Changing Your Period, Changing The World

What does it mean to make the switch? Often, I find that our customers don’t understand the impact that they make by choosing Aisle.

Let’s talk disposables for a minute. What is the cost of a disposable period?

Every period is unique, but when I used disposables, I typically used tampons during the day and pads at night, because I was worried about getting toxic shock syndrome. I always bought the mixed box of Tampax, so I used the lowest absorbency necessary (again, TSS), and I typically used one box a month. I also had some overnight pads, and used one or two each night of my cycle, plus some pantyliners for spotting.

So, when you ask about the cost of disposables for your period, this worked out to about $15 a month. So, in one way, we can say that my period cost $180 a year.

However, disposables have a cost beyond the price you pay at the register.

Each one of those pads contained the equivalent of four plastic grocery bags. I also tossed away approximately 150 lbs of waste every year; waste composed of non-organic cotton, plastic and wood pulp, extensively treated with chemicals that are unlikely to be good for me and are definitely toxic for the environment. Every pad and tampon that I threw out still exists in a landfill somewhere - and it will be there long after I’m dead.

Every pad and tampon that I threw out still exists in a landfill somewhere - and it will be there long after I’m dead.

The ecological impact of our consumer society is real. Our beaches are littered with plastic waste - one British charity found 23 abandoned pads and nine tampon applicators for every kilometre of coastline. Plastics abandoned on beaches and in waterways often get consumed by sea life, entering our food system. In reality, the costs of a disposable period are paid over generations, with impacts on our most important reproductive system - the planet we depend on for life itself.

When you start using Aisle, you immediately have a global impact. By the end of one year, you’ve diverted hundreds of pads and tampons from the air, reduced carbon emissions and waste from disposable production and helped support the education and dignity of those who benefit from our charitable contributions through #One4Her. That's just one year! We also hope you’ve found out like thousands of other menstruators, that a more comfortable period is possible.

I’ve saved thousands of dollars switching to reusables, but knowing I’ve made sustainable personal choices is priceless.

I’ve saved thousands of dollars switching to reusables, but knowing I’ve made sustainable personal choices is priceless. I’m filled with gratitude for those who choose Aisle to be their sustainable period solution. We’re unique - our pads are have zero waste production, a low carbon supply chain and replace 120 disposable pads. Thanks to our customers, two million pads and tampons never reach the landfill, because they’ve been replaced by sustainable, reusable options. Thank you. Seriously.

Let’s take back the menstruation conversation. It’s our world and it should be our choice. If you’re still using disposable pads, don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re here to help - and yes, you can have a zero waste period with our products. We’ve been in business 25 years - and we’ve got every body, every period and every cycle covered. Guaranteed.