Periods are often over-looked and shied away from, despite major steps forward the taboo is still alive and well today. As an all-female team we at Wild Fawn want to help banish this taboo, speak openly about women’s health and offer some insights into how you can make your monthly cycle more sustainable.
Reusable Underwear & Pads
WUKA
Founded in 2017, WUKA stands for Wake Up Kick Ass and is a female-led start up, making the UK’s first ever reusable and leak-proof period wear. they believe that periods should not hold you back and equality, social and environmental responsibility are at the heart of everything they do. They are on a mission to break down any period-related taboos and to end to period poverty and to ensure sustainable periods are accessible to all. For WUKA, sustainable periods should not be a luxury.
Modibodi
Kristy’s the CEO and creator of Modibodi is a mum on a mission, a fash-tech entrepreneur and a social advocate for women’s health issues and rights. She is working to change our mindsets – and the planet! – by changing underwear for the better. Designed, developed and scientifically proven, her patented Modifier Technology™ leak-proof undies are the secret of Modibodi, a reusable, sustainable range of period and sweat-proof undies as well as avtivewear and swimwear, liberates us all from endless amounts of menstrual waste.
At its core, Thinx was founded to provide safe, comfortable, and sustainable options for people with periods and bladder leaks. They have been working to break down the period taboo since 2013. They use OEKO-TEX®️ certification means every component—from fabric to trim—is thoroughly tested and certified for ecological safety. When you buy Thinx underwear you do more than just buying comfort and confidence, you also help Thinx support initiatives that impact folks around the world. Just bear in mind it is a US brand so you will pay duty if you buy!
Cocoro Intim
Two architects, a philologist, and a graphic designer (Eva Polío, Laida Memba, Clara Guasch and Cristina Torres) founded Cocoro. Today, they have created a next work of local and international agencies and collaborators. A great happy family they say. After an incredible successful crowdfunding campaign they posit “We are all Cocoro”.
Cheeky Wipes
Helen, the founder of Cheeky Wipes says that necessity is the mother of invention and that's certainly been true for her brand, suffering from eczema she established Cheeky Wipes with skin friendly, reusable baby wipes kit back in 2008. The company has grown from being a garage start up to turning over £3 million pounds in 2019. Since 2016 alone, they have saved over 28 million disposable sanitary products and 22 million packets of baby wipes from landfill, something to be incredibly proud of.
Hey Girls
At Hey Girls they know that girls and young women are all powerful individuals who care about health, are passionate about the environment and want to make a difference. With their range of super comfy and absorbent reusable pads and pants you can make period more sustainable while knowing whenever you buy from Hey Girls, they donate. So by buying from Hey Girls you’re helping someone in the UK in need!
Eco Period Products
Sea & Flo
Sea & Flo say learning to use a menstrual cup is a journey, one they are here to support you on. It might take a few days or even a few cycles to get used to your cup but it will be well worth the effort. They have gone so far as to have created a community on facebook where people have shared their difficulties and success stories with their cups. This is a safe place to ask advice or just gain some inspiration and reassurance. They are not just creating more sustainable periods but also a supportive community too.
Mooncup
Mooncup menstrual cups have moved from ‘hippy’ alternative to a go-to period product. They say there is no such thing as a typical Mooncup user: each one of us is unique, united by a mission to have a more positive, healthy and eco-friendly period. Each cup is made from soft, medical-grade silicone, it’s so comfortable you can’t feel it’s there. While tampons absorb 35% vaginal moisture, the Mooncup menstrual cup won’t dry you out or leave fibres behind. The Mooncup menstrual cup is a healthier, greener and cheaper alternative to disposable tampons and pads.
Dame
It was 2015 and the founders of Dame we were working on, Sanitary Owl, their original period product startup. They were frantically packing boxes ready for delivery when it hit them, they were drowning in a sea of plastic. They decided to create a brand free of plastic waste and synthetic ingredients. They believe every person around the world should have access to period products free from toxins, discomfort and negative language. They now offer reusable pads, tampons applicators, organic tampons as well as a monthly subscription service.
&Sisters
Founded by a daughter and mother duo, &Sisters mantra is “periods with a conscience. 100% natural period care is better for our bodies, our sisters and our planet. They believe in openness and radical honesty, promising to always tread lightly on the planet, never stop fighting for gender equality and a girl’s right to an education. Saying: periods are natural, shouldn't your period care be too? &SISTERS organic cotton is sourced according to seasonal availability and comes from a number of different countries, grown without the need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides and purified without any chlorine, dioxins, or nasties of any kind!
Ohne
Ohne period products are made with vaginas in mind! They believe no nasty toxins should be getting up close and personal with the thinnest, most absorbent skin on your body. They create totally natural, unscented, unbleached and 100% biodegradable tampons and pads, ohne is certified by both Soil Association and GOTS. They are animal lover-friendly and as good for the planet as they are for your body. Their packaging is plastic-free and they even offer a CBD infused option, something we definitely want to try!
Callaly
Callaly will send you everything you need for your period from their range of organic cotton tampons, tampliners, pads and pantiliners. Get them delivered when it suits you, in absorbencies to fit your period – no surplus, no shopping. All their products are made with 100% organic cotton, and are free from pesticides, dioxins, chlorine, dyes and perfumes.
TOTM
TOTM tampons, pads, and liners are made with GOTS certified organic cotton. Unlike conventional cotton, this is grown without toxic, synthetic pesticides and uses sustainable farming methods. As a company, we support menstrual health and dignity causes operating across the world. We are currently donating to Binti International and Endometriosis UK.
Freda
Affi, founded Freda because she believes we should treat periods as a normal part of our life and a sign of health. She was raised to think periods were dirty and I had to keep it a secret, this was something she wanted to change for the next generation, saying periods are private but they should never be a secret. At Freda they believe everyone must have access to period products. Pads and tampons are as essential as toilet paper. Period poverty is still a very real issue and so every time you buy a Freda Teen box you’re supporting someone else getting the products they need. They donate a portion of their profits to charities addressing period poverty such as:
Bloody Good Period
The Red Box Project
Beauty Banks
We hope openness and honesty about periods continues to become more normal and by talking about them we can all help bust the shame that still surrounds this totally natural part of being human.
If you know of or use any other sustainable period products we would love to hear about them, share them below.