By the end of 2021 some single-use plastics will be banned in Canada as part of a larger strategy to reduce waste. The list of soon-to-be banned items includes straws, food containers and stir sticks. Pregnancy tests are not on that list, but they still account for 2 million pounds of waste each year. Sustainability is one of the main reasons why we promote strip-format tests.
More plastic doesn’t make perfect
Many store bought pregnancy tests come with batteries to display results digitally and have large handles made out of plastic for you to grip. When taken apart, these tests contain the same paper strip test commonly used at the doctor’s office. They tend to be more expensive and yet almost all home pregnancy tests are up to 99 percent accurate if you follow the instructions. So, a digital test with a higher price tag doesn’t mean it’s better. It usually just means that you’re paying for more plastic and packaging.The small strips, like ones made by Ovry, use 99% less plastic and they don’t rely on batteries that end up in landfills.
Reduce, reuse and recycle
Helping the environment doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice quality or accuracy. Pregnancy and ovulation test strips, like the ones made by Ovry, offer the best of both worlds: accuracy and sustainability. Most of Ovry’s packaging is fully recyclable. The pregnancy and ovulation test strips come in sleek boxes, rather than the bulky ones found at the local drugstore. The cup we provide (so you don’t have to use your own) can also be reused after rinsing it off. Lastly, each test includes a tiny desiccant pouch to keep them fresh and dry. And these desiccant, moisture-absorbing pouches can be reused for anything from drying out your phone after you drop it in the toilet to storing them on your car dashboard to keep the windshield clear during humid days.
Find out how to use a strip test: https://www.myovry.ca/pages/learn