Everyone knows them, they are available everywhere and are part of everyday life for many women: tampons and pads. These menstrual products are indispensable for ensuring hygiene and comfort during your period. But what many people don't know is that these everyday helpers can have a significant impact on our environment and our health. In the following paragraphs, we take a closer look at the hidden costs and risks associated with the use of tampons and pads, and also highlight the benefits of more sustainable alternatives such as CycleDiscs and CycleCups.

A little cost calculation for the savers among you. The figures always refer to the entire period in which a woman has her period, i.e. approx. 40 years. Total cost of tampons and pads: approx. 1,100 to 4,800 euros - Average: 2,950 euros - Maximum: 4,800 euros Total cost of period underwear: approx. €400 Total cost of CycleCups: approx. 120€ In the average case, this results in a saving of around 95.93%, i.e. €2,830! In the maximum case even a saving of approx. 4,680€ or 97.5%! Even compared to period underwear, CycleCups are almost 70% cheaper in the long run!

For the sake of interest, we wanted to calculate the amount of waste from tampons. The main components of the waste are the materials from which the tampons and pads are made, such as cotton, plastics and packaging. We have therefore tried to make as detailed an estimate as possible: 1. number of tampons/pads per month: approx. 20 tampons or pads per cycle. 2. number of cycles per year: approx. 12 cycles per year. 3. number of years: approx. 40 years (from 12 to 52 years of age). Tampons: - Weight of a tampon: approx. 2 grams. - Packaging: approx. 1 gram / tampon. - Number of tampons in a lifetime: 20 tampons/cycle * 12 cycles/year * 40 years = 9,600 tampons. - Total weight of tampons incl. packaging: 9,600 tampons * (2 grams + 1 gram) = 28,800 grams = 28.8 kilograms. Pads: - Weight of one pad: approx. 5 grams. - Packaging: Approx. 2 grams / pad. - Number of pads in a lifetime: 20 pads/cycle * 12 cycles/year * 40 years = 9,600 pads. - Total weight of pads incl. packaging: 9,600 pads * (5 grams + 2 grams) = 67,200 grams = 67.2 kilograms. Summary including packaging #1 Tampons: About 28.8 kilograms of waste per woman in a lifetime. #2 Pads: Approximately 67.2 kilograms of waste per woman in a lifetime. Even if that doesn't sound like much at first, let's extrapolate this to the annual waste in Germany and the world: Total waste per year in Germany: Tampons: 20 million women * 720 grams = 14,400 tons. Pads: 20 million women * 1,680 grams = 33,600 tons. Worldwide it is even more extreme: Tampons: 1.9 billion women * 720 grams = 1.37 million tons. Pads: 1.9 billion women * 1,680 grams = 3.19 million tons. Even if the figures are only roughly calculated, they are probably quite close to reality. One last comparison: CycleCups last for about 10 years. A woman menstruates for about 40 years. This results in 40 years / 10 years per cup = 4 CycleCups per woman in a lifetime. Weight of a CycleCup: About 15-25 grams (we calculate with the average of 20 grams): 4 CycleCups * 20 grams = 80 grams. This means that a woman will produce approx. 80 grams of waste in a lifetime if used optimally. This would be expressed as a percentage: A saving of about 99.72% of waste compared to tampons! A saving of around 99.88% of waste compared to pads! A brief note on period underwear: Total weight of period underwear per woman in a lifetime: 20 pairs * 50 grams = 1,000 grams = 1 kilogram Conclusion: Even compared to environmentally friendly period underwear, CycleCups reduce waste by around 92%! Disclaimer: The calculations and comparisons have been made to the best of our knowledge and belief. The figures given are based on average assumptions and available data. Individual experience and actual values may vary.