People are increasingly choosing natural, organic and sustainable alternatives for products like food, cosmetics and fashion. Unfortunately, when it comes to menstrual products (which we expose our bodies to every month), we don’t think about these factors much. The main reasons are the abundance of misinformation, misleading claims and lack of transparency in this area.
“There is a lack of transparency in the market. Legislation in this area is very inadequate and intimate hygiene manufacturers are not required to disclose the exact ingredients in products such as pads or tampons. ”
We are happy that there are more and more options and alternatives on the market, such as menstrual cups or panties. But we also know that these products may not suit everyone and may not be suitable for every situation. We founded Femvie to enable people to choose menstrual products without unnecessary chemicals and plastics , while helping to remove the stigma and shame in this area. Our ambition is to enable women and girls to educate themselves about femininity, so that they can make informed decisions about which products are best for their specific needs.
Femvie offers 100% ORGANIC cotton tampons and here are two main reasons why you should consider them:
1. Organic tampons are kinder to your body
Have you ever checked the packaging of the tampons you buy and wondered what the product is made of? The truth is, even if you wanted to, you wouldn't find much on the packaging. It's rare to find menstrual brands that share a detailed list of ingredients with you. Manufacturers of intimate hygiene products are not required to list their exact ingredients on the packaging . We recently read that there are even stricter rules for labeling hamster food than for menstrual products 🙃 . We were quite shocked by this, so we decided to investigate further. We went through many trusted sources and checked the ingredients of regular tampons. The list of ingredients really surprised us - there are tampons on the market that mainly contain synthetic and semi-synthetic materials, cotton grown with abundant use of pesticides or bleached with chlorine ( 1). Examples of some ingredients in regular tampons: viscose, chlorine bleach, dioxin, rayon, dicofol ( 2). There are also tampons that contain artificial dyes and synthetic fragrances, especially from brands that claim to neutralize odor. Simply put: there is a lack of transparency in the market, and if brands don't clearly label the ingredients in their products, we can't be sure what we're buying.
What does this mean for you:
If you have sensitive skin, regular (non-organic) tampons can cause increased irritation and general dryness in your intimate areas . In worse cases, they can also be associated with hormonal disorders, discharge, inflammation, endometriosis, or thyroid disorders ( 3 ).
Maggie Nay, an American naturopathic doctor who specializes in female hormonal imbalances, described the issue in an interview with the American wellness brand Goop : “ The vaginal walls are incredibly permeable, any chemicals in tampons can easily enter the bloodstream, which is not ideal for products that we use for a large part of our lives ” ( 4 ). Since women’s mucous membranes can absorb even more chemicals than our skin, frequent contact with these toxins and chemicals can contribute to the development of metabolic changes and lead to related health problems ( 3 ). The average woman will use 11,000 tampons in her lifetime, so the more we can limit our bodies’ exposure to these chemicals, the better ( 4 ).
2. Organic tampons are also more environmentally friendly
Up to 16% of the total annual consumption of pesticides is used in the cultivation of conventional cotton. This sector not only uses artificial fertilizers, but also does not exclude the use of genetically modified plants ( 5). Unlike conventional cotton , organic cotton is grown in a natural way, which emits up to 46% less greenhouse gases . Farmers use only natural methods to control pesticides and diseases - so you will not find any chemicals in organic cotton. In addition, there is no depletion of nutrients from the soil or its erosion. Synthetic pesticides are also prohibited in organic farming ( 8). The result is maintained and clean rivers and lakes. ORGANIC cotton decomposes in the soil, which means that you can put products made from 100% organic cotton in the composter.
Organic cotton is not a seasonal hit or a marketing gimmick
The advantage of organic cotton is that you can be sure that it is grown strictly without pesticides and does not contain synthetics, chlorine, chemical dyes or perfumes. So you do not have to worry about irritation or other health risks ( 6). Organic tampons allow the skin to breathe and will decompose in nature within a few years.
We recommend that everyone carefully check the ingredients list of the intimate hygiene products they use. Each brand has its own production method - however, we bet on brands that have certificates, are transparent and do not hide the ingredients in their products. Femvie tampons are made from GOTS certified (an international standard that has ethical and ecological requirements) 100% ORGANIC cotton. They are hypoallergenic and do not contain any of the above unwanted chemicals or additives. We also promise to always be transparent and honest about all aspects of our product.
Share and inform your circle of friends
We hope we have given you some points to consider – we only have one health and nature. If you are a fan of what we do at Femvie, we ask you to become a “micro teacher ” for others. Since there is not enough transparency in this area, it is difficult to know what is good for us and what is not. Write to us if you have any questions. Share our content and inform your friends about the topics of womanhood! This way we can help each other.
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(1), (2), (3) https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/ingredients-to-watch-out-for-in-tampons/slide/6/ , https://magazin.biooo.cz/zivotni-styl/zelena-domacnost/chemicke-beleni-tamponu-a-vlozek/ , https://magazin.biooo.cz/zivotni-styl/zelena-domacnost/chemicke-beleni-tamponu-a-vlozek/ , https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/24/well/live/period-activists-want-tampon-makers-to-disclose-ingredients.html
(4) https://goop.com/wellness/sexual-health/are-tampons-toxic/ , http://www.toxicology.cz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=940
(5) https://loveyourhome.cz/bio-ba
(6), (7) https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.122-a70 , https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170113192803/http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/WomensHealthResearch/ucm134825.htm
(8) http://www.ecovoice.cz/materialy/
(9) https://www.wellandgood.com/good-looks/preservative-free-beauty-products-myths-facts/
Other interesting articles and references:
https://zerowasteeurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Reusable-toxic-free-menstrual-products_August-2018.pdf
https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/facts-tampons-and-how-use-them-safely
