Julia Schopick from The Keeper, Inc. was awesome enough to leave us a comment in a recent Shameless Women post to let us know that they’ve put together a page on their site to show the average environmental and financial cost of using tampons.
“It gives a terrific visual representation of the amount of WASTE that is created by ONE WOMAN’S disposable menstrual products in one month, one year, 10 years, and 40 years (the menstruating lifetime of the average woman)!Please take a look. I think you’ll agree that these photos are real eye-openers. If only more women would realize how much waste they are foisting on the environment when they use disposable tampons and pads.”
Check out how much waste is produced in just one year:
courtesy of The Keeper, Inc.
Think that’s a lot? You won’t believe how much waste is produced in 10 years … OR 40! Make sure to check out the comparison pics (with info) here.
For an alternative to tampons, you can find out more about the awesome products that The Keeper, Inc. has to offer that are “economical, efficient, comfortable, and environment-friendly”.
Thanks for the tip, Julia!
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20 comments
Does anyone have an opinion on the Keeper vs. Diva Cup debate? I've been pretty happy with my Keeper, but I'm going to have to replace it soon and it seems like the Diva Cup is becoming very popular. What's the diff?
Posted by Anna
December 20, 2008, 12:37 PM
I'm not sure the difference, but I have a Diva cup and I love it!
How often do you replace the Keeper? I thought these products were eternal, but then I read they should be replaced every year...
Posted by Sheetal
December 20, 2008, 12:39 PM
According to their website, the Keeper can last up to ten years. I think it's a matter of personal taste, really. If you're the kind of person who likes things to be shiny and new, you can replace it every year. If you like your products long-lasting and don't mind a bit of wear-and-tear you can hang onto it longer (like me... but I think even by my standards it's getting to be too long).
I don't know the difference either, except I think the Diva cup is silicone rather than rubber, so it could be used by someone with a rubber/latex sensitivity (though apparently the Keeper also makes a silicone option). In terms of shape, comfort, and effectiveness, I don't know.
Posted by Anna
December 20, 2008, 12:53 PM
As odd a question as this, I feel it must be asked...Does this product smell after use?
Posted by Jess
December 20, 2008, 2:43 PM
Jess: a fair question. In my experience, not really. I mean, if you put it up to your nose and take a big whiff, yes, there is a trace of odour, but what can I say, it spends time in my body and bodies are full of smells. But it's not like I walk into a room and go "WOOF! There must be a Keeper in here somewhere."
Also, you can wash it in soap and water and you're meant to soak it in a mixture of white vinegar and water between periods, which eliminates any clinging bacteria (and thus smell).
Posted by Anna
December 20, 2008, 3:38 PM
...I mean soak it overnight once between periods, not soak it the entire time.
Posted by Anna
December 20, 2008, 4:27 PM
Oh yeah, and if the Diva cup is made out of silicone, I suppose that means you could even run it through the dishwasher, in which case it could come out smelling like Palmolive, which in my opinion is a bit much and I'd rather it just smelled like vajayjay, but that's just me.
Okay. I'm done. Good lord, I need a hobby. Besides, this, I mean.
Posted by Anna
December 20, 2008, 4:32 PM
Thanks!
Posted by Jess
December 20, 2008, 10:07 PM
The website says that they don't ship to Canada. Where can you buy one in Canada?
Posted by Rosemary
December 21, 2008, 12:34 AM
I'm not sure about The Keeper, but I know Lunapads (http://www.lunapads.com/), which is based in Vancouver, sells the DivaCup. You can order off their website and there's a list of stores in Canada that carry their products.
I haven't ordered from them myself, so I'd love to hear from someone who has some experience buying them. Is it easiest to just get in online? Or ... ?
Posted by D. Cole
December 21, 2008, 10:06 AM
I got my diva cup at the toronto women's bookstore -- so check your local feminist store, organic store, co-op, etc.
Posted by Sheetal
December 21, 2008, 10:29 AM
Thanks, Sheetal!
Posted by D. Cole
December 21, 2008, 12:02 PM
I use Many Moons cloth pads and Lunapads (both British Columbia based). In Toronto, you can purchase Many Moons pads at Grassroots and purchase Lunapads at Red Tent Sisters. They aren't that expensive-$10 or so each, if I remember correctly. It wasn't until I switched over that I realized how soft and comfortable cloth pads are! Sometimes cloth pads aren't the best to wear for certain activities or with certain clothing, so I have Natracare menstrual products on hand for those times. http://www.natracare.com/products/the...
Posted by Jelly
December 21, 2008, 7:44 PM
I have been using my keeper for (I am embarrassed to say) 10 years or so, I think it is in need of replacement. After reading the posts and various other sites, I am torn between the diva, moon cup or getting another keeper. I live in Toronto and I know there are stores that carry the diva, but is silicone safe? How is the diva different from the keeper? Some say that it is stiffer and other posts say it is bigger. Does anyone who has used both have info to share?
Posted by Cheryl
January 11, 2009, 8:52 PM
The main difference between the Keeper and the Diva Cup is that the Keeper is made of natural rubber and the Diva Cup is of silicone. I've heard that it's possible to develop a latex allergy after use, but I don't know much about this. Also, the Keeper is from the United States and the Diva Cup is from Canada (although it's easy to get in the US).
For endless information and answers to all your questions about menstrual cups, you should definitely check out the LJ community on it (here: http://menstrualcups.org). I browsed it endlessly before deciding to switch. It should have lots of comparison posts, with numbers, pictures, and comments about the different types (there are at least 9).
Posted by Melinda
January 15, 2009, 2:06 AM
Thanks! A veritable panoply of menstrual product information.
Posted by Anna
January 15, 2009, 8:58 AM
Oh how I love my Diva Cup. I think whichever brand of menstrual cup you prefer, it's the easiest, cheapest, most environmentally friendly way of holding up the flow.
What I would like to know from other people is: did you learn about this in your sex education classes? When a nurse came to my school in grade 6 and separated us "ladies to be" from the rest and showed us a pop-up book full of fallopian tubes and erect penises, she never mentioned the cup as a great alternative to plastic diapers or cotton wads. She also totally lied and said that your period comes out in little drops that you barely notice- way to make me feel like a monster for like a year and a half!
Even when I went to my liberal high school, the cup was never mentioned. Why? I feel like there must be some intentional marginalization of this product, because it is such a great option. Not a conspiracy theory, but maybe just this icky feeling so many people (who are in charge of giving girls the low-down on their vaginas) get when you talk about inserting a cup that you empty and wash out... with your fingers!! That same feeling that has shamed girls out of finding out what's going on with their sexual organs for waay too long.
Posted by Kasia
January 15, 2009, 9:44 AM
Awesome information ladies! Thanks so much!
And no, I definitely didn't hear about the Diva Cup or The Keeper at school!
When I was in gr.7 our gym teacher gave us a little "talk" about our periods and showed us a tampon -- because she said that if we used tampons we never had an excuse to get out of participating in gym class when we were swimming!
Then in gr.10 I had a pretty pathetic sex/health ed. class -- which was a half hour in length, only one time, as part of a gym course which most kids in the school didn't take. It was with a male gym teacher who had no idea what he was talking about when it came to menstruation and he thought teaching us about sex was telling us about the "quickie he had over lunch" with his girlfriend (who happened to be a former student of our school). It was ALL KINDS of creepy!
I actually first learned about the Diva Cup when I interviewed Sarah Campbell for Shameless Women: http://www.shamelessmag.com/blog/2008...
Posted by D. Cole
January 15, 2009, 12:26 PM
And I think you're right, Kasia. The "icky feeling" has a lot to do with it. Which is too bad for so many reasons.
Options like the Keeper and Diva Cup are better for the environment, better financially, and sooo much better when it comes to tracking your health through your period!
Posted by D. Cole
January 15, 2009, 12:34 PM
i heard of the divacup on mymonthlycycles.com. I love using it. I'm spreading the good word on my Facebook. People are asking me if it's a new thing. How come places like shoppersdrugmart don't have it? Great for the emvironment and it helps me better accept my period as a natural thing when I wash my cup. Why not more publicity? Women need to hear about this option.
Posted by julie Vivancos
January 28, 2009, 12:52 PM
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