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A menstrual cup? Is that what is sounds like? Gross.

This is a fairly typical response when first introduced to the idea of a menstrual cup. I’ll admit, it isn’t pretty. No one likes to imagine a reusable vaginal insert that collects the menstrual fluid. But let’s be real – vaginal bleeding isn’t (and never will be) pretty – so let’s start by dropping the shame around menstruation. And once we’ve gotten over that, we can address something that’s a lot less pretty: the amount of waste that half the population is producing in relation to their monthly cycle.
Before diving into the sustainability implications of menstrual cups, let’s get a clearer picture of what they are. Menstrual cups, along with washable pads, are reusable feminine hygiene products that boast sustainability benefits. Brands like Diva Cup, Soft Cup, and GladRags are popular examples in the United States, but there are dozens of products with slightly different features. Generally though, most menstrual cups are silicon bell-shaped vessels that are inserted to collect period blood (to be worn up to 12 hours), and reusable pads are fairly self-explanatory – fabric liners that can be machine-washed.

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