It’s an environmental crisis that rarely gets talked about, due to the stigma around periods themselves, August CEO Nadya Okamoto, told ABC News. The New York-based startup claims they are trying to meet consumers' preferences with their line of more sustainable pads and tampons.Okamoto said August’s products decompose at faster rates than the standard tampons and pads, but admits they aren’t perfect.
But some argue that products ending up in landfills outweighs the potential benefits of using sustainable materials. “Cardboard or no applicator is a far better choice. Plastics are recyclable, and they’ve got their little triangle on them. Well, it’s not recyclable everywhere. In general, the reusable is always going to be far superior to any disposable,” Powers said.