All of you have calculated your emissions and you have surely discovered the unexpectedly high impact of some of your behaviors (eating meat, flying to a sunny destination, etc.) on your total footprints.
Are there any behaviors that you are really willing to change or to improve for the sake of the environment? What challenges do you encounter or think you will encounter while trying to change these things? What help, support, and insights from others would make your life easier with these new behaviors?
Let's discuss these issues and make our pledges here!
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For girls only: menstrual cup
I have searched in all the discussions if someone has ever talked about menstrual cups but nobody has and I think that is maybe because it is a kind of taboo although I think it is really interesting and I have my own experience to talk about so I am going to be the first one!
We live in a society of convenience. Of course, modern day menstrual pads and tampons definitely have made feminine hygiene easier and more convenient. Unfortunately, just as most convenient things, they have a devastating effect on the environment as well as women’s health.
An average woman will use around 16,000 or more tampons or pads in her lifetime. That’s 7 billion tampons and pads landing in landfills each year. Most of them contain chemicals, toxins, additives and synthetic materials such as plastic. The plastics, first of all, take a very long time to breakdown. Second, they also end up leaking into nature, and polluting our rivers and lakes.
So I decided to get myself a menstrual cup. This alternative to pads or tampons is made from top quality silicone, is latex free and is very comforta ble. The cup comes in two sizes: one for women who never have given birth and another for women who have. This little soft silicone cup folds to insert and, once in, opens up in place, making it virtually undetectable. It’s perfect for any activity (sports, work..) or outfit.
I must admit that this procedure was a little intimidating, but I got the hang of it quite quickly and it’s very much worth the effort. Surprisingly, it is not messy and collects the flow. I also did not experience any leaks even though I used it for several hours before emptying. The menstrual cup can be worn for up to 12 hours and overnight.
I really do believe and I hope that the next generation of women can make a huge environmental difference in our world. The shockingly high number of feminine hygiene product waste that is dumped every year in land fills and coast lines demands our attention and appropriate action.
I think that we are making these choices not because they are easier or practical, but rather because we are taking responsibility for ourselves and the environment to the best of our ability, based on the information we have.
So ladies, if you feel inspired please try it and spread the word. I leave here a website where you can buy organic cups. https://www.organicup.com