What are the best alternatives to disposable menstrual products?

Tampons irritate. Pads get saturated. Panty liners pollute.

Disposable menstrual products tick all the wrong boxes. Their questionable composition, their cost, their environmental impact and their variable effectiveness are all reasons that push us to try new solutions.

What are the alternatives to disposable and conventional menstrual products from supermarkets?

The best alternatives to disposable products are options that are reliable, comfortable, practical, economical, eco-friendly and durable. The menstrual cup and period underwear have, in recent years, become leading, high-quality feminine intimate protections.

Why should you stop using disposable menstrual products? Looking for effective alternatives to disposable pads and tampons? Tired of using period products that aren’t healthy or reliable? Louloucup presents the best alternatives to single-use menstrual solutions.

Disposable tampons, pads or panty liners have several drawbacks:

• They are polluting, non-recyclable, and generate a lot of waste behind them, thus contributing to global plastic pollution; 

  
  
• they’re not always reliable and can leak, causing stains and stress (leaks, stains, saturation);
  
  
• they often have a not-so-great composition (harmful and toxic agents), and brands hid the composition of pads and tampons for years.
  
  
• they’re not practical, you have to remember to carry backup protection in your bag and you need to change regularly throughout the day;

  
  
• tampons can dry out and irritate the vagina (irritation, itching); 

  
  
• the pad can shift, scratch, be uncomfortable;
• the pad can emit unpleasant odors. 


Compared with disposable, polluting period products, cups and panties are a great option: if they are properly cared for, they can be worn and kept for years!

Both the cup and the panties are long-lasting and eco-conscious. They keep us from consuming and paying over and over again for boxes of tampons and packs of pads.

Still hesitating? Here’s a comparison of the two main alternatives to disposable menstrual products.

95% organic cotton

At Louloucup, our menstrual cup is **made in France** from medical-grade silicone, free from BPA and latex. It’s extremely soft and comes in two versions: the Classic Pink and the Soft Turquoise. Both models come in two sizes (**small** or **medium**) to suit all menstrual flows.

Available in size S or M, our cups can be purchased with or without a steriliser. 

Another sustainable, responsible period protection: menstrual panties. What a revolution! Intimate, feminine underwear that doesn’t forget to be pretty and that holds period blood – what an invention!

An absorbent membrane is sewn inside the panties. It has a certain absorption capacity without swelling. The panties therefore always remain discreet. It’s impossible to see the protection under your clothes. No diaper effect, no visible lines, no saturation. Some styles are even seamless with a second-skin effect and are completely invisible!

Unlike disposable sanitary pads, menstrual panties don’t give off bad odors. The fabrics are breathable. At the end of the day, the panties should be rinsed in cold water, then machine washed on a short 30°C cycle with the rest of your dirty laundry. It’s that simple.

Note that to cover your whole period (which varies from woman to woman, usually between 4 and 6 days), you’ll need several pairs of panties to ensure protection day and night. Keep in mind that menstrual panties take a while to dry because of their absorbent membrane. And tumble drying is a no-go. Air drying is recommended.

Impossible 

Our period panties optimally retain light, medium and heavy menstrual flow. Some styles are known for their double absorbency and are ideal for very heavy bleeding caused by a copper IUD.

Don’t forget about washable pads either—another washable, effective and long-lasting option that can replace your disposable products.