Reusable period and incontinence products

Grab a discount when you choose to reuse!

Here in Hampshire, we throw away about 4,200 tonnes of single-use period and incontinence products each year. That’s about 40 times as heavy as a blue whale!

You can make a difference by choosing a reusable alternative that can offer protection time and time again.

Reusable period products

Confirm your postcode for a discount

Hampshire County Council, in partnership with Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils, has worked with a number of suppliers to provide Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton residents with a minimum discount of 15% on reusable period products with online suppliers.

Validate your address and reveal your discount code

Please note that your discount may not work on products that are already reduced or on sale. Discount rates may vary by supplier and it is down to the supplier’s discretion.

If you are a business that would like to join in with this scheme, email: [email protected].

Supplier partnerships

Single-use plastic in period products

Modern single-use period products do not make the best use of the Earth’s resources.

Sanitary towels can contain the same amount of single-use plastic as four plastic bags, while tampons can be made from resource-intensive materials which have a big environmental impact. If you have periods, it’s estimated that you can use more than 11,000 single-use period products across your lifetime, so by switching to reusable alternatives you can lessen your environmental impact over time (source: WEN).

What if you could use something that was kinder to the planet?

Modern reusable period products are hygienic, and easy to clean and reuse again and again. On average, using reusable products compared to single-use products halves the carbon impact over a year! You could even save money too by avoiding the need to buy new products each month.

Concerned about chemicals in period products? Find out more here about how to break up with toxic periods!

Reusable options

Not sure where to start? We’ve put together a quick guide to the different reusable period products available from our suppliers:

Period pants

A pair of underwear with an absorbent inner panel. Available in a variety of sizes and styles with different levels of absorbency to suit your flow.

Reusable period pads

Cloth pads that you can wash and reuse. They come in various sizes and absorbencies, just like disposable pads.

They usually have wings that snap around your underwear to keep them in place. Many use soft, absorbent fabrics like cotton or bamboo, and have a waterproof layer to prevent leaks.

Menstrual cups

A menstrual cup is a flexible, bell-shaped cup which is inserted into the vagina to collect menstrual blood. They can last for several years with proper care.

Menstrual discs

Menstrual discs are similar to menstrual cups but shaped like a disc. They sit higher in the vaginal canal, near the cervix, which some people find more comfortable than cups. This is because they sit differently in the body.

Photo of various reusable period products

How much could you save?

Each period using single-use products can cost on average £10; that’s about £130 a year!

Reusable options might help save you money over time:

  • a menstrual cup costs approximately £20 and lasts for 10 years
  • a full set of period underwear costs approximately £140 and lasts for about 2-3 years , while a set of reusable pads costs about £110 and last for about 4-5 years

You can always try one product for a lower upfront cost, and build up your stash over time to spread the cost.

Information for schools

The Department for Education’s period product scheme for schools and colleges also includes free menstrual cups and period pants from their supplier, Phs.

Wuka offer resources for schools including their Handy Guide to Periods and their PSHE demo kits which include their own special offer for students. Please note, Wuka themselves are not currently part of the Hampshire County Council discount scheme but some of their products may be available through other suppliers listed.

Period Poverty Support

The number of people who would normally buy single-use period products and struggle to afford them has risen from 12% to 21% in one year, while 42% of girls in the UK struggle to afford period products resorting to using makeshift items like toilet paper.

There are a number of charities who work with organisations to alleviate period poverty, including:

  • Hey Girls, who donate products under a buy one/donate one model to those facing period poverty and campaign for access to free products
  • Bloody Good Period, who donate products to those who need them through community partners and campaign for menstrual equity
  • Period Poverty, who provide products to schools and homeless charities
  • Red Box Project, who provide sanitary items in schools

In Hampshire, the connect4communities programme supports residents on a low income with necessities such as food and fuel.

Reusable incontinence products

Confirm your postcode for a discount

Hampshire County Council, in partnership with Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils, has worked with a number of suppliers to provide Hampshire residents with a minimum discount of 15% on reusable incontinence products with online suppliers.

Validate your address and reveal your discount code

Please note that your discount may not work on products that are already reduced or on sale. Discount rates may vary by supplier and it is down to the supplier’s discretion.

If you are a business that would like to join in with this scheme, email: [email protected].

Supplier partnerships

Many people need some support when it comes to urinary incontinence. Some use single-use products such as pads or absorbent underwear to provide extra protection against leaks.

These single-use products allow users to go about their day with confidence. However, they can come with negative environmental impacts. They can also become expensive when bought repeatedly, and it can be an inconvenience when you run out, or your preferred product isn’t in stock.

You can now find modern reusable alternatives that are hygienic and easy to wash and use again and again.

Do you need help with managing incontinence? See: Get help with managing incontinence for more information.