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As we pay more attention to women’s menstrual health, many of us are looking for the best organic pads, tampons, and period underwear to manage our periods more naturally. Unfortunately, we can’t always trust traditional pads we find on the shelves of convenience stores.
Traditional pads often contain concerning synthetic materials like phthalates, fragrances, dyes, and chlorine bleach. These icky materials can irritate sensitive skin and cause rashes, not to mention get absorbed into our bodies.
However, there’s a healthier alternative: organic pads.
Organic pads lack these irritating ingredients and are made of more breathable materials, such as organic cotton, bamboo, and plant-based fibers, that are much gentler on our bodies.
5 Reasons to Switch to Organic Pads
Here are some of the biggest reasons to make the switch to organic pads instead of using Always or another mainstream brand during that time of the month:
- Free of irritating chemicals: Organic pads are made from natural and biodegradable materials like organic cotton, bamboo, and plant-based fibers. They’re free from synthetic materials, dyes, fragrances, and chlorine bleach. This means women with sensitive skin or allergies are less likely to develop rashes or allergic reactions to organic pads. Plus, these natural materials are simply softer and more comfortable.
- Breathable: Organic pads are designed to be breathable, which allows air circulation and helps reduce the likelihood of bacterial growth and odor.
- Eco-friendly and sustainable: Organic pads are made to be biodegradable and sometimes even compostable, so they can break down naturally over time, which minimizes their environmental impact. What’s more, growing organic cotton and other natural fibers involves fewer pesticides and chemicals. By opting for organic pads, you can help promote more sustainable farming practices that are gentler on the environment.
- Less pollution and plastic waste: Conventional menstrual pads are often made with plastic materials, so they add to plastic waste that can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. By choosing organic pads, you can minimize your contribution to plastic pollution.
- Ethical manufacturing practices: Some people prefer to buy organic pads because they’re often produced by companies that prioritize fair trade practices and worker welfare. These companies often ensure that their production processes adhere to higher standards of social responsibility.
9 Best Organic Pads, Period.
If you’re ready to make the switch from mainstream brands, read on for the best organic pads to use the next time you’re surfing the crimson wave.
1. Cora
Cora makes both pads and tampons, and they offer a handy subscription service so you don’t have to shop for more pads every month. Cora’s pads are made from a top sheet of 100% certified organic cotton and an inner core of chlorine-free wood pulp and SAP, which stands for super absorbent polymer. They’re also free from potentially irritating synthetic materials, fragrances, chlorine, and dyes.
Cora sources its organic cotton from sustainable, eco-friendly farms. Their pads are soft and breathable, and they come in different absorbencies (daily liners, regular, super, and overnight) for different flow rates. You can get boxes of one absorbency level or a mix based on what you need.
A box of 32 regular and super absorbency pads will run you $19 (64 for $38) as part of their subscription program. It saves you 5% to sign on to a subscription which delivers every three months, and which you can cancel any time.
For every Cora product purchased, the company donates period products and provides menstrual health education to girls in need.
2. The Organic Initiative
The Organic Initiative (known as Oi) also makes pads that are free from plastics, chlorine, synthetic fragrances and dyes. These pads are soft and biodegradable, fully breaking down in an estimated five years (under optimal conditions).
Oi’s pads come in four absorbencies. They’re made of 100% GOTS certified organic cotton (both their cover and their absorbent core) and are individually wrapped in biodegradable bioplastic wrappers. These pads are also packaged in a biodegradable, recyclable cardboard box, reducing consumers’ environmental impact with each purchase.
Many Oi users say this is the only pad they can use which doesn’t irritate their skin. You can easily set up an Oi subscription for every month, every two months, or every three months (this is more delivery options than Cora, which delivers only every three months). Thirty pads will cost you about $17.50, so it’s similar in price to the Cora subscription.
3. Rael
Rael is another company that makes high quality pads that are both soft and absorbent. They’re made without chlorine or synthetic fragrances from certified organic cotton grown in Texas (howdy, y’all) and chlorine-free wood pulp and Super Absorbent Polymers (SAP), materials which you often also find in organic baby diapers.
Rael offers petite, regular, overnight, and extra large overnight organic pads. If you sign up for a subscription, you’ll get 28 Rael organic pads for $12.59, which are among the most affordable organic pads on our list.
Rael is also one of the only companies out there that offer organic cotton reusable pads, which some women are turning to in order to reduce their environmental impact.
4. Natracare
Natracare is another solid option for pads that are free of plastics, synthetic perfumes, and chlorine. They’re also easy to get in drug stores and online through Amazon, so you don’t have to set up a subscription service (unless you want to).
Natracare’s pads are soft, absorbent, and come in regular, long, night-time, and daily panty liners. Their pads are made with an organic cotton cover and a core of double absorbent cellulose core that keeps you dry. Natracare pads will cost you about $35 for 60 pads.
5. Organyc
If you’re a purist and want to buy pads made of nothing but pure organic cotton, Organyc makes some of the best cotton pads that are just as absorbent as the traditional kinds. Their pads are made of 100% certified organic cotton without any chemicals, pesticides, chlorine, latex, parabens, perfumes, plastics, wood pulp, or SAP. They are great for sensitive skin and are MadeSafe certified.
Organyc pads come in different flow rates, including an organic panty liner made entirely out of cotton.
6. Dame Reusable Pads
Dame makes these reusable pads out of organic cotton so you can significantly reduce the amount of environmental waste that comes with getting your period. These reusable organic pads come in mini (interlabial), liner, regular, and overnight sizes and absorbencies.
Dame’s reusable pads are made with their DAMEdry™ technology out of five layers that work together for serious period protection. The top layer wicks away moisture, while the waterproof lining of the pad prevents leaks. These pads also have an antimicrobial technology (made out of non-nano recycled silver) that prevents odor.
To clean Dame’s reusable cotton pads, you rinse them in cold water, then either wash them by hand or add them to an existing dark load of laundry in your washing machine. You should then line dry them to ensure they don’t shrink upon drying.
7. Lola Pads with Wings
Lola makes 100% organic cotton pads that are free of synthetic fibers, chemical additives, fragrances, dyes, and chlorine bleach. These pads feature a top sheet and absorbent core (so no wood pulp or SAP like in some other brands) made of organic cotton. Each pad’s back sheet is made of a bioplastic, and the adhesive used to fix them to underwear is also non-toxic.
These pads come in an hourglass shape to help achieve a better fit, and the wings do a decent job of staying in place as you’re wearing them. They come in two absorbencies: regular and heavy. Twelve pads in a subscription box will run you about $8, so these are on the slightly pricier side from some of the other organic pad subscriptions we cover here.
8. August Organic Period Pads
August, as you’ll see on their enthusiastic website, offers a variety of different pads and tampons to suit your needs.
August’s pads are made with an organic cotton top sheet, and they’re filled with chlorine-free wood pulp and SAP to help with absorbency.
August sells their pads in day, night, “long night,” and daily liner absorbency levels. You can buy them once or set up a subscription for every month, every other month, or every three months. Twenty regular pads cost around $11 for a monthly subscription (which saves you 10%).
9. The Honest Company Organic Pads
The Honest Company makes their pads with GOTS certified organic cotton in their top sheet and the majority of the pad’s core, plus they use a plant-based polymer that makes up part of the pads’ absorbent core layer and the wrapping for each pad.
It’s easy to order pads from The Honest Company on Amazon. They cost about $1/pad, so they’re are a bit pricier than some of the other options on our list. Consumers are generally happy with these pads, which do not cause irritation and are both soft and absorbent. They make daily liners and pads in just one standard absorbency level.
Choosing Organic Pads for a More Natural Period
When Aunt Flo comes to visit, it’s better to be prepared than caught by surprise (we’ve all been there). Many of these pads and organic tampons are available in handy subscriptions at an affordable price, so you don’t need to rush out to the store every time your period arrives.
Organic pads are far less likely to irritate sensitive skin than traditional ones and are still highly absorbent and available in a variety of flow rates. Plus, they’re made of organic cotton, which is better for the environment and more easily breaks down after use.
If you’re looking for a reusable period product, check out our top picks for period underwear (all of them as PFAS-free) and our favorite non-toxic menstrual cups and discs.
