There's a lot of talk about the benefits of using reusable hygiene products. But when did you ever think about how your personal choice will affect larger mechanisms? What will its long-term consequences be?
Normalizing something, whether it's an idea, a phenomenon, or even a language, is no easy task. The more we normalize something, the more people will choose it. The more we normalize the use of reusable products, the more women will choose them over disposables. So here are some good reasons why it's important that we use our power to normalize the use of reusable products and increase their usage.
Reason 1 - Because it's a chicken and egg issue of health and consumerism
Disposable hygiene products contain, among other things, substances such as PFAS and a host of other toxins. They have a terrible effect on the health of our skin and vagina - they suffocate them, change their acidity level, expose us to itching and infections and a host of other troubles. Among the many dangers in disposable hygiene products , these substances are recognized by the body as external toxins, and to protect against them, the body produces more secretions. Manufacturers use these substances because they extend the shelf life and make them more durable. Of course, the more we consume of them, the more secretions we will have, we will have to consume more and so on. The more women use reusable products, the more manufacturers of reusable hygiene products will be forced to reduce production and hence the extent of their harm to women all over the world.
Reason 2 - Because it will make public discourse healthier
We all know how much public discourse influences our choices every moment of the day. Public discourse can bring about revolutions - for better or for worse. The more women use reusable hygiene products, the more women will incorporate into their routines a healthier and more conscious discourse about the female body, and the choices that can be made to protect it. We will hear less "Ugh, menstruation is disgusting" and more "Wow, my life has changed." Think of how much fun that would be! How every conversation, every visit to the store, every girls' night could easily become a space where there is no shame in being a woman!
Reason 3 - Because it will change the market for reusable hygiene products for the better
When strengthening a certain consumer market, its players are obliged to maintain good competition in order not to be left behind. That is, if the female public shows more interest in reusable hygiene products and votes with credit, manufacturers will have to think outside the box, upgrade existing models, add a variety of colors, sizes and cuts. In addition, the more competition there is in the market, the lower the prices will be. All these improvements will ultimately work in our favor, and they depend only on the percentage of purchases by women. So think about this the next time you choose to buy disposable panties or tampons.
Reason 4 - Because the Earth is crying out for help
The environmental impact of choosing reusable products is impersonal. For any change to occur, it takes a lot of women choosing to protect the environment. However, when every woman thinks she is the only one and doesn't have the power to change, we are left with almost nothing. Disposable hygiene products have a terrible environmental impact , but not just in the way you think. Less waste from panties, pads, and tampons is not just less land pollution or fewer greenhouse gas emissions. It is also about less burden on the parties responsible for landfilling the waste and saving resources that are intended to serve the public.
Reason 5 - Because activism starts in the underwear
Environmental activism begins with consumerism. When consumers dictate the guidelines to manufacturers, they will have to align themselves and provide consumers with what they ask for. Think about how, until recently, it was very difficult to find vegan food outside or businesses that enabled a vegan lifestyle. Now think about the vegan label of various businesses, the crazy variety of products in supermarkets and fashion stores. Besides, think about the production processes of disposable hygiene products and try to imagine how the workers are employed in these monstrous factories. Now think about reusable hygiene products that are produced under the label of fair trade. As consumers, we have tremendous power in our hands and we can make the world a better place. So why not?
