and wheat.”

Also available are:

• Chlorine-Free Organic Cotton Tampons
• Chlorine-Free Pantiliners
• Chlorine-Free Maxi Pads

I haven’t used any of the above. I like the Natracare Tampons which are less expensive than the Seventh Generation tampons (where I shop), so I go with those.

What I think:

I think the regular size work great, (i.e. no leaks) and they’re super thin. I’m sort of surprised they work so well, being so thin. Unlike the Natracare pads, the Seventh Generation pads actually stick to your undies. As you might guess, the fact that they stick is a huge pro. I like that the packaging is recyclable and since there’s no plastic backing in the pads, they’re more biodegradable as well. (*SEE AMENDMENT)

Price: The pads is not expensive (around $3.50-5) and often go on sale at my local grocery store, in the natural food / body section. I’ve seen the price go as low as $2.50 per package.

What I love most about Seventh Generation as a company is how forthcoming they appear; nothing is ever hidden on the female products section of their website. If you have to go with a disposable pad, I think they’re a great choice. The pads come in super and overnight as well. I don’t know about the overnight, but a pal of mine raves about the super.

Total points:

Five out of five for an excellent product. If I was comparing them to reusable pads they’d lose points for being well, not reusable. However, since some people will never change to reusable pads, I decided to rate them purely on product merit as a greener disposable pad, which is how I rated Natracare as well.

Have you used these? What do you think?

AMENDMENT: The statement above about no plastics is incorrect and for that I apologize. If you read the comment section you’ll see that this was pointed out to me. Seventh Generation does use polyolefins in their pads, which I skipped over, or misread the first go-through. Sorry about this. I’m not sure as to the exact type of polyefins used by this company, (there are different types) but am going to try and contact them to find out. Here’s what Greenpeace says about this type of plastic, which they grade second best to bioplastics:

“Polyolefins such as Polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP) are simpler polymer structures that do not need plasticizers, although they do use additives such as UV and heat stabilizers, antioxidants and in some applications flame retardants. The polyolefins pose fewer risks and have the highest potential for mechanical recycling. Both PE and PP are versatile and cheap, and can be designed to replace almost all PVC applications. PE can be made either hard, or very flexible, without the use of plasticizers. PP is easy to mold and can also be used in a wide range of applications.

In comparison with PVC, PE and PP use fewer problematic additives, have reduced leaching potential in landfills, reduced potential for dioxin formation during burning (provided that brominated/chlorinated flame retardants are not used), and reduced technical problems and costs during recycling.”

This may or may not affect your decision to use these pads – that’s your call. Frankly, as noted when we had extreme green days here, I’m on the side of using reusable pads whenever possible. (Reusable are the next review by the way). If you’re not comfortable with reusable pads or polyolefins; then let me know which pads you like in the comments.

Next up: Reviews of reusable pads.

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Today we’re going to kick things off with the eco negatives of conventional female products.

Landfill issues: Of course even just one woman creates enough tampon and maxi-pad waste over her lifetime to make you cringe – just where are all these products ending up? In landfills of course. Multiply this issue by all the many women in the world and it gets pretty scary. Many conventional options are not biodegradable and this includes the product plus packaging.

Animal issues: From tampon and pad companies that test on animals (most of the conventional ones) to the thousands of plastic tampon applicators washing up on beaches each year, choking birds and fish, conventional tampons and pads pose huge threats to wildlife and habitat. Not to mention human health safety – do you want to vacation at a tampon filled beach?

Health issues: I’m sorry, but when it comes to where we put tampons and maxi-pads; is this really somewhere you want pesticides and chemicals?! Ick.

• 107: number of ingredients in pesticides thought to cause cancer, and it’s not as if we’ve haven’t tested them all. (After Silent Spring, NRDC, 6/93)
• 5 out of 9: Number of pesticides used on cotton that are categorized as “The most dangerous chemicals” by the EPA.
• 25% plus: Estimated amount of insecticides that annually (and globally) end up in conventional cotton.
• Many conventional tampons and pads are chock full of dyes, fragrances, and rayon.
• The FDA has publicly, and rather frantically, released statements, in the past, that rumors about tampon safety are incorrect – that chemicals are doing no harm – whether or not you trust the FDA’s judgment is a long discussion for another time, but in the meanwhile read this.

Coming up: Reviews of some better, greener choices you can make when it comes to tampons and pads.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in May 2008

[photo via stock.xchng]

Post from: Tree Hugging Family