Packaging
All product boxes, sleeves, and shipping materials are largely plastic-free and made from responsibly sourced paper. In fact, Saalt uses FSC-certified cardboard packaging containing at least 75% recycled paper content, and orders ship in compostable mailers.
Notably, Saalt has innovated its product packaging to reduce plastic. The Saalt Cup Wash now comes in a tube made of 50% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. The brand transparently admits it's not 100% plastic-free yet. However, it is Plastic Negative certified. By partnering with rePurpose Global, Saalt offsets twice the amount of plastic it uses.
Material Sustainability
Saalt's cups and disks are made of 100% medical-grade silicone. Silicone is a durable, long-lasting material (each cup lasts up to 10 years of use), which dramatically reduces waste compared to single-use pads and tampons. Silicone is not bio-based (it's derived from silica/quartz and synthetic polymers), and it doesn't biodegrade in landfills. Saalt's silicone is sustainably sourced in that it's medical grade and devoid of fillers or toxic additives, and it is manufactured in an ISO 13485 certified facility.
Saalt's Comfort and Cotton collections are made with fibers like TENCEL™ Modal (from renewable beechwood trees) and organic or BCI-certified cotton. TENCEL Modal is produced in a closed-loop process with low chemical use and is fully biodegradable. The Cotton line uses Standard 100 OEKO-TEX® certified cotton, ensuring it's free from harmful chemicals. Saalt does incorporate synthetic fibers in its underwear, but in a sustainable way. The Lace & Mesh styles include recycled polyamide (nylon) and polyester sourced from post-consumer water bottles.
The cup cleanser formula uses plant-based, biodegradable ingredients and avoids any harsh chemicals. Its surfactants are coconut-derived (e.g. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine) and it contains no parabens, no sulfates, no synthetic dyes or fragrances.
Energy Use and Footprint
As a Certified B Corporation, Saalt tracks various sustainability metrics, and their B Impact Report shows they scored points for environmental management but relatively few for climate-specific action. On a positive note, Saalt's products inherently reduce carbon footprint of period care. The World Health Organization found that a single menstruating person may use 10,000 disposable period products in a lifetime, the production and disposal of which involve significant greenhouse gas emissions.
Waste Management
Every Saalt cup or pair of underwear prevents large quantities of single-use waste. Saalt reports that, to date, its customers have helped divert over 30,360,000 disposable period products from landfills by switching to Saalt reusables. Additionally, Saalt quantifies that they have repurposed 4.42 million water bottles into fabric for Saalt Wear, giving plastic waste a second life as clothing. Saalt alsoeducates customers on how to handle products at end of life to keep materials in circulation.
The supplier Code of Conduct indicates that Saalt expects its manufacturers to minimize environmental impacts, including waste and emissions. The Sri Lanka facility likely has waste-water treatment and recycling programs as part of its LEED Platinum operations (LEED credits involve construction waste management, water reuse, etc.).
Notably, by becoming Plastic Negative, Saalt funds the removal of the equivalent of 200% of its plastic footprint from the environment.
Business Model
Saalt's business model is fundamentally aligned with slow, conscious consumption rather than fast, throwaway culture. Saalt was founded in 2018 with a focus on a few core products (menstrual cups) and has expanded deliberately, not excessively. New product introductions at Saalt seem to be driven by genuine consumer needs and sustainability improvements, not by fashion fads.
