The Sustainable Period Revolution: Why More Women Are Ditching Tampons for Discs

Bodyotics’ reusable menstrual disc is redefining period care in Australia with a safer, sustainable and comfortable alternative.

For decades, pads and tampons have dominated the period care aisle. But as awareness grows around health, sustainability, and body comfort, women are rethinking what they use each month and many are making the switch to reusable, eco-conscious alternatives.

From menstrual cups to period underwear, the trend toward sustainable period products is gaining unstoppable momentum. According to industry research, reusable menstrual products have seen double-digit growth globally over the past five years, driven largely by Gen Z and Millennials who are demanding products that are kinder to both their bodies and the planet.

In Australia, the conversation around menstrual health has never been more open. Once-taboo topics like heavy flow, pelvic pain, and even sex during periods are being discussed freely on social media. This cultural shift has paved the way for a new wave of innovation and one product in particular is changing everything.

The Disc Taking Over Bathrooms Across Australia

The Bodyotics Menstrual Disc has officially landed in Australia, bringing Nordic design smarts and sustainability to a category ripe for reinvention. Made from soft, medical-grade silicone, each disc is reusable for up to 10 years and offers a safer, toxin-free alternative to traditional disposables.

Unlike menstrual cups, which sit in the vaginal canal and rely on suction, discs rest higher at the base of the cervix. The shape holds itself in place comfortably – no suction required – and its flatter design means greater capacity, the equivalent of up to five tampons’ worth of flow.

A recent UK study by the Women’s Environmental Network (WEN) and the Pesticide Action Network (PAN UK) uncovered pesticides in tampons at 40 times the safe limit for drinking water and phthalates in pads which have been linked to infertility and cancer.

“With concerns growing about the safety and sustainability of traditional period products, Australian women are ready for something better,” says Joanna Pepper-Koskimo, Head of Beauty & Wellness at Bodyotics. “Our discs are safe, reusable and convenient – helping reduce waste and offering freedom that pads and tampons simply can’t.”

That freedom extends to activities many women once avoided during their period. The disc can be worn while swimming, doing yoga or even having sex – an option not possible with cups or tampons. It’s a design that’s both body-aware and lifestyle-friendly, catering to modern women’s needs.

Why Sustainability Matters

The environmental case for reusables is clear and increasingly urgent. Each person who menstruates will use an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 pads or tampons in their lifetime – generating significant waste and unnecessary expense. In Australia alone, that adds up to over 200,000 tonnes of landfill waste every year, much of it plastic that can take centuries to break down.

A single Bodyotics disc can last up to a decade, saving thousands of disposables from landfill. “Sustainability is at the heart of what we do,” says Pepper-Koskimo. “When you consider the impact of disposable period products on the environment, making a switch to reusables is one of the most meaningful small changes we can make.”

Designed for Real Bodies

Bodyotics’ two-pack design is unique in the market, offering two different sizes in each box so users can find the perfect fit for all cervix heights and for different flow days. Each pack also includes two silicone pouches for hygienic storage, and a sterilising case is available separately.

Priced at $49.95 (discs) and $24.95 (sterilising case), the discs come in a choice of colours and styles including ring-pull and string-pull versions. Over time, the savings add up: women spend an average of $6,000 on disposable products across their menstruating years, making Bodyotics discs a smart financial choice as well as a sustainable one.

The Bodyotics menstrual disc is available now at Amazon Australia and Bodyotics.com — proof that the future of period care is reusable, responsible, and refreshingly real. Use code WELLBEING10 for a 10% discount.