I don't use any other brands so can't comment there. Both TOTM and Natracares tampons have extra eco-friendly credentials. Edmonton students pushing for waste-free menstrual products, Winnipeg crafter creates reusable menstrual products, Ottawa business donates 3,000 menstrual cups to Nunavut, upcoming Canadian ban on single-use plastics, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. According to the Absorbent Hygiene Product Manufacturers Association (AHPMA), a small film of plastic inside the tampon is used in the majority of tampon ranges to aid insertion and stop fibre shredding, while some use plastics to strengthen the withdrawal cord. Another factor, she explained, may be that it's an easy way to make signs of a tampon disappear. The TOTM cardboard applicator tampon has a twist and push design. a tampon is a tampon - cardboard was the more environmentally friendly option, The Kotex tampons left cotton behind in me grrrrr. I love the plastic ones WAY better. Some applicators are made of cardboardbut many are now plastic, and come in different colours, depending on the design and brand. When modern tampons came into common use in the 1930s, there were worries about women using their fingers to insert a tampon, whichled to the development of the applicator. While tampon applicators are only used for a few seconds, plastic takes a long time to degrade. Cardboard Tampons VS Plastic Tampons Know Your Choices, Women all around the globe are just on one mission: to find the, Tampons come in different variants as one can choose from the various, Several women like using cotton tampons with plastic applicators as it is more comfortable to insert. Well, there are so many options now to choose from, its vital to know the pros and cons of all the options to make an informed decision. Edit, pause, or cancel at any time . Untreated sewage shouldn't generally be released into Canadian waters. The applicator will just work and feel differently. Love them!
With your left hand, hold the grooves on the middle of the upper applicator, then place your right index finger flat against the bottom of the applicator. I might have to try those again, since now that I can insert a tampon, finally (couldn't for a very long time due to vaginismus) getting it OUT is the real problem. Several women like using cotton tampons with plastic applicators as it is more comfortable to insert. tampax tampons applicator tesco The Kickstarter campaign can be found here. Place one thumb towards the base of the cardboard applicator, and the other thumb toward the top of the cardboard applicator. This is a key way that plastic makes its way into our oceans. "If you go down to any of the marinas after a rain," Mattson said, "you'll see condoms floating around, tampon applicators and needles.". I can only use the cardboard kind when my period is heavy. She added that anyone used to plastic applicators may find it difficult to switch. These applicators also end up on beaches and in the oceans. In terms of packaging, TOTMs applicator tampons are wrapped in paper, whereas their non-applicator tampons are wrapped in plastic, but TOTM is looking to change this as soon as possible. Unlike litter such as coffee cups, plastic bags or cigarette butts, tampon applicators aren't items that are usually discarded on the shoreline. Cardboard applicators are rigid and one can take some time to adapt to these kinds of applicators. Other alternatives, such as menstrual cups, can be reused and produce significantly less waste. Although its main range offers biodegradable cardboard applicators, plastic can be found in its Pearl and Compak ranges. Does anyone under the age of 20 use the cardboard kind? 
They're so common that her non-profit, A Greener Future, began a petition a few years ago asking leading tampon brand Tampax to stop making plastic applicators. On their websites, tampon companies saynot to flush their products. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Which raises the question, why is there plastic in our tampons in the first place? Lower hands ready to insert.
what's the type of person you wish you'll never become? I find the plastic ones more comfortable to insert but they're more expensive and I feel bad about throwing away so much plastic. Skip to Checkout, Get up to 10% off every order & FREE shipping when you subscribe to hassle-free deliveries. They're the same. Oh I didn't know these existed. Regular tampons will slide in easily if your vagina is wet with blood/bodily fluids any way. We're taught that it is disgusting.". If you do not want to receive marketing communications that we think you will be interested in, you can opt out by ticking this box now or in the future via your account. Cardboard applicators are firstly biodegradable. In Australia, tampons with applicators are a rare product and generally only used by young women who are first starting to use tampons, who then switch to non-applicator tampons within a month or so. "[Marketers] always use these words like 'dainty' or 'hygienic,'" she said. These types of applicators are biodegradable and are not harmful to your body or the planet. I ended up just using my finger anyway. Non-applicator tampons are an obvious choice, but if you do prefer an applicator for insertion, consider switching to cardboard.
So Byrne did some research to find outwhy they were ending up there. "People don't know that they're even a problem," she said. Having issues managing your subscriptions? A menstrual cup is rated by the Womens Environmental Network as the most sustainable option for those looking to make their period more eco-friendly. If you have been thinking about making the shift to cardboard applicators or cardboard tampons, it is worth giving a shot. As a sustainable period care brand, were continually looking for ways to be 100% plastic free and help people have plastic-free periods. Cardboard applicators have been designed for purpose so its easy to adapt to using them. On UK beaches there are nine plastic tampon applicators found per kilometre. Though plastic applicators did not meet the criteria to be included asone of the six single-use plastic items in next year's ban,Byrne said that A Greener Future's Tampax petition is a way to raise awareness about the problem of plastic applicators. I had only used Australian tampons and then was visiting a friend in Canada who had the applicator type and I needed one. The only difference is that these tampons have applicators that are made from plastic.. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. "If people are at someone else's house or out at a restaurant and there isn't a way to dispose of the applicator discreetly, it's probably easier to flush it down the toilet so it's gone.". Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. How to Take out a Tampon without It Hurting Pull out Safely! I'm in my early 20s and have only ever used cardboard applicators. Flushing these productshas helped hide periods for decades. These ways of thinking about menstruation may be at the root of why so many tampon applicators end up in the sewage system. CLICK HERE! CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article stated that Sainsburys own-brand cardboard applicator tampons were plastic free, however they contain around 3% plastic. (Side note: its important to NEVER flush any period care product. During her annual cleanupsalong the shores of Lake Ontario, Rochelle Byrne has come across hundreds of plastic tampon applicators. Cardboard applicator tampons are cheap and as such are unlikely to have pearls or other features. I definitely noticed the applicator type seemed more rough or less compacted and smooth or something. With your left hand holding the grooves lightly, push the tampon up with the right index finger. You can also shop our reusable tampon applicator at Superdrug and Tesco. As for the actual tampon part: every cardboard kind I've tried has a tampon that expands in length and width, which doesn't work as well as the kind that "blossom" open. The only difference is you rinse it after, instead of flushing it. Any particular brands you like? I've always used cardboard applicators whenever available because they're cheaper and less wasteful. Generally cotton, bleached or unbleached. I thought that was just a name brand. Challenging those attitudes, Vostralsaid, is the first step towardchange. Tampons became massively popular among women as it is more comfortable to wear them, especially for the women who like to do yoga, swim or any other physical activity during menstruation. It may be easy to overlook the issue of plastic applicators on our shores, Byrne said, because "it's a bit of a taboo topic."
Gently twist your lower hand slightly and push upwards to release the tampon. If people still choose to use tampons with applicators, Byrne wants them to understand the ramifications of disposing of them in the toilet. So, if they do end up in the landfill they will break down naturally. Best Bar Soap for Feminine Hygiene Expert Advice for Feminine Wash, Regular vs super tampons Learn about tampon size and how to choose, How to unclog a toilet clogged with tampons: Tips to unblock a toilet, Does Testosterone Increase During Period Know All About Ovulation, Can a Tampon Break Your Hymen Thing People Get Wrong About Hymen, Best Tampon for Heavy Flow and Swimming Leak Proof Tampons of 2020, Can Ibuprofen Stop your Period for a Few Hours Expert Guidance, Best Menstrual Cup for High Cervix Top Rated Cup of 2019, Does a UTI Delay your Period Know the Causes of Irregular Periods. "It comes down to understanding the implications of single-use plastic," Byrne said. Plastic applicators are quite easy to work with and also offer more control when it comes to making some adjustments. Single-use plastics are common across popular tampon brands in applicators, packaging and even inside the tampons. tampons tampax x20 applicator codecheck produktinformationen Is It Better to Use Pads or Tampons Know Which Is Better for Period, Can you Take a Drug Test While on your Period Know from Professionals, Best Sanitary Pads for Tweens Be Prepared for First Period, Best Pads for Sports Period Suitable Sanitary Pad for Sports Classes. The applicators help insert the tampon with ease, and one should know the pros and cons of both these types of applicators to make a better choice. I switched to tampons without applicators years ago though. But why are tampon applicators ending up on our shores in the first place? "I think it comes down to just the convenience of flushing," Byrne said. In recent years I've switched to OB-- they don't have an applicator at all. However, Mattson saidthat it does happen in certain circumstances. Instead, applicators are supposed to be disposed of in the garbage, so they'll eventually end up in a landfill. tampons applicator count comfort regular digital pro sellers The plastics that are found include both polyethylene, the most common form of plastic, and polypropylene, which is the plastic used in teabags and chocolate bar wrappers. I also can't believe the waste that must come from that. Never noticed much of a difference with the actual tampon itself but to me the cardboard applicator is super uncomfortable and can sometimes mess up how I insert. The non applicator ones have a nice slick coating on them for insertion. "And that it doesn't go away for a very long time.". AskWomen: A subreddit dedicated to asking women questions about their thoughts, lives, and experiences; providing a place where all women can comfortably and candidly share their responses in a non-judgmental space. I don't notice any difference between the tampax with cardboard applicators and the tampax with plastic applicators (other than the applicator Obviously). Its a positive step towards cutting out plastics. Ready to make the switch? But Byrne hopes more awareness about the problem willlead to less plastic along the shoreline. Women all around the globe are just on one mission: to find the perfect sanitary product for the time when our monthly friends visit. Vostral describedhow pads and tampons are designed to be as discreet as possible to help people "pass" as if they're not menstruating. Way easier for me. Tampon applicators, Vostral explained, have their own history of discretion.
I never considered the waste part of the situation, but the plastic ones feel weird to me. Tampons with cardboard applicators are suitable for your body as well as our environment. Asda and Boots own brand tampon ranges as well as Superdrugs standard range use biodegradable paper applicator tubes and recyclable packaging, but plastic can be found, once again, inside the tampons themselves. Since 2014, when Byrne began organizing cleanups, she estimates they've found over 1,500 tampon applicators along Lake Ontario. Although they're not listed as one of the items in theupcoming Canadian ban on single-use plastics, tampon applicators are frequently found in shoreline cleanups and don't easily degrade. the rest expand lengthwise and i can't use them. Like a regular cardboard applicator is the same width, if not bigger, than a super-sized plastic applicator. As well as providing biodegradable cardboard applicators, both brands offer plastic free tampons made from 100% organic cotton. HuffPost UK also reached out to Lil Lets, who had not responded at the time of publishing. She's also a 2020 CBC Joan Donaldson scholar. Tampons come in different variants as one can choose from the various absorbency type and opting for either plastic or cardboard applicators. tampax tampons applicator "When I started finding those on beaches, I was a little bit confused," she said.
