I’ve been using a menstrual cup very happily for half a decade now. If you don’t know what it is, a menstrual cup is a medical grade silicone reusable cup that collects blood during your period rather than absorbing it the way that tampons and pads are designed to do.

You insert the cup and your period is collected and once the cup is full, you simply remove it, empty it out, wash the cup and reinsert into your vag. The rule of thumb is to tip the blood out at the end of each day.

Now prior to using a menstrual cup, I had relied on cotton tampons. Although convenient, fully committing to sustainable living meant that I couldn’t overlook the problem that tampons are disposable. Even though I had switched to organic cotton tampons, I could see that moving to a reusable menstrual cup meant I could significantly reduce my eco footprint.

Plus, organic cotton tampons aren’t as cheap as the normal cotton variety, so using a menstrual cup over five years means I’ve saved approximately $400. The price of a menstrual cup is about $40 so this zero waste option is ecological and economical too!

In addition, a menstrual cup is similar to a tampon in that it is safe to use and it also allows you to work, travel, exercise, dance, swim and basically live life without any interruptions. It’s comfortable like a tampon too so when you insert it, you often forget you have your period because that’s how comfortable a menstrual cup is!

So when Ruby Cup reached out about their zero waste feminine hygiene product and asked if Eco Warrior Princess would be interested in becoming an affiliate for their brand, I immediately said yes.

Related Post: The World’s First Compostable Zero Waste Bra and Underwear

Why?

First off, Ruby Cup encourages zero waste periods so this is a no brainer for a committed sustainability advocate like me whose aim is to influence people to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill.

Plus, I like that they give you a choice of five different colours: red, blue, classic/clear (I chose this colour), purple and pink; and sizes small or medium (I picked medium size because I have a heavy flow and its size means I don’t have to empty it as frequently).

Last but not least, Ruby Cup is an award-winning social business and the only menstrual cup brand that I’m aware of that follows the ‘Buy One, Give One’ model pioneered by TOMS ethical shoes. For every Ruby Cup you purchase, you automatically donate another one to a girl in need.

This is hugely important, because for many girls and women in developing countries, the price of feminine hygiene products such as sanitary pads and sanitary towels is expensive particularly as a standard daily wage is $1 or $2 per day. Most women in the developing world simply can’t afford these products. Instead they use rags and other makeshift items to stop their menstrual bleeding.

Then there’s the humiliation, stress and anxiety that girls and women have to face when they go to school or work when menstruating. The sanitary rags and towels they use aren’t satisfactory or comfortable. Many girls fear that blood will soak through their clothing and is a reason why many of them forgo school or work during their menstrual cycle.

So by purchasing a Ruby Cup for yourself, you also donate a cup to a girl in need – giving her hope and dignity.

Also for the month of May only, if you purchase a Ruby Cup, the company will donate not one, but two menstrual cups to girls in need. There’s only a few days left in the month, so make sure to buy a menstrual cup here.