1970s
back to basics: reusable cloth pads come back into fashion
Although today's pads and tampons are conveniently disposable, lots of women and girls go the reusable route. Not only are washable cloth pads cheaper than disposable pads and tampons in the long run, they're also better for the environment. The average female throws out between 10,000 and 15,000 pads and tampons in her life--that's a LOT of waste.
As society started becoming more aware of environmental issues in the 1970s, reusable cloth pads made a comeback. They gained even more popularity in the 90s when women were able to sell homemade reusable pads on the internet and DIY instructions became readily available for crafty girls.
Cloth pads are usually made of hemp or cotton and can be a variety of sizes and absorbencies. Some cloth pads have wings that snap together at the crotch, while some simply lay in the underwear. Just use, wash and reuse to reduce your waste impact on the earth!
