Hoe duurzaam is menstruatieondergoed vergeleken met maandverband?

Moodies menstruatieondergoed heeft een aanzienlijk lagere milieu-impact dan wegwerpmaandverband, blijkt uit een onafhankelijk Life Cycle Analysis uitgevoerd door Stan Kremers (VU Amsterdam). Eén Moodies broekje vervangt 150 stuks maandverband over zijn levensduur. Daarmee is de CO₂-uitstoot 80% lager, het waterverbruik 76% lager en het afval tot 56 keer minder.

Is menstruatieondergoed van Moodies veilig voor mijn lichaam?

Moodies menstruatieondergoed is gemaakt van OEKO-TEX gecertificeerde stoffen en is 100% vrij van PFAS. PFAS zijn chemische stoffen die in sommige menstruatieonderbroeken zijn aangetroffen en schadelijk kunnen zijn bij langdurig huidcontact. OEKO-TEX-certificering betekent dat de stoffen zijn getest op meer dan 100 schadelijke stoffen. Moodies hanteert deze norm voor de volledige collectie.

Hoeveel afval bespaar ik als ik overstap op menstruatieondergoed?

Moodies-klanten hebben samen al meer dan 407.000 kg aan menstruatieafval bespaard (periode november 2021 – mei 2026). Een gemiddelde vrouw gebruikt jaarlijks zo'n 250 tot 300 wegwerpproducten — goed voor meerdere kilo's restafval per jaar. Eén Moodies broekje vervangt 150 stuks maandverband en gaat 2 à 3 jaar mee.

Waarom kiest Moodies voor bamboe in plaats van katoen?

Moodies gebruikt bamboe omdat de productie ervan minder water verbruikt en minder pesticiden vereist dan de teelt van katoen. Bamboe heeft van nature rondere vezels, waardoor het zachter aanvoelt en vocht beter absorbeert. Uit het VU Amsterdam Life Cycle Analysis blijkt dat het gebruik van bamboe in plaats van katoen een van de grootste factoren is achter het 76% lagere waterverbruik van Moodies broekjes.

Wat is een Life Cycle Analysis en wat zegt die over Moodies?

Een Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) brengt de totale milieu-impact van een product in kaart, van grondstoffenwinning tot afdanking. Moodies heeft een onafhankelijke LCA laten uitvoeren door Stan Kremers, afstudeeronderzoeker aan de VU Amsterdam (opleiding Science, Business and Innovation). De uitkomst: Moodies bamboe menstruatieondergoed stoot 80% minder CO₂ uit, gebruikt 85% minder fossiele brandstoffen, 76% minder water en 76% minder landgebruik dan wegwerpmaandverband. De humane toxiciteit is 65% lager.

Is menstruatieondergoed ook goedkoper dan tampons en maandverband?

Moodies menstruatieondergoed kost op de lange termijn minder dan wegwerpproducten. Gemiddeld geeft een vrouw zo'n €12 per maand uit aan tampons of maandverband, dat is ruim €140 per jaar. Vijf Moodies broekjes zijn genoeg voor een volledige menstruatiecyclus en gaan 2 à 3 jaar mee. In die periode bespaar je €150 tot €200 ten opzichte van wegwerpproducten.

new generation, new routine

Period underwear: less waste, because it is washable and reusable

In 2023, Moodies had a life cycle assessment (LCA) carried out on the bamboo Bikini Undie Light. One pair, used for 36 cycles, was compared with 150 sanitary pads. The calculated outcome: 80% lower climate impact, 85% lower fossil fuel use and 76% lower impact from water use.

Period underwear: less waste, because it is washable and reusable

In 2023, Moodies had a life cycle assessment (LCA) carried out on the bamboo Bikini Undie Light. One pair, used for 36 cycles, was compared with 150 sanitary pads. The calculated outcome: 80% lower climate impact, 85% lower fossil fuel use and 76% lower impact from water use.

bamboo: comfort first

For some of our underwear we use bamboo viscose instead of cotton. The fibres are round and smooth, which makes the fabric feel soft. Bamboo viscose also absorbs moisture easily, so your underwear feels drier.

The environmental impact of a fabric depends not only on the plant, but also on how it is processed into fibre and fabric. That is why we base our environmental claims on the LCA of our own product and not on general figures about bamboo.

We keep working on better materials, styles and functionality.

407,243 kg

menstrual waste avoided (estimate)

3728 pants

donated to help reduce period poverty

how much waste do we avoid together?

We have estimated how much menstrual waste you have avoided together by wearing Moodies. We also keep track of how many pairs we have donated to people who really need them.

We update the figures every quarter.

Period: 12/11/2021 - 31/05/2026

*Estimate based on the number of pairs sold and the assumption from our study that one pair replaces 150 disposable products. Actual savings vary per person. Sales of bundles are not included.

what does the research say?

In 2023, Stan Kremers carried out a life cycle assessment (LCA) for his bachelor thesis at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Science, Business and Innovation), commissioned by Moodies. He compared the bamboo Bikini Undie Light, used for 36 cycles (about 3 years), with 150 sanitary pads and with 150 tampons.

Compared with 150 sanitary pads, the calculated impact was lower in all eight categories studied:

80% lower on climate change (CO₂-eq)
85% lower on fossil fuel use
76% lower on land use, water use and acidification
65% lower on ecotoxicity and human toxicity
32% lower on eutrophication

Compared with 150 tampons, the impact was 42% to 68% lower in seven of the eight categories. For eutrophication (nutrient pollution of water), the underwear came out about 12% higher.

How to read these figures: an LCA is based on assumptions about use, washing, lifespan and disposal. The results apply to the Bikini Undie Light as it was made in 2023 and are indicative, not an absolute truth. Washing had the biggest influence in every category. The more economically you wash, the smaller the impact. The figures in the table above come from the same study.

Read the public summary. The full study can be requested via info@moodiesundies.com.

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your period with less waste

Disposable sanitary pads can consist of up to 90% plastic and are often individually wrapped. The plastic parts can take up to 500 years to break down. In the EU, around 49 billion disposable menstrual products are used every year.*

Period underwear is something you wash and wear again. In our study, one pair replaced 150 disposable products over about 3 years.

There are also other reusable options, such as a menstrual cup or reusable pads. Which one suits you best depends on your flow and preference. Moodies offers period underwear in every absorbency level.

*Source: UNEP / Life Cycle Initiative (2021), Single-use menstrual products and their alternatives

meiden menstruatie ondergoed zwart bamboe

Girls who have just started their period do not have a fixed routine yet. That is the moment to choose washable and reusable right away.

Period underwear for girls:

Up to 10 hours of protection
No hassle bringing tampons or pads to school
Comfortable during sports, and it looks like regular underwear
Less waste, because it is washable and reusable

Materials and packaging

All Moodies underwear is made from fabric that is OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certified. No PFAS are added to our products.

What does that mean in practice?

OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100: the fabric has been tested for more than 100 regulated and harmful substances, such as heavy metals, pesticides and allergens
PFAS: no PFAS are added. These substances have been found in some period underwear on the market
Recycled nylon: a large part of our nylon products is made from recycled nylon

Our packaging:

FSC-certified materials: from responsibly managed forests
Recycled cardboard: used in the packaging where possible
No unnecessary plastic: we keep the packaging as simple and light as possible

We keep working on better products and packaging.

frequently asked questions about the sustainability of period underwear

In 2023, the environmental impact of the Moodies bamboo Bikini Undie Light was studied with a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), carried out by Stan Kremers, commissioned by Moodies, as part of his Science, Business and Innovation programme at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Within the usage scenario studied, the Bikini Undie Light came out at 80% less CO₂ emissions and 76% less impact from water use than disposable sanitary pads. The calculation compared one Moodies bamboo period brief with 150 disposable sanitary pads.

Moodies uses OEKO-TEX certified fabrics. This certification means that the fabrics concerned have been tested for a wide range of regulated and harmful substances according to the requirements of OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100.

In addition, no PFAS are intentionally added to our products. Check the product page to see which materials and certifications apply.

Because period underwear is washable and reusable, it can reduce the use of disposable menstrual products.

In our LCA, the bamboo Bikini Undie Light studied was calculated as one pair versus 150 disposable sanitary pads. Actual savings vary per person and depend, among other things, on how often the underwear is used, its lifespan and which disposable products would otherwise be used.

Our total impact figures are estimates based on sales figures and the starting points and assumptions from our impact calculation.

For part of our collection we use bamboo viscose. The fabric feels soft and supple and absorbs moisture well, which contributes to comfortable wear.

The environmental impact of textiles depends not only on how the raw material is grown, but also on how it is processed into fibre and fabric. That is why we prefer to base our environmental claims on the results of our Life Cycle Analysis of the bamboo Bikini Undie Light that was studied.

A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) examines the environmental impact of a product across different phases of its life cycle, based on a predetermined method, system boundaries and assumptions.

In 2023, Stan Kremers carried out an LCA as part of his studies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and commissioned by Moodies, comparing the bamboo Bikini Undie Light with disposable sanitary pads.

Within the usage scenario studied, the Moodies product came out at:

80% less CO₂ emissions
85% less use of fossil fuels
76% less impact from water use
76% less land use
65% lower human toxicity

The results apply to the products, starting points and usage situation studied and cannot automatically be extended to every type of period underwear.

It can, but the final costs vary per person. It depends, among other things, on how many tampons or pads you normally use, which products you buy, how many pairs of period underwear you need and how long you use them.

Because Moodies period underwear is washable and reusable, you do not have to buy the same amount of disposable products every period. As a result, the costs can be lower over a longer period of use.