Turn your period green with Sphinx

 Put an end to toxic hygiene products: Your periods go green with Sphinx 

In the 1940s and 1960s, it seemed like a revolution: tampons and pads conquered  the hearts of many menstruating people in Europe. 

But what once promised freedom is now contributing to growing problems for our environment, our health. A menstruating person has about 3500 period days in a lifetime and consumes 10,000 to 17,000 disposable products, depending on the flow. That's a lot of waste we leave behind - not to mention the harmful processes of manufacturing. 

Disposable hygiene products: toxic foreign bodies

But why should disposable hygiene products be toxic to us? After all, surely there are rules for products that come into direct contact with our intimate areas - right? 

Well... tampons are not subject to any specific legislation. They fall under the General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC, which does not require manufacturers to disclose the ingredients or components of the product.

Some people were curious and investigated - with sobering results. 

Disposable hygiene products use materials derived from petroleum and wood, such as polyester or polypropylene. Add to that bleaching treatments or texture modification before fragrances are added that are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they mess with the body's hormone balance. 

At Sphinx, we agree that such substances have absolutely no place near our intimate areas or even in our bodies.

Buried under trash: Toxic to the planet

As mentioned at the outset, a menstruating person uses an average of 10,000 to 17,000 menstrual products during their lifetime - pads, tampons and so on…. Each year, more than 45 billion disposable hygiene products are used and then discarded. In addition, there is the associated packaging - usually several, since a single package is not 'sufficient' for pads or tampons.

After use, it all goes into the trash ... But what happens to it?

Some of it is incinerated, others buried in the ground. Some companies even arrange for our own waste to be shipped to other continents, because Asia, for example, still has the capacity to process waste that has long been lacking in the USA / EU or would be too expensive.  

Disposable hygiene products also end up in seas and oceans. In the meantime, we are already talking about the "seventh continent", i.e. the plastic continent in the sea. By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish on the planet.  

 

Did you know that it takes up to 500 years for hygiene products to decompose? Or that the materials they contain contaminate the soil and water around them over those years? 

 

According to Greenpeace, hygiene products are one of the most polluting industries.

 

And no, we weren't aware of the consequences of disposable hygiene products on our bodies and planet for a long time either. It takes time and a bit of coincidence for a person to learn about it. 

 

If you feel the same way we do, then there is a question you would like to ask now: 

 

What are the alternatives to disposable hygiene products?

 

Free Bleeding

 

Menstruating people do not bleed all the time but at irregular intervals. Many have a strong sense of their own abdomen and a well-trained pelvic floor. These people manage to feel when the blood is on its way down and thus they visit the toilet in time. 

 

No sanitary products are used in this method.

 

The menstrual cup

 

A menstrual cup indeed requires a little practice. And seeing the blood in the cup is also not easy to put away by anyone. At the same time, the cup needs to be emptied and flushed regularly to avoid potential toxic shock syndrome. 

 

So you need a place nearby where you can wash out the cup. Depending on your daily routine, this could be an uncomfortable situation, for example, in the school restroom or office sanitary facilities. So if you want to use a menstrual cup, you should be aware of the implications.

 

The menstruation panty

 

It is slightly thicker than a classic panty and, thanks to its built-in protection, very comfortable to wear - whether at home, in the office, at school, outdoors or even at night. 

 

There are models for "light flow", for "medium flow" and "heavy flow", which you can choose depending on your cycle. You can wear such menstrual panties for up to 12 hours, depending on your flow.

 

What's especially positive about period underwear is that you can reuse them for years, avoiding the waste of disposable products.

 

But which menstrual panties are right for you? 

 

The first model was developed and launched in the US in 2013. Since then, many brands have tried their hand at it. In 2020,  Sphinx was born. We focus on timeless design and sustainable quality. So you can stay stylish and serene during your "red" week.

 

Sphinx period underwear is beautiful, comfortable, breathable and leak-proof.

 

With menstrual panties you do something good for your body and help minimize your ecological footprint at the same time.

 

So, what are you waiting for? Explore our models and find out what menstrual underwear is right for you!