# DIY Sanitary Napkins Eco-Friendly Homemade Cloth Feminine Hygiene Products By Katie Cordrey | Published 2009-03-07 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diy-sanitary-napkins-eco-friendly-homemade-cloth-feminine-hygiene-products References: [hillbillyhousewife](http://hillbillyhousewife.com/sanitarypads.htm) & [greenyour](http://www.greenyour.com/body/personal-care/feminine-hygiene/tips/choose-cloth-menstrual-pads?subject=9133&category=9484) In the United States and Canada alone, more than 12 billion pads and tampons are tossed annually. Using [cloth menstrual pads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joni) can help to reduce the landfill burden. There are a number of sites that offer free patterns and instructions to make your own pads. Several other websites offer ready-made cloth pads for purchase. Since they don’t aren’t made with plastic, the pollution generated by the [plastic manufacturing industry](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecofriendly-tampons) doesn’t come into the picture with cloth pads. Choosing unbleached fabrics means that health-threatening dioxins were not used to lighten fabric. [Organic cloth for pads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cotton-cover-pads) will ensure that pesticides have not been used in fiber production. If the pads are laundered with earth-friendly practices, the environmental savings really add up. This is one area where a small change in habits can mean a big benefit to the environment. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.6/10 - Popularity: 64% | Activity: 97% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **DIY Cloth Menstrual Pads:** Opportunity for individuals to create eco-friendly homemade alternatives to disposable sanitary napkins. - **Sustainable Feminine Hygiene Products:** Disruptive innovation in the feminine hygiene industry by offering organic cloth pads that reduce environmental impact. - **Plastic-free Menstrual Products:** Innovative solutions for eliminating plastic waste through the use of cloth pads instead of traditional disposable options. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Textile Manufacturing:** Opportunities for textile manufacturers to produce and supply organic cloth materials for feminine hygiene products. - **Sustainable Retail:** Disruption in the retail industry by offering ready-made cloth pads as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional sanitary napkins. - **Eco-friendly Laundry Services:** Potential for laundry services focusing on earth-friendly practices to cater to the growing demand for the laundering of reusable cloth pads. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Biodegradable Period Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iris-arlo-pads.md) - [Sustainable Hemp-Made Pads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mewalii.md) - [Bamboo-Made Menstrual Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-cheeky-panda-pads.md) - [Eco-Conscious Menstrual Solutions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/natracare.md) - [Eco-Friendly Feminine Care Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ecofriendly-tampons.md) - [Eco Hybrid Tampons](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/playtex-clean-comfort.md) - [Plant-Based Menstrual Pads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/joni.md) - [Breathable Bamboo Sanitary Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/knh.md) - [Antibacterial Menstrual Cups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bfree-cup.md)