#ZeroWaste Feature – Garden of Eden’s Reusable Menstrual Pads

International Women’s Day is March 8^th 2020. This day serves as a reminder to strengthen our collective resolve to forge a gender equal world. This includes celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness of bias, and taking action for equality.

In light of this, the zero waste feature for the month of March is Garden of Eden’s Reusable Menstrual Pads, handmade by Maureen Brand of Buckhorn, Ontario. (Scroll down to read more about Maureen.) These washable pads are made with layers of soft cotton flannel, PUL waterproof barrier, and durable snap closures. Maureen has designed a complete range of sizes, small enough to use with the skimpiest thong and large enough to keep you covered all night long.

In terms of care, used pads should be rinsed in cold water, squeezed dry, then laundered within a couple days of use. For complete care guidelines, visit this webpage: https://www.gardenofedenreusables.com/cleaning-your-pads-1.

Choosing to ditch disposable pads or tampons is a great way to reduce your environmental footprint as well as your monthly expenses. In 2018, roughly 45 billion sanitary pads and 17 billion tampons were purchased in Canada. These pads and tampons end up as plastic waste in landfills.

North American menstrual products have evolved over the years to incorporate an ever-increasing percentage of plastics. Tampons come individually wrapped with plastic applicators and strings. Pads generally include even more plastic, with the leak-proof base, absorbent synthetics, and packaging. The problem with these plastic-heavy products is that they will persist for hundreds of years after their short period of usefulness.

Disposability has been marketed as essential for convenient and discreet menstruation. In 2020, in the midst of the climate crisis, it’s high time we recognize that we can prioritize environmental preservation and also do away with impositions on women’s bodies.

Also, the GreenUP Store is giving away a perfect pair (featuring Wonder Woman!) of Reusable Garden of Eden Pads. The lucky winner will receive one Long Maxi Pad and one Regular Maxi Pad, a retail value of $30. Enter by filling out the information in the form below! Contest closes March 31, 2020 at 11:59pm. The lucky winner will be announced here and on our social media @PtboGreenUP by noon, April 8, 2020.

Contest is now closed. Congrats to Charlene P. who won this beautiful pair of reusable menstrual pads! Follow our blog & social media @PtboGreenUP to enter future contests.

About Maureen Brand:

When Maureen Brand watched a video of a 15 year old girl teaching her friends how to use cloth menstrual pads, she wondered, “If that kid is using cloth pads, then why shouldn’t I?”

And she’s never looked back!

The journey to using cloth menstrual pads has been a quick one. After whipping up some pads in her basement from left-over material, Maureen hasn’t used disposable pads since. The comfort was immediate. The cost savings immediate. The desire to share this with other women was immediate. (Have you ever met a woman excited to talk about her period?! Maureen was!!)

Garden of Eden began by using quality materials and a keen interest in developing and adapting pad patterns to help women make the most of their purchases.

It has expanded to include “period panties,”  incontinence products, amazing bamboo nursing pads, and a few other goodies you won’t find other places. Always the focus is on quality materials and workmanship, with classic patterns that you’ll be happy to wear for years to come.

 

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