When Kiwi Mum Hannah Porter first founded Bear & Moo, she wanted to help families have easier access to sustainable products, at an affordable price. In four years, Bear & Moo has saved landfills from at least 20 million disposable nappies!
Hannah wanted to take that concept and apply it to something else that’s full of unnecessary disposable products – our periods! Just have a look at these stats by The Good Fund:
- Over 10 years, one woman may create approximately 39.5kg of waste – that’s up to 138kg over the life of her period headed straight to landfill.
- The cost of single use menstrual products from puberty to menopause is approximately $8,400.
“The rise of the sustainable period care category is terrific,” enthuses Hannah. “There are some really great options on the market now and we’re able to choose what feels best for us. Menstrual cups are terrific but they’re not comfortable or a viable everyday option for everyone, and period underwear can be costly to purchase the numerous pairs required.”
Bear & Moo reusable sanitary pads come in 3 sizes – small, medium and large. These sizes refer to the absorbency of the pads, large for heavier flow days, small for the lighter ones. They are an easy switch from a disposable pad to reusable, just rinse after use until they run clear and then pop them in the washing machine in a delicates wash bag. They also come in a range of gorgeous prints to make your period just a little more fun too!
Much like period underwear, reusable pads need to be changed as frequently as a disposable pad, and washed every day, so 6 reusable pads is a great place to start depending on your flow, length of your cycle and how regularly you do the laundry. They have a lifetime of 2–3 years and cost $9.95 – $15.95 each, so are a super easy, low-cost option.
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IS THERE A MORE SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO PERIOD PRODUCTS?
