Updated on July 23rd, 2025
AD – PR Product | I received the regular and super pads from Riley, which is a sustainable menstrual brand. I wanted to share the benefits of sustainable period products and the products available on Riley.
What are Conventional Menstrual Products Made of?
Conventional period products often contain hidden ingredients including pesticide residue, plastics, and fragrances. Menstrual pads can be made from non-organic cotton which is exposed to pesticides and can contain pesticide residue. Furthermore, pads often have single-use plastic packaging, plastic internal layers, backing, and top sheet as well as a chemical fragrance. Tampons can also made with non-organic cotton that can have pesticide residue, and they can also have single-use plastic packaging, a plastic applicator, and a plastic string. Also, some tampons can have a chemical fragrance.
However, there are alternatives to conventional menstrual products, and it is possible to have sustainable menstruation.
What is Sustainable Menstruation?
Sustainable menstruation is defined as using environmentally friendly menstrual products to reduce the use of single-use plastics. Environmentally friendly and sustainable period products can include menstrual cups, reusable pads, period pants, and plastic-free tampons and pads. One brand that has taken the initiative to create plastic-free menstrual products is Riley.
What is Riley?
Riley is an Irish-based subscription for sustainable period products. You can choose to have your tampons, pads, or panty liners delivered every 3-6 months. You can also skip a delivery or cancel your subscription at any time with no strings attached. All Riley products are manufactured within the EU, and throughout the entire supply chain, the workers are paid fair wages and have safe working conditions.
Riley ships to Ireland, the UK, and the EU, and they offer free shipping on orders over €40. If you do not qualify for free shipping, there is a flat rate fee of €3.95. Furthermore, Riley offers Carbon Click, which allows you to offset the carbon emissions of your order, and 1% of every sale is donated to fight period poverty.
How is Riley Sustainable?
Riley’s tampons, pads, and panty liners are made from 100% organic cotton, which is better for the environment and does not contain pesticide residue. Their period products also do not contain any harmful chemicals, toxins, or bleach. Their product pouches are made with low-density polyethylene, which is recyclable, but they are working on a more sustainable option.
Riley Pads
Riley’s pads are made from 100% organic cotton and are completely compostable, including the backing film and packaging. The pads are also leak-proof and available in regular or super absorbency.
- 100% organic cotton
- Leak-proof
- Winged
- Biodegradable
- Toxin-free
- Chemical-free
- €7.29-€7.99 for 12 pads
I have used both the regular and super pads, and they are just like using conventional pads without all the harmful hidden ingredients. The Riley pads are winged, so you do not have to worry about them moving around, and it is great that the pads, including the individual packaging, are compostable. Riley’s pads are a fantastic, sustainable alternative to conventional pads.
Riley Tampons
Riley’s tampons are made from 100% organic cotton, and there are 3 different sustainable tampon options available, including tampons with a bio-based applicator made from recycled sugar cane and naked tampons that do not have an applicator and come in compostable packaging. Lastly, Riley has a reusable applicator for the naked tampons. The tampons are available in light, regular, super, and super+ absorbency.
- 100% organic cotton
- Biodegradable
- Toxin-free
- Chemical-free
- €5.39-€6.49 for 12 bio-based applicator tampons
- €4.49-€4.99 for 12 naked tampons
Riley Pantyliners
Lastly, Riley has sustainable pantyliners that are made from 100% organic cotton and wrapped in recyclable packaging.
- 100% organic cotton
- Winged
- Biodegradable
- Toxin-free
- Chemical-free
- €6.99 for 24 pantyliners
This brand is new to me but love the sound of these pads. I am more comfortable using pads than tampons and cup etc. Great they have a sustainable option. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Via | https://glossnglitters.com
The pads are fantastic and I agree it’s great they’re sustainable! You’re welcome!
I am so glad there are sustainable pads! I could never get into the period panties because they seemed so uncomfortable. And the cups just made me feel icky since you actually have to take them out and clean them. This is such a great option. Thank you for sharing.
Me too! I have a couple of pairs of period panties, and they aren’t uncomfortable because they feel just like wearing regular underwear, but you do have to change them 2-3 times a day and wash them, so it is nice having sustainable pads as a backup when they’re drying.
Great post Karalee! I’m familiar with sustainable period products and it’s great to see that Riley has a flexible subscription plan. It’s unfortunate that there are so many chemicals in conventional period products, so it’s nice to see there are healthier options. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you! It is terrible that there are a lot of chemicals in traditional period products, so it’s great that there are sustainable brands like Riley!
I haven’t heard of this brand, but definitely going to check them out. I prefer to use pads than anything else, so these sound great! I want to be as sustainable as I can. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren x
I prefer pads too, and Riley is a fantastic brand especially because they’re sustainable!
I only came to realize how horrible regular period products were a few years ago. It’s amazing how bad they can be for our health and environment. This company sounds like a great option for those that aren’t ready to try reusable options. I love that Riley products are compostable. That’s really great!
Same here. I was horrified to find out how many chemicals are in traditional pads and how wasteful they are too. Riley is a great option because they are sustainable!
I am all about more sustainable products that I can use every month. I love Riley, I’ve been trialling them for a few months and will be doing a review like yours fairly soon!
Rosie
That’s fantastic you have been able to try out Riley too! I think it’s great that they are sustainable period products.
Love the sound of these. I feel more comfortable using pads (as opposed to cups etc) so it’s nice that there are sustainable pad options out there!
I’m more comfortable using pads too, so I think it’s fantastic that Riley has a sustainable option!
I didn’t know about these products. It was very interesting for me to learn and find out about Riley and what they have to offer. It is definitely something worth trying. Thanks for sharing this information! Amazing post!
Riley is a fantastic company because they’re sustainable! No problem!
I haven’t heard of Riley before, but I much prefer organic cotton period products for the environmental benefits, and they are so much comfier 🙂 x
I agree! Riley is fantastic because their pads and tampons are organic cotton and compostable!
I have seen sustainable period products become more and more available in stores over the years and it’s really encouraging to see. I will have to make sure I look into this more for myself!
I agree it’s encouraging that there are brands who are making an effort to make period products more sustainable!
Wow… Riley looks awesome!!!!!! I hope this brand will be available in Malaysia soon. Thank you for sharing and introducing Riley to me.
I completely agree and I hope they expand to more countries soon!
We can get something similar in our local Lidl and I just started buying them! I haven’t had the chance to use them yet, but my period is due, so I’ll be able to give them a go soon. I also use period underwear from WUKA to try and cut down on the amount of disposable sanitary products I’m using.
That’s fantastic there’s a similar option available at Lidl! I have a couple of pairs of period underwear from WUKA too, and I love them because it does cut down on the number of pads I use.
I love this! So much better for the environment, but also for our bodies. Non-toxic period products are soo important and it’s crazy that it’s still not the norm.
Love,
Krissi of the marquise diamond
I completely agree! It’s terrible that conventional period products are still full of chemicals, and I feel like many people who menstruate aren’t aware of how they could potentially be harming their bodies and the environment.
This interesting, never heard of this brand before. I will suggest to my partner. Maybe want to try these products. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome! Riley is a fantastic brand for sustainable period products!
Amazing – I love sustainable period products and use a company here in Canada that sounds very similar to Riley! Thanks for sharing 🙂
That’s fantastic there’s a company in Canada that has sustainable period products! You’re welcome!
Thanks for sharing! I’m always interested to see what new sustainable options are out there.
You’re welcome! It’s great that there are more sustainable options available!