Nature Quickie: Environmentalism & The Single-Use Condom

with host & sex educator Laura Borichevsky

Brought to you by Après Delight

Condoms are single use, which might give some environmentally-minded folks reason to pause and wonder if they should use them or not. However, condoms are also incredibly accessible and effective when it comes to unplanned pregnancy and STI prevention. So today we’re taking a journey together following the general lifecycle of a condom to better understand the impact of single use products like condoms while also holding how essential they are to our sexual health.

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Hosted by Laura Borichevsky.
Cover artwork by Hailey Hirst.
Music by Calica licensed via MusicBed.

TRANSCRIPT

Note: This transcript was lightly edited and created using a transcription service. As such it may contain spelling errors.

Laura Borichevsky - Narration:

You’re listening to a Sex Outside Nature Quickie-- a short dive into a specific, practical topic about our bodies and the outdoors. I’m Laura Borichevsky.

Maybe you’ve thought about this-- or maybe you haven’t. But as many folks do their best to reduce their dependency on single-use items, one stands out glaringly to me.

Condoms are single use, which might give some environmentally-minded folks reason to pause and wonder if they should use them or not. However, condoms are also incredibly accessible, and effective when it comes to unplanned pregnancy and STI prevention. So today we’re taking a journey together following the general lifecycle of a condom. Because with 450 million sold in the US every year, and an estimated 5 billion condoms purchased annually worldwide, it’s important to look at what kind of impact they have on the environment in both a detailed and big picture sense, and for those who are continuing to learn about how to practice environmentalism to the best of our abilities, it makes sense to take some time reflecting on how we reconcile single use products like condoms with our ambitions to leave less of a negative impact on the earth.

And also, a quick note-- when we say “condoms”-- know that we’re referring to a few different kinds: external condoms, also referred to as “male condoms”, designed to go over a penis, internal condoms, also known as “female condoms” which sit inside of a vagina or anus, and dental dams-- which are a thin sheet of material commonly used as another barrier method for oral sex. There are a *lot* of similarities between the overall lifecycle of each of these, so we’ll mostly be using the general term “condom” to talk about them all unless there’s a major discrepancy between different types.

So-- first thing’s first. How are condoms made? And what does that mean for the planet?

It’s important to know right away that most condoms are generally made with latex, or a synthetic non-latex material like polyurethane or polyisoprene. Internal condoms use only synthetic materials, and dental dams are comprised of a variety depending on the brand. When it comes to external condoms, you can also find them made of lambskin, also sometimes called natural skin condoms, which can be effective at pregnancy prevention but are far less effective when it comes to mitigating STI transmission. And, while this isn’t essential, it’s worth pointing out that if part of your environmentalism includes investing in vegan products, lambskin is obviously a no-go. 

While synthetic materials work amazingly well for those with latex allergies, none of them are biodegradable. Of the materials commonly used to produce condoms, latex and lambskin are considered to be biodegradable materials-- but there’s a big catch. Because many latex condoms contain more than just latex. In fact, the majority of condoms may contain spermicidal agents or chemicals meant to change the flavor, create mild numbing sensations to delay reactions, and provide lubrication. That’s why chemicals like nonoxynol-9, parabens, glycerin, casein, and even nitrosamines-- which are carcinogenic-- can all be found in popular condoms.

On top of these agents adding to your sexual experience in ways you may not be aware of, they also make materials like latex far less likely to break down over time, if at all. For the record, adding any lubricant to the condom can have the same effect.

Another big factor in how condoms are made is to consider where these materials are coming from in the first place. Latex, which you’ll find in approximately 80% of the condoms in the current condom market, is derived from a very involved process of rubber production where the raw materials come from tree sap. Because this process takes several years and intensive labor, today you’ll find that currently, approximately 70% of the rubber in the world is made synthetically. Condom companies who use “natural” latex are producing their product without synthetics in the rubber, and some companies are even doing their best to recognize that practicing environmental justice includes using 100% fair trade rubber that does right by workers and local communities, and uses responsible sourcing methods to mitigate further deforestation or harm to wildlife.

So, now that we know a little bit more about how condoms are made-- what about after they’re out of their packages? What happens to them after sex?

The first and most important thing to know is that, no matter what materials are utilized to create it, condoms are considered by the FDA as a class 2 medical device (due to the need for moderately high regulation and quality control standards), and because of this, the FDA states that they have to be sent to a landfill once used.

For this reason, they also can’t be recycled, even if they’re rinsed or sterilized, which might feel disappointing to folks who ascribe to the reduce, reuse, recycle model… of which external condoms don’t fit very well into. However, unlike external condoms, some studies say that female condoms can be reused 2-3 times, if rinsed carefully (and sent to the garbage afterward). All that said, remember that it’s always a risk to reuse a condom, and it’s something to consider having a backup method for as well due to the increased potential for breakage.

And while some condoms, as we mentioned earlier, are technically made of biodegradable materials, it’s generally not recommended to start putting them in with your compost, even ones sourced naturally and made without any other chemical agents, because of the potential for contamination. Some folks will disagree with us on this one, and if you feel strongly about putting condoms in your compost bin, we certainly can’t stop you-- but from our research, the best thing you can do with a condom after use is to fold it in a tiny bit of toilet paper, tissue, or paper bag before putting it in the garbage to give it the best chance to decompose over time. Placing it inside plastic will create a barrier that stops it from processing. Another thing that stops it from decomposing is flushing it, as latex becomes non-biodegradable when exposed to water.

Not to mention, we know what can happen when single-use plastics get introduced to water systems.

And after all of this-- will even the most biodegradable condoms ever truly decompose? In short-- if we put in this effort, how long does it take to return our condoms to the earth?

In short: we don’t know. But for the condoms that can decompose, it will take many many years according to current research. 

So does all of this mean that practicing environmentalism includes not using condoms? No, of course not. 

After listening to all of this information, I’m guessing there’s a bit more on your mind about the nature of condoms and its place in our efforts to reduce single-use items or cut down on plastic. And the reality is that, because condoms are designed to protect your body and the bodies of those you might be having sex with, there’s currently only so much wiggle room when it comes to how these products are designed and what that means for our environment.

But condoms are the fastest, least expensive, most accessible way to have safer sex. And when used properly, they can be incredibly effective at preventing unplanned pregnancies and STIs. There are many methods of contraception available worldwide, but when it comes down to something that’s available to more people than anything else, it always comes back to condoms.

The truth is that condoms and other contraceptive methods can both be an essential to your health, *and* be a single use item that we have to put in a landfill.

Which sounds complicated, because it is. And it’s not the most light-hearted message to send out when talking about sex and the environment. But you’ll be happy to know that there is some good news in all of this too. Because taking care of your sexual health-- everything from preventing STIs to unplanned pregnancies-- that has a positive impact on the environment, too. It means less preventable diseases and less materials needed for their treatments. It means intentional population growth. It means we are all a little safer and healthier, and better able to contribute to environmental justice as a whole.

Really, when it all comes down to it: using condoms isn’t just an essential part of safe sex practices, but it’s also a way to practice environmentalism.

So if you’re a condom-user, there’s no way to be zero or low-waste about it. But more than anything, we hope you walk away with a little more knowledge about condoms so you can be a more informed consumer, user, and community member when it comes to how we manage them. If you got nothing else from this today, make sure to tell your friends these key points:

  • First-- Purchase condoms made with more biodegradable materials if it’s safe and effective for you and your sexual relationships, and consider buying local or seeking brands who use more biodegradable packaging, or less packaging in general.

  • Next -- Don’t flush your condoms, ever. The best thing you can currently do with a used condom is to put it in a small bit of tissue and place it in a trash bin.

  • And lastly -- If you have expired, unused condoms, consider repurposing them by donating them to clinics, organizations, or schools that need them for sex ed demos, or put on a creative fundraising initiative in your community like a condom fashion show. Yes-- I’ve hosted one. And yes-- there are pictures.

Remember-- environmentalism is complicated, and there are no singular right answers about any of our individual behaviors when it comes to how we continue to get better at reducing harm to the earth. But no matter what condoms you use, or have access to today, or however many you throw in the trash in a given year-- remember that taking care of your sexual health and looking out for the wellbeing of those in your community *is* helping the planet. 

Thanks for tuning in to this Sex Outside Nature Quickie, We hope you learned a bit about condoms-- we certainly did in making this episode, which is why there are an exceptional amount of resources in our show notes. Make sure to check those out if you want to continue your research. If you like more in-depth sexual health meets the outdoors content, you can find me on Instagram @howsheviewsit, and make sure to follow along with us @sexoutsidepod for more action between episodes. Music is by Calica. I’m Laura Borichevsky. Thanks so much for joining us. Until next time!

QuickieLaura Borichevskycontraception, environmentalismComment