One for the girls...

Apologies for delving into the depths of feminine hygiene so early on in the life of Stripy Leopard but these things seem to have caught my attention so much in the last few weeks I felt I must give them a mention.

You have to admit that the time of the month really is a wasteful week. Traditionally, tampons and pads come with so much packaging, not to mention the chemicals involved in actually making the things in the first place. We women must seriously up our contribution to environmental degredation once a month.

What's the problem?
Most of our usual pads and tampons are made from cotton, a huge user of pesticides, poisoning land, water and farmers across the world. In addition, chlorine bleaching produces toxic by-products that have been linked to cancer and low sperm counts, amongst other nasties.

The Best Alternatives
There are alternatives though that promise to be better for our bodies as well as for the eco-system.

Sticking to the familiar tampon and pad family, Natracare have a complete range of organic cotton products that do not use pesticides, chlorine bleaching, synthetic materials or chemical additives. The packaging is minimal and biodegradable too. I've been using Natracare's products for years and can't find a bad word to say about them.

USA stockists - Mother Nature
UK stockists - G Baldwin & Co

If you're feeling extra adventurous, the most eco-friendly product I have found is the Mooncup. This 'cup' is made from medical grade silicone and is worn internally, just like a tampon. After a few hours you remove it, rinse it and reinsert it. Easy! There's no waste, no pesticides and no toxins. I have to admit that this is a product I have been meaning to try for years but haven't as yet managed to order myself one. If you need convincing though, their website is fabulous, with testimonials from tons of women who now swear by the Mooncup.

Be a better woman than me - www.mooncup.co.uk

If you're from the USA, Mother Nature also sells a reusable menstrual cup - Mother Nature