In honour of International Women's Day (March 8th) we wanted to talk a little bit about women's health, the environment, and access to alternative menstrual products.

Did you know that every year 13.5 billion pads and 6.5 billion tampons end up in U.S. landfills? With the average woman in Western society throwing away an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 disposable non-biodegradable pads or tampons in her lifetime, Canada certainly isn't far behind.

Mainstream menstrual products also contain synthetic and toxic materials like rayon (which can contain dioxins), chlorine bleach, pesticide residues (from the cotton), fragrances, and dyes. These components are not only released into the environment when the product is thrown away, they may also be absorbed by the body. If you are trying to eliminate toxic products from your home, why would you want them close to-or inside-your body?

While every woman's menstrual needs are different, we're sure you can find an alternative menstrual product that works for you at Co-op La Maison Verte. We have reusable options (The Diva Cup, and Moontime organic cotton washable pads), as well as biodegradable pads and tampons that made from organic cotton, and are synthetic- and chlorine bleach-free (from Natracare).

For the month of March we will be offering all of our menstrual products tax-free (which is how we feel they should always be, if there are any government officials reading). We invite you to visit our online store and browse through these products for detailed information and prices. If you have further questions don't hesitate to call our store.

Here's to making empowered choices about our bodies and the environment. Have a wonderful International Women's Day!

For more information: http://www.cbc.ca/newsatsixmontreal/begreen/2009/01/go_with_the_flow.html