We have come a long way in terms of sustainable period products. From the menstrual cup to reusable applicators for tampons, those that work on the product’s environmental impact are clearly working hard to assist with our waste problem, while still maintaining comfortable and effective period products. As someone who solely uses pads, I am sadly aware of their huge environmental impact, especially in the way disposable pads are estimated to take 500 to 800 years to break down. This is why I was so excited to see an advert for Fluus, a company that has created the world’s first flushable period pad.
Founders Dr. Olivia Ahn and Aaron Koshy met in 2016 at Imperial College London, and ever since then have been working hard on creating a flushable period pad. In 2019 user trials began, flushability tests commenced and Fluus successfully received its WIS 4-02-06 certificate–meaning the water industry has certified that this product is “fine to flush.” It was only this year that Fluus came onto the market, and boy was I excited to try it out. Unfortunately Fluus currently only ships out to the United Kingdom.
How does FLUUS work?
Flushtec is Fluus’ unique, microplastic- free technology that allows the pads to be flushed. Their use of cellulose plant figures in the pads means that their products are 15% more absorbent than the category leader, but are still able to entirely break down when flushed. When flushed, the movement of the water begins to tear the pad apart, and as it travels through the drainage system it breaks down even further. This motion allows the pad to be broken down into 3mm plant fibers! By the time it reaches the water treatment center, it can safely pass through the screens where it is then treated and regenerated into biogas and fertilizer. As an added bonus, the wrapper and peel paper that protest the pads are able to be flushed too as they are made from the same material as the pads.
My experience with Fluus
Fluus offers two kinds of subscriptions:
A 15 pack for £5
A 45 pack for £15
In order to allow people to try before they buy, Fluus offers a trial pack of 3 pads for only £1 ($1.25 USD) which is exactly what I ordered. I was thrilled that when I ordered my trial pack on the 12th of March, it turned up on the morning of the 14th! The package was ambiguous so my local postman was unaware of what I was ordering (saving the awkward eye contact I received when I previously received an order from LoveHoney). The packaging itself was entirely cardboard meaning it could go straight into the recycling bag, ensuring it met Fluus’ mission of sustainability. Now all that was left was to wait for my period to come! – something I never thought I would be excited for.
Doomsday had arrived, it was day one of my period. Thankfully this had fallen on a Saturday morning when I had zero plans for the day, giving me the perfect opportunity to try Fluus risk-free. It felt incredibly strange (and almost wrong) to put the wrapper in the toilet, rather than simply chucking it in the bin - but I am relieved to say that it flushed with no issues at all. After sticking the pad to my trusty granny panties, it took a few minutes to get used to the new material of the Fluus pad. This is not to say that it was uncomfortable, but just different from what I was used to. Now that I have been wearing it for nearly an hour, I can confidently say that I and my vulva have been incredibly comfortable. It’s soft but supportive, perfect for lounging around or walking to the shops to grab your favorite snacks.
Four hours later I was extremely satisfied with just how absorbent the pad was, despite this day being my heaviest, the pad was nowhere near close to leaking (something that has happened with other branded pads). But now came the ultimate test…would it actually flush? I still live at home with my parents, and the idea that this could go very wrong and result in a clogged toilet (and angry parents) began to weigh on my mind. With a deep breath and a press of the silver button, the pad was flushed away–never to be seen again.
I continued to try Fluus for the next two days and was met with comfort and a leak-free experience. Though the pads are advertised as being more absorbent than other branded versions, I do wish Fluus had created a longer version for nights. But overall, I would highly recommend Fluus if you are looking to be more sustainable when it comes to your period products. For those worried about old Victorian pipes and their bends, Fluus states that “our pad is equivalent to 12 sheets of toilet paper, so if you can flush 12 pieces of paper, you can confidently flush our pad.” Fluus further explains that whilst the pads are certified flushable in the UK, the “materials are fully biodegradable and water dispersible anywhere in the world.”
Written by Stephanie McCartney.