Sustainable Period Products for Plus-Size Travel

As the world becomes more aware of the detrimental impact of single-use plastic, more and more companies are starting to make an effort when it comes to sustainability – companies producing period products are no exception. The menstrual products that many of us have gotten used to over the last century are made for convenience and have made life much easier for many, but they tend to be high in single-use plastic, and things like disposable sanitary towels and tampon applicators can take up to a whopping 500 years to degrade.

Thankfully, there are now some great sustainable and plastic-free period products available, which is a really planet-friendly alternative to disposable period options. Sustainable period products and eco friendly periods products are designed to be durable and to be used repeatedly over the course of many years. Imagine how many pieces of single-use plastic you can save from going into landfills if you make a swap to using something sustainable or plastic free! 

… but are they plus size friendly sustainable period products?

More sustainable menstrual products are now readily available than ever before. Currently, there are plenty of options if you’re ready to make a sustainable swap to your period routine, and many of them are plus size friendly, and great for when you are on the go! The most popular options are cloth sanitary pads, menstrual cups, and period pants, although cloth tampons and a few other options exist too if you want to delve a bit deeper into the world of sustainable periods.

Plus Size Friendly Sustainable Period Products

Cloth Sanitary Pads

Cloth sanitary pads (often abbreviated to CSP) are really easy to get hold of, come in loads of different sizes, and are easy to use. Eco friendly period pads almost always come in wonderful prints and patterns too which adds a bit of fun to your period. Almost all brands design their CSP to attach to the gusset of your regular underwear using pop studs and are pretty similar to the disposable pads many of us are used to. You can find CSP in varying absorbencies so there will be something to match your flow, and they’re easy to look after. 

There are brands that make their CSP in maxi sizes which is perfect for anyone who might need a little extra coverage. There are also options available with multiple popper fastenings designed so that they can easily fit onto varying gusset sizes – another great feature for any plus size users. 

CSP don’t take up much space, making them a good option when travelling. If you won’t have access to a washing machine when you’re on your travels, consider taking a wet bag with you. All this is, is a bag specially designed to contain any moisture and odours inside, meaning you can pop your used pads inside, and not worry about them until you’re home!

Here are some of the best eco-friendly sanitary pads in the UK to check out – if you’re outside the UK then Etsy is also a good starting point for finding highly reviewed pads that are made in the US and shipped worldwide! 

• Earthwise

Earthwise offers cloth sanitary pads in a range of sizes and patterns. The long pads come in at 27cm long and are perfect for anyone looking for a bit of extra coverage. All pads come with two different popper settings, meaning they will fit onto any size underwear gusset. You can buy Earthwise CSP in packs of three, and for every pack sold, pads will be donated to girls in Kenya which is a wonderful bonus. If you are in need of a wet bag to keep your CSP in, Earthwise offers travel-sized options which are perfect for popping in your backpack when on the go. 

• DAME

DAME cloth sanitary pads are made using unique their own DAMEdry™ technology, where five layers work together for total period protection (which is exactly what you need where you’re on the go). They’re also fast-wicking, odour proof and secure. With a pack of 3 that also comes with a dry bag, they’re a great option for travel!

• Fern

Cloth sanitary pads from Fern are particularly beautiful, and there are wet bags to match all the wonderful patterns in both travel and bigger sizes. The pads themselves are cleverly designed to fold up into tiny squares which are secured by the in-built poppers, making them really easy to pack when you’re travelling. There are different sizes and absorbencies to explore, but the heavy option offers great coverage and measures 33cm long. 

• Bloom & Nora

Bloom and Nora is a Cloth Sanitary Pad manufacturer founded by Tots Bots, which is a reusable nappy company – this means they really know what they’re talking about when it comes to absorbency! There are two ranges of pads to explore – the Blooms and the Noras. The bloom range offers pads that are mainly white, and the Nora range is packed full of colour and beautiful designs. Like other brands, there are different sizes and absorbencies to choose from, and the maxi size measures up to 29cm long. 

Menstrual Cups

Menstrual cups have been around for decades now, and they are becoming increasingly popular, largely due to how comfortable they are once you get used to them! In essence, a menstrual cup is a little silicone cup that sits in place and catches the blood flow from your period. They come with a stem attached underneath which you can use to pull out your cup when it needs changing – this can always be cut down to size to whatever you are most comfortable with. Inserting them and making sure they are in the right place can take a little getting used to, but when used properly, they’re an incredibly comfy option! 

Menstrual cups need emptying at least a couple of times a day and should be sterilized between uses. This is surprisingly straightforward when on the go! One of the easiest ways to empty your cup, especially for any plus size users, is to do it in the shower – this way, any potential mess is minimised and blood can be washed straight down the shower!

Plus size tip: If you’re staying anywhere with an ensuite room while travelling, jumping in the shower a couple of times a day is nice and easy (you don’t even need to have a shower, just stand in the shower dry to empty your cup and then hose away the blood). You can also empty the contents of your menstrual cup straight down the toilet, but this can be tricky if the toilets where you are staying are a tight squeeze, as you’ll need enough room to spread your legs a bit to get your cup out!

When it comes to sterilising, you can either equip yourself with some sterilising tablets or make sure you have access to a kettle. Sterilising tablets are tiny and will take up next to no space in your luggage – all you do is dissolve them in water and then leave your cup in the mixture for the allotted time to sterilize. Boiling water works in much the same way, so you can make do with a kettle! Travel sterilisation kits for menstrual cups are available to make life a bit easier, and it can be a good idea to have two cups so you’ve got one to use while the other is sterilising.  

• Lamazuna

Lamazuna menstrual cups come in two sizes and are made in France from medical grade silicone. The smaller size cup, for lighter period flows has a capacity of 23ml, and the bigger size which is suitable for people with a heavier flow, and who have given birth vaginally has a capacity of 30ml! Lamazuna cups come in a handy pouch which is perfect for when you’re on the go. 

• Mooncup

Mooncup is probably the most well-known brand when it comes to menstrual cups, and they have been on the market since 2002. The bigger sized cup has a capacity of 29.3ml, and the smaller size will hold 28.8ml. The stems on Mooncups are ridged which makes them nice and easy to get a grip on when you’re removing your cup! 

• Lunette

Lunette menstrual cups are a fun and practical option – they come in a choice of five different colours as well as the usual two size options. The bigger size holds up to 30ml, and the smaller cup will hold up to 25ml. They also have lots of cleaning options for washing on the go! This cleanser, for example, comes in a handy 100ml size so you can easily take it through security.

Period Pants

Period pants are a comparatively new addition to the plastic-free period world, but they’ve soared in popularity since being introduced to shops. Quite simply, they are a pair of underwear with an absorbent gusset built-in, generally designed to act just like a CSP, but even simpler. 

Period pants are a simple solution to travelling while on your period, as they don’t take up much more room than a regular pair of underwear. If you are out and about all day, the combination of a CSP and a pair of period pants is a wonderful and very easy way of managing your period on the go. Simply pop a CSP into the gusset of your period pants, and then halfway through your day, remove your CSP, and let your period pants offer period protection for the rest of your outing. Like CSP, period pants can be stored in a wet bag once used on holiday, and washed when you get back home, or to a washing machine. 

Some brands have a long way to go when it comes to size inclusivity, but there are brands out there that offer wonderful plus size friendly options in a range of styles and fits. 

• Modibodi

Modibodi offers a much wider range of plus size friendly period pants than other brands. Their pants size up to a 6XL and come in some really fun and funky patterns, colours, and designs, unlike the usual black options that other brands carry. There are seamless options, bikini bottoms, boyshorts, and boxer styles as well as classic briefs and high waisted options. It’s easy to see how absorbent each pair of pants is on the website so you can make sure you pick the pair that’s right for you! 

• WUKA

WUKA are a popular brand when it comes to period pants, and they have steadily expanded their sizing so that it now goes up to 6XL. The brand creates a number of different styles including seamless options and a few different pairs that include a fun mesh aspect. 

• Hey Girls (UK only, for now)

Hey Girls make period pants up to a size 4XL – the material is wonderfully soft and comfy, and the pants themselves come in a few different styles and colours. 

We know that being sustainable as a plus size person is incredibly difficult when there are very few options out there for us, but hopefully in the future, we’ll have lots more options available when it comes to sustainable (and comfortable) periods as a fat person on the go. If we’ve missed any plus size friendly sustainable period products, let us know!