COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF INTIMATE REUSABLE AND DISPOSABLE EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FEMALE PRODUCTS

Abstract

Reusable products for use during the female menstrual cycle are increasingly popular and present on the market. Women can choose between disposable or reusable products according to the criteria that they find most important. This study analyzed durability, quantity of products needed from menarche to menopause, price, recyclability, biodegradation and the use of renewable sources of the best-selling products today. The materials used in this study are disposables pads and tampons, reusable pads (cloth), menstrual panties and cups. The performed analysis considered the data provided by the manufacturers, literature research and experimental results. Results of this study indicate that the product with the least amount of material is the tampon, the most durable, cheapest and most likely to be recycled is the cup; and the product that will biodegrade more easily and has a greater amount of materials from renewable sources is panties. Therefore, it is concluded that this work can serve as a tool to provide information to the consumer about the environmental impact of each option of feminine intimate products available in addition to other criteria to be analyzed during her choice.