The short version

  • Both organic cotton and bamboo pads are soft, breathable and made without perfume. The main choice is which feel you prefer and which absorbency you need.
  • &SISTERS by Mooncup makes organic cotton pads, liners and tampons. Grace & Green makes organic bamboo pads for day and night.
  • Use the lowest tampon absorbency that works for your flow, and never flush pads, tampons or wipes.

Period care is one of the ranges our customers stock up on most. We keep two brands of pad, and the question we hear most is what the difference is. Here’s an honest comparison.

Organic cotton and bamboo pads compared

&SISTERS organic cotton Grace & Green organic bamboo
Material 100% certified organic cotton core Oeko-Tex certified organic bamboo
What we stock Pads with wings, Light, Ultrathin Liners, Heavy tampons Day pads, Medium and Night pads, Heavy
Feel Soft and cotton-like, with a Rib-Weave design that spreads absorption evenly Very soft and smooth
Made without Synthetics, chlorine bleach, dyes and perfumes Chlorine bleach and fragrance, in biodegradable wrappers
Good for Light days, and as a liner alongside a cup or tampon Medium days and overnight

In practice, many of our customers use both: &SISTERS liners and light pads at the start and end of their period, and Grace & Green day and night pads on heavier days.

What “organic cotton” really means

Conventional cotton is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world. Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers. &SISTERS tampons are certified organic by the Soil Association to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), the strictest standard for organic textiles. It checks how the cotton is processed as well as how it’s grown.

Why we only sell unperfumed period care

The skin around the vulva is sensitive, and the NHS advises avoiding perfumed soaps, washes and wipes there because they can cause irritation. Everything in our period care range is made without added perfume.

If you want something for when you’re out, our Organyc Intimate Wet Wipes are made from certified organic cotton with chamomile and calendula, and lactic acid to suit the skin’s natural pH.

Choosing a tampon absorbency

&SISTERS Heavy tampons are as absorbent as Tampax Super Plus, so they’re for your heaviest days only. NHS advice on tampons is to:

  • use the lowest absorbency that works for your flow
  • change your tampon as often as the pack says, usually every 4 to 8 hours
  • never leave a tampon in for longer than 8 hours. Many people switch to a night pad while they sleep

This lowers the already very small risk of toxic shock syndrome. The &SISTERS applicator is cardboard rather than plastic: twist the inner tube until it unlocks, then use it as normal.

How to dispose of period products

Pads, liners, tampons, applicators and wipes should all go in the bin, never down the toilet. Even products described as biodegradable don’t break down fast enough in pipes and sewers, and they’re a major cause of blockages. Wrap them in the wrapper from your next one, or a little toilet paper.

Shop the guide

See everything in period care.

Questions we get asked

Are organic pads less absorbent?

No. Absorbency depends on the pad’s size and design, not on whether the cotton is organic. Pick the absorbency for your flow: light, day or medium, or night and heavy.

Can I use a liner with a menstrual cup?

Yes. Many cup users wear a thin liner as a back-up, especially at first.

Are they suitable for sensitive skin?

&SISTERS pads are hypoallergenic and pH neutral, and everything in the range is made without perfume. If you react to a product, stop using it and speak to your GP or pharmacist.

More from the journal: plastic-free bathroom swaps that actually work.