Saalt
brand rating & evaluation
overall rating:
Top Choice
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The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. Below are a few factors influencing this brand's score:
certifications:
learn more about these certifications*
overview
sustainability
non-toxic
social responsibility
8.3 out of 10
10 out of 10
7.7 out of 10
about
Saalt produces menstrual cups, period underwear, and related care products made from silicone, TENCEL™, and organic cotton.
highlights
B Corp Certified
Plastic Negative
FSC Certified
SA8000 supply chain
Toxin-free
sustainability
score:
8.3 out of 10
details:
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.
non-toxic
score:
10 out of 10
details:
Across all product lines, Saalt’s materials are carefully chosen and tested to avoid known harmful chemicals such as PFAS, BPA, phthalates, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and other irritants. The absence of known toxicants in all their products is confirmed by certifications and testing: from **BPA-free, latex-free cups, to PFAS-free underwear with OEKO-TEX fabrics, to cleanser formulas free of irritants. They have proactively eliminated the hidden chemicals that have troubled this industry (for instance, many competitors’ period undies were found to have PFAS or anti-microbial nanosilver; Saalt chose none of the above).
social responsibility
score:
7.7 out of 10
details:
Saalt’s supplier facilities are certified to Social Accountability International’s SA8000 standard. SA8000 is one of the most rigorous labor certifications, covering child labor, forced labor, health and safety, collective bargaining, discrimination, working hours, and fair compensation. Saalt, as a B Corp, has its own Supplier Code of Conduct that all manufacturing partners must adhere to. Saalt is relatively transparent about where and how their products are made (more so than many personal care brands).
Saalt is a vegan-friendly brand that upholds strong animal welfare principles.
Saalt is a leader in donating reusable period products to communities in need. From the outset, they pledged to give a portion of revenue and product to address period poverty. Saalt has donated 148,000+ period products, reaching individuals in over 35 countries. Saalt commits 1% of revenue (as a minimum) to these causes annually. The pattern of Saalt’s engagement is clearly sustained and evolving. They release an annual Impact Report (available via their site) to transparently report the year’s initiatives and outcomes.
