Fab Little Bags, £2.99 for 20
Right I’m going to discuss something gross but it’s important.
It’s about the correct way to dispose of tampons.
I’m going to leave a gap now for all the squeamish people to clear the room. Everyone gone? Yes? Are we all just friends here?
Okay. I used to flush my tampons because I had no idea that you weren’t supposed to. That it fucks the oceans and does all sorts of other horrible shit. Then I started going out with Giles and he said “you flush your tampons?? That is the worst thing I’ve ever heard.” I was taken aback. I am a good person, I don’t do awful things on purpose, or because I don’t care.
I resorted to binning my tampons. But when you live with other people, or you are somewhere where there isn’t a sealed bin in the bathroom or whatever, it can be a bit nasty. It’s just a bit unnecessarily real. It’s not very Japanese.
Then I discovered Fab Little Bags, which I get on Ocado, which are biodegradable (and made of recycled material). You open the bag, peel off the sticky seal, pop the little sucker in and then pinch together to seal and bin it.
This is a piece for Net Doctor by the inventor, Martha Silcott. And here is the website for more information about FLB.
Eveyrone else can come out from behind the sofa now.
Even better for the environment etc is a menstrual cup….definitely not for the squeamish though!
I love my menstrual cup. But public toilets a bit of a nightmare.
Hi – Can I ask, if you don’t mind as it is a pretty personal question, but do you need to have at least 2 cups? What if you need to empty one but you’re not at home? Do you put it in a bag and wash it later as can’t imagine you get it out and wash it out in a public toilet? I could be wrong ??! How do you know it is full and needs changing ?!
I prefer having a spare one on my bag for when I’m out n about….don’t want to rinse that off while I still have my knickers round my ankles. Its a bit like tampons in you soon learn when is change time…..but you don’t have the pressure of the 4 hour change….bliss!
Hi Martha, I just have one. I find cleaning with a tissue ok in public toilets, or you can use a little bottle of water. Then clean properly when you get home.
Sorry – just to add, I also find cup more comfortable than tampons, which often gave me cystitis ( have short woman’s curse of all the exits being too close to one another). Sorry if TMI, but being a woman does throw up lots of menstrual-related issues.xx
no thanks dr p
Good tip! I’ve still got a nappy bin in the bathroom but will remember these.
I don’t flush them, partly because I am “green” and partly because our plumbing is not so great.
Mooncup. Or to be more precise, Divacup. Lots of people think they’re gross and they did used to freak me out too, but I can’t tell you how smug I feel to never flush OR throw away any tampons or towels, ever.
you go for it siobhan xxx
Had a look at the website for these, there doesn’t seem to be any information on the biodegradable nature of the bags or their impact on the environment. Is there further info available Esther? I’m all for higienic disposal but these bags just seem to be adding to the environmental damage.
Sorry Jen I was sure that there was information on the website about this. I will look into it.
Hi – my name is Martha and I am the inventor of FabLittleBag- thanks to Jen for raising the environmental concerns- in terms of environmental aspects you can’t beat a menstrual cup – however as mentioned previously they are not to everyone’s taste so for those of us still using tamping and or sanitary pads – we need to assess the options. Whilst a convenient hygienic and discreet solution was my motivation it was also important to me not to be adding negatively to landfill. By encouraging flushers to become binners this helps the environmental it keeps non-flushable a out of the sewers and therefore out of the rivers and oceans – FabLittleBags are biodegradable and 35% made from organic materials i.e. from sugarcane waste and cornstarch. It does say this on the packaging but maybe I need to look again at the website and see if I make this clear enough … So thanks for the heads up there. Water companies spend £88m pa clearing all the tamping, pads, condoms, and wipes that people flush out of the sewers – I am determined to significantly reduce this and to increase people’s awareness of what not to flush down the loo!! Breaking down the taboo that still exists around periods tampons etc is also high on my agenda – why should we need to whisper and hide products up our sleeves etc?! I want FabLittleBags to be for sale in Top Shop , WHSmiths & H&M at the checkout not only tucked away in the femcare aisles! Oops just realise have started ranting a little – will stop now but YES they are biodegradable and are here to help😍😍 happy to take questions and feedback martha@fablittlebag.com – X
O Martha thanks for this. Brilliant. xxx
What a great way to start my day – so happy that you found FabLittleBag and like them! The cups win hands down environmentally but they are not for everyone for sure 😱 I was a guilty flusher who then became a committed binner but hated the whole wrapping in loo roll and stress about would there be a bin in someone else’s house and smuggling wrapped up tampons in my handbag! So I set about investing a solution ….I hope that FabLittleBag makes the process easy, and bins the angst replacing it with confidence😀 Not adding to landfill is important especially when you think of how many people use those non- biodegradable nappy sacks!
Thanks again for making my day !! PS – Your husband Giles rocks not many men know about such matters let alone voice their views👏
Martha thanks so much for this. I have had a question about the recycled and biodegradable nature of FLBs – can you elaborate? Thanks x
Martha thank you for taking the time to answer my Q above, Jen
I used to use nappy sacks in the days when nothing else was available.
Genius product and one I wish I had known about earlier. I had no idea it was so damaging to put them down the loo. Hides face in shame. Oh and worse than an open bin is NO bin… my mum won’t have them in the house as she doesn’t like how they ruin her bathroom aesthetic! This bag would get me out of some tricky situations.
Emma- you are what we call a “Gobsmacked Flusher” – you genuinely did not know the potential damage flushing causes; no need to hang head; the providers of the products should do more to educate in my view…anyway, now you know! In research we have done so far A LOT of women have had to turn smuggler and smuggle out their wad of tampon/towel in loo roll or nappy sack and put it in their handbag to dispose of later when round at friends/family due to NBF (No Bin Factor) so sadly your Mum is not the only one!!
Am mortified, I flush my tampons every month. NO MORE!! Am sharing this on Facebook immediately xx
Am dying to know how many flushers and binners you know now !! And if the flushers are Guilty, Gobsmacked or Determined ?!
Gah! I always thought it was ok to flush tampons but not sanitary towels. I’m definitely going to start getting these, I flippin’ love ocado so that’s that sorted.
I saw something in the press about these neat little bags a while back – great idea! Are they available in stores at all, or only via Ocado order?
Hi Kristy, Martha here, you can pick them up in most Waitrose stores, Wholefoods, via Ocado and via http://www.fablittlebag.com xx Am on a mission to get them in supermarkets etc but also clothes shops like TopShop and H&M etc to help to get rid of the taboo around periods , tampons etc….not as easy as one may think !
Thanks Martha! Will add them to my list for Waitrose. Our nearest one is about 20 minutes away, and past every other grocery store in the UK, but it’s so lush that I make a special visit about once a month. 🙂
Aww shucks 😍 That’s amazing ! Well if they don’t have them let me know – can always order through website – let me know how you get on x
Another one here who always flushes- I’ve never really thought about it, I’m sorry to say. Will stick some of these onto my next Ocado order.
Lovely!! Let me know what you think once you use them! Check out http://www.fablittlebag.com for info ! X
Hi ece9600 Lovely!! Let me know what you think once you use them! Check out http://www.fablittlebag.com for info ! X
Hi Martha, I live in the Channel Islands and wondered if I can get the bags online?
Thank you!
Hey Laura, yes of course, we sell internationally in our website http://www.fablittlebag.com – look forward to welcoming you to the FabClub!!! 😀
Just ordered mine, had no idea of the impact of flushing. Thanks for this post and for the helpful information.
We have your order and it is on its way!😀
Am I the only woman who had an actual living nightmare when I tried the Mooncup? It was a blood bath so violent and horrific that I nearly fainted. I still tell that story every Halloween.
Nicola….I can’t stop laughing at this!! At least you were brave enough to try, I can’t get that far, whilst I embrace the eco-ness I just can’t get my head around changing them, washing them out, hygiene, and your comment has re-enforced all that !!
they’re a bold and brave move, but not for everyone
my sentiments exactly!
Love your blog and maybe I’m too blunt/Dutch/righteous feminist for this subject… But you know, it’s only blood. I say: wrap the tampon in toilet paper and don’t worry about all that fancy wrapping (that’s still landfill). It’s totally natural And normal to have your period and as long as you don’t let everything sit in the bin for long, it won’t bother anyone.
Aaf – you are SO right, it is totally natural and normal but so many people are not relaxed about it all, even discussing it – today I got feedback from a teen who was so relieved to have them when she goes and stays with her Dad as she feels awkward leaving her wads of loo roll in the bin there, I have a number of these comments from teens. Research tells us that the majority of women feel uncomfortable leaving their “deposits” at friends houses, so imagine the stats if at a colleagues house, or the most quoted one, the Mother-in-Law’s….. so I guess really it is about feeling comfortable and confident in whatever process you adopt and to me, also not adding negatively to the environment ….Also on the occasions when there is NO bin and one has to smuggle the wad out, I would much prefer a sealed package hanging out in my handbag than a wad of loo roll – and I speak from bitter experience of both !! I hope that by me constantly taking about binning/flushing, what people do, sharing the ‘stories’ etc that it will all help to normalise the norm and everyone, including the blokes , will feel more relaxed about the most natural thing in the world for women…
What a brilliant thing! Def want some – sadly no Waitrose near me so tried to order online but the link page/search box tells me nothing like that found – why not buy Steve’s Leaves instead! Prob not a good idea to hide my tampon in a bag of Watercress every time…😂
they’re here! https://www.ocado.com/webshop/getSearchProducts.do?clearTabs=yes&isFreshSearch=true&chosenSuggestionPosition=&entry=fab+little+bag
Oh dear not sure what happened there but if not an Ocado shopper then can get at Ethical Superstore (website) or TOTM or http://www.fablittlebag.com xx any problems let me know 😀
Yaaaay! Ordered! Thanking you! Xx