Why switch to natural menstrual products?

"I’m so happy to have found Lunapads because disposable pads always irritated me. I also love that there’s nothing to throw away, and that they’re so soft and comfortable." Heather K.

More comfortable

Made with 100% cotton (pretty prints and colors, or organic), Lunapads and Lunapanties are far softer and more breathable than disposable pads and pantyliners. They don’t have the sticky, sweaty feeling of disposables, and there’s no glue to get stuck in uncomfortable places. Most of our customers tell us that Lunapads are far more comfortable than they had expected, even if they were not previously pad users.

Healthier

The DivaCup is made from medical grade silicone and won’t dry you out the way tampons do. Because the cup collects rather than absorbs menstrual flow, it is not associated with any risk for contracting Toxic Shock Syndrome. Using Lunapads and the DivaCup also means less worry about irritation and infections caused by plastics and chemical residues found in most disposable products. To learn more about health issues associated with disposable pads and tampons, read this article about Tampon Safety written by the National Research Center for Women and Families.

"Thank you for all your innovation and your commitment to offering women something different than disposable, toxic products." Peggy J.

Greener

Like recycling bottles and newspapers, washing Lunapads or rinsing out the DivaCup is a little more work than throwing away your used pads and tampons. But with over 14 billion pads, tampons and applicators going into North American landfills every year, it’s a small but important way of taking personal responsibility for a massive environmental problem.

"Using your products gives me a pleasant feeling of self-sufficiency and taking responsibility for my needs, rather than compromising the earth’s wellbeing for the sake of my "convenience". Ann V.

Happier

Many of our customers report that they come to enjoy caring for their Lunapads and DivaCup, and that it helps them feel more positive about their cycles and in touch with their bodies overall.

It may sound strange if you’re new to the idea, but after using your new natural menstrual products over time, they start to feel like old friends. There is something very gentle, intimate and comforting about using them every month. After a while, the idea of going to a drugstore to buy pads or tampons seems like an unimaginable waste of time and money, when you could just be spending time taking care of yourself instead.

"Thank you so much for providing this product, and thank you for teaching women that having their periods can be a wonderful thing." Morgan G.

Save Money!

We are sometimes asked by prospective customers about whether Lunapads and our other products are “expensive” relative to disposable products or other cloth pad brands. In other words, do you truly save money by switching from disposables, especially since the prices for natural products can seem so high? The short answer is “Yes!”, but we can see how this can be hard to see if you're just looking at the issue for the first time, so we've written this piece to take a deeper look.

These days, the term “expensive” usually connotes something negative, as in “those designer jeans are so expensive!” suggesting that the seller is asking an unreasonable price for the value of the product. We are living in a culture where low-priced goods are often seen as being more desirable, regardless of the quality and long term value of the product, not to mention issues such as environmental impact or conditions under which the goods were produced. We believe that there are a number of factors behind the price of a product that aren't necessarily easy to see or understand as part of its actual cost or value to society and the consumer.

You can buy most products in a range of prices which have varying degrees of quality. Common examples include shoes, clothing and food. Most of us have had the experience of purchasing a lower-priced product because we wanted to save money, but ending up being disappointed by its quality (hence the expression “you get what you pay for”). Conversely, some of us have purchased an “expensive” but high-quality product (a good pair of shoes, for example) that ended up lasting for years and providing excellent quality and value, far more so than purchasing many pairs of cheap shoes that didn't last. In these cases, “expensive” can actually mean “better”. We feel that Lunapads, the DivaCup and other natural, multiple-use products are “better” in this way, with the notable difference that they also cost less on a per-use basis than disposables.

Choosing to buy organic and locally-grown food demonstrates added value for some higher-priced products, but on a larger scale – value that extends to benefits for your health, your community and the environment. For example, the “expensive” head of organic lettuce that I buy is giving me the added value of better taste and nutrition, supporting environmentally sustainable agriculture and reducing pesticide use – things that we feel are a better long-term value on every level.

It can be difficult initially to see the value of multiple-use products over disposables, because the initial price difference makes it look like disposables are cheaper. For example, the price for a box of 40 disposable pantyliners is $3.49, while Lunapads Pantyliners are $10.99 each. Lunapads seem more expensive, right? Look again: the disposable pantyliners actually cost $0.08 cents each, while the Lunapads Pantyliner only costs $0.01 cent per use. Same with a DivaCup – at $37.50 it seems steep when compared to $4.99 for a box of 20 tampons, but in fact it only costs you $0.05 cents each time you use it, compared to the tampons, which cost a whopping $0.24 cents each! As the comparison chart details below, Lunapads and other reusable products are actually a way better deal than disposables.

Comparison of cost per use of disposable pads and tampons versus reusable products

(All amounts in US Dollars)

Disposable Products	Price @ Drugstore.com	Cost Per Use
Always Pantyliners	$3.49 / 40 pack	$0.08
Stayfree ultrathin maxi	$3.49 / 18 pack	$0.19
Natracare Organic Cotton Maxis	$4.49 / 20 pack	$0.22
Kotex Long super maxi w/wings	$3.79 / 16 pack	$0.23
Playtex regular tampons	$4.99 / 20 pack	$0.24
Tampax super tampons	$4.79 / 20 pack	$0.23
Organic Essentials tampons	$10.49 / 40 pack	$0.26
Instead Cup	$9.19 / 24 pack	$0.38

Reusable Products	Price @ Lunapads.com	Use Frequency*	Life	Cost Per Use
Lunapads Pantyliners	$10.99 each	3 times/week	5 yrs	$0.01
Lunapads Mini Pad & Liner	$14.99 (includes 1 liner)	2 times/month	5 yrs	$0.12
Lunapads Long Pad & Liner	$18.99 (includes 1 liner)	2 times/month	5 yrs	$0.15
The DivaCup	$35.00 each	4 x/day, 4 days/mo.	1 yr	$0.25

*Comments on our assumptions of 'use frequency' of natural products

We have assumed a woman will use the same Lunapad several times during the month, depending on her needs. Increased use per month will make the average cost per use lower, and decreased use will make the average cost per use higher.

Use frequency for the DivaCup is based on the expected number of times a woman would change a tampon per day

**Comments on our assumptions of 'life expectancy' of natural products

Lunapads will easily last for up to 5 years. Many customers report using Lunapads for much longer, making the average cost per use lower. Health Canada and the FDA recommends the DivaCup be replaced annually. Using the DivaCup beyond a year will make the average cost per use even lower.

Another aspect of disposables' cost is their environmental impact. As taxpayers we are financing garbage disposal service and construction and maintenance of landfills where the used pads and tampons end up, as well as for maintaining sewage treatment plants for so-called “flushable” applicators. There are also additional hidden costs in environmental clean up for pulp and paper plants where the rayon and wood pulp that are the main ingredients of disposable pads and tampons are processed.

Lunapads vs. other cloth pad brands

There are now many brands of cloth pads on the market of varying price, fabric choices, quality and design. Most of them have a 2-part design where liners or inserts are placed inside an envelope-style pad or holder which then wraps around the panty. Because the liners are inside the pad, when it comes time to change it, you need to change both the pad and the liner in order to avoid sitting back do wn on a wet pad.

With Lunapads however, the design is much simpler and more efficient. The pad is still wrapped around your panty, but the liner sits on top of the pad, closest to you, not inside it. So when it's time for a change, all you need to do is change the liner, not the pad as well. This means that not only do you not need to carry around as many supplies with you throughout the day, but also that you do n't need to buy as many pads and liners in the first place.

Equivalent pad-to-pad cost (1 maxi, 5 liners)  

	Brand A	Brand B	Lunapads
Maxi Pad & Liner	$9.95 (with 1 liner)	$10.50 (with 1 liner)	$16.99 (with 1 liner)
Maxi Liners	$5.94 (3 liners)	$8.25 (3 liners)	$4.99 (2 liners)
Pad Subtotal	$15.89	$18.75	$21.98
Carry Bag	$6.95	$10.65	$4.99 (Free with Kits)
Total with Carry Bag	$22.84	$29.40	$26.97

Not considering the value of the carry bag, on a pad to pad basis Lunapads cost more than most other brands.

Where the real value kicks in is in Lunapads unique design: change just the liners instead of the whole pad and save:

One day supply comparison  

	Brand A	Brand B	Lunapads
Maxi Pad & Liners	$9.95 (with 1 liner)	$10.50 (with 1 liner)	$16.99 (with 1 liner)
Change Pad/Liners	change pad 3x/day $9.95 *3	change pad  3x/day $10.50 *3	change liners only 4x /day $16.99 + $9.98 (4 Liners)
Total cost of pads & liners per day	$29.95	$31.50	$26.97
Carry Bag	$6.95	$10.95	$4.99 (Free with Kits)
Total	$36.80	$42.15	$31.96

Even before considering the value of the carry bag, on a per day basis, Lunapads are a better value.

In addition, compared to most other cloth pads, Lunapads are made from better quality fabrics, including highly absorbent fleece. Lunapads are professionally made using local, fairly paid labor, and they are backed with a money-back satisfaction guarantee. In other words, if you don't think that Lunapads are “worth it”, then we'll give you your money back. Every Lunapads Kit also includes a free waterproof, washable nylon carrying pouch to store used pads and liners in until you get home, while other cloth brands sell theirs for up to $15. In short, while there are other cloth pads that may be cheaper than Lunapads, we feel that Lunapads offer superior quality and value.

And finally…

Lunapads is a small, women-owned business that employs 6 women.  We do this work because we care about it, and would sell Lunapads for less if we could afford to do so and continue to survive as a business.

We provide products that are safer, healthier and more comfortable for women and friendlier to the planet: in other words, better quality products that offer far better value in every respect than disposables. Thank you for your support!