Is The Menstrual Cup Vegan?

The cup, cruelty-free? Let’s talk about ethics, ecology, planet …

So here, Audrey arrived one day on my Facebook page and said:

“After reading a lot of information about the cup, there’s only one thing that’s globally unresolved, and it’s the question of animal testing that’s bothering me!

Because making the Cup an ecological act is good, but as much go to the end of the process.

I found little information on the subject. “

And I, there, I miserably dried up.

So, I offered him to know a little more about his motives, the information she could get from the different brands of cups … all the possible material.

After that, I also addressed different brands of suppliers, I will add their comments as and when responses received.

Interview Audrey, cupper for 2 months

So before I started, I wanted to know more about Audrey and her experience as a cupper.

Hello Lena, thank you for your email and your questions that are very interesting. I tried to be very “true” in my answers. I hope this will be enough for you (maybe even a little too much!

When did you go to the menstrual cup and why? What do you use as basic periodic protection?

Following my food transition to vegetarianism, I began to take a closer look at the impact of our everyday shopping on animals.

This approach through readings, documentaries, videos on Youtube, allowed me to learn more and more about my choices in terms of cosmetics, household products, etc.

Then I came across the wave Zero Waste. I changed my bathroom products as I went. Then the questions on the composition of the periodic protections were inevitably asked.

I always used tampons, then I switched to organic tampons (it’s convenient, simple, no change in my habits).

What pushed me to be interested in the menstrual cup are all its advantages … a single product in his bag that does not waste, it’s great.

Especially when we decide to travel, we have more questions to ask ourselves.
So me and the cup, it’s only been a year that we know each other … and only 2 months we met.

Which cup (s) did you test? What did you like/dislike with these cups?

The story of its creator: The rules is, unfortunately, a woman’s business so a woman for women … it makes sense!
The Made in France: We realize that each country to its standards, certifications, etc. So why go see what is done thousands of miles away.
The composition and certifications: The cup is not considered a medical device, the certifications of this cup is a “must”.
The Claribox: simple, sober and very practical!
The choice of sizes: We are not all the same and we evolve in time, so yes, it is necessary that the cup can adapt to us (and not the opposite)

What displeased me: That there is not the label Vegan (vegan society) or cruelty-free.

At the present time, chemical, physical and medical advances make it possible to abstain from the use of animals for scientific tests.

What do you like most about using a cup in general?

I’m at the beginning, so I do not have enough perspective to make sure this new habit is a success.

I admit that the implementation is not easy, the control of deployment of the cup either. I imagine that it is a hand to take. Otherwise, I admit that being released from the buffers is a real victory.

A product without waste, durable in time, it’s really nice.

Cup tests on animals: marks under the microscope

Here, I tried to better understand the motivations of Audrey in her quest for a “cruelty-free” cup.

Why are you particularly sensitive about this? To put in the cup is above all an ecological step for you?

I think it is a logical continuation of my change of diet and zero waste. First of all, because I think that animals are not products that we take and throw whenever we want.

Then because there are alternatives, why not try them, use them.

Beyond an ecological approach, it is also an ethical and political approach. We are no longer compulsive consumers, but wise informed and responsible consumers.

Brands and our policies need to know that. Everyone should do what he can at his level when he can (and no longer ostrich).

The make-up rabbit says “I am beautiful enough, thank you”
(campaign carried out by the brand LUSH, products not tested on animals)

1- Some brands of cups answered your questions, can you tell us more?

In my search for the cup that would correspond to me both physically and psychologically, and finding no information on animal testing, I went to the source.

An email is enough, it is the least that I can do to educate the brands but also the users about it (through this article). You can not imagine all the products that are tested on animals.

They all answered in unison (excerpts):

The medical silicone used to make the cup is produced from silica. No component of animal origin is therefore involved in the manufacture of this silicone.
This being the medical silicone was tested on animals in the 50s.

To enter a little more in the details of the answers

In the case of Claricup

“The Claricup is made of medical silicone class USP VI, the class that undergoes the most tests, and is usually chosen for surgical implants. To be certified class USP VI, silicone is tested on animals.”

I found only one brand that indicates not to test on animals: Louloucup.

Answer from Lamazuna :

“The silicone we use has been tested on animals over 30 years ago. The tests having been validated, it did not need to be retested since. But he keeps this history against which we can do nothing, except to create a new silicone that has the same properties, but what interest?
In any case, the use we make today does not trigger the need for new tests and obviously, we do not test our finished products, so the cups, on animals. It’s always the raw material that can be. ”

So Louloucup’s message is correct but it’s obvious.

Sokona’s answer to So’Cup :

“Super article! I regularly receive this question from cruelty-free via my contact form. Regarding the So’Cup, the response of my manufacturer is similar to that given by Lamazuna.

And for Menses Cup

“The company that manufactures it – Lunette, – have achieved a Vegan Society certification. The association certifies that “the development and/or manufacture of the product and, where appropriate, of its ingredients, must not include or imply, in any way whatsoever, animal tests carried out on the initiative of the company or on its behalf, or by third parties on behalf of the company ”

This means that Menses Cup has never been tested on animals. However, silicone is a material that has existed since the 1950s and that has had to be tested at some point on animals to be used especially in surgery. We are determined to change mentalities by offering a product that is both ethical, ecological and also without risk to health. ”

2- What do you think of their answers?

Audrey, very happy with her cup, a step forward in a process to propose ethical products

In their answers, I found that all the brands naturally had the wish to make “evolve things in order to propose ethical products, ecological and without risk for the health”.

All is not perfect, but who is?

Having this approach for me is already a victory in itself and we can only encourage brands that do their best to meet our needs.