Menstrual health and education are extremely important to people who menstruate. Yet, there seems to be a severe gap in menstrual education not only in understanding the impact that periods can have on those who grow through it on a monthly basis but also in the impact menstruation can have on the environment. This facet of menstrual education is something I was recently introduced and yet I am grappling with the lack of awareness regarding sustainability and menstrual cycles.
According to an article on Global News, 90% of menstrual pads are made of plastic and almost all tampons contain plastic. The issue with having a high level of plastic in hygiene products means that they cannot be reused and end up collecting in landfills and even sewage systems. Apart from the post-use impact of hygiene products, manufacturing period products also contribute a significant amount of carbon to already dangerously high carbon emissions (Collie, 2020).
However, all hope is not lost. Recently, there has been an increase in the use of more sustainable and even reusable period products. According to the article, 59% of people who menstruate either use or are considering sustainable alternatives to traditional menstrual hygiene products. From my own knowledge, August is a sustainable menstrual hygiene company. By using organic cotton, the company does their part in reducing carbon emissions. Some of their period products also fully dissolve in water- solving the issue of menstrual waste. However, there is an issue of affordability; upon comparing the prices of 18 tampons from August vs. at Walmart there is a $15 difference between the two (Walmart being cheaper). If we consider those who are in a lower socio-economic class, there is a big problem of accessibility, where even if they want to move into sustainable menstrual hygiene they simply cannot afford to.
There are also other alternatives. Menstrual and diva cups are reusable menstrual hygiene products. As they are made of medical-grade silicone, the sterilization process simply consists of boiling the cup after use making this product convenient and accessible in terms of cost as well. However, it does consider those who have faced sexual trauma or even those susceptible to Toxic Shock Syndrome making it difficult to use these products.
Sustainable Menstrual Product Alternative
In short, there are definitely alternatives to traditional and non-sustainable period products but in my view, those products do not consider the diversity of people who menstruate in terms of income and lifestyle and thus alienate certain groups. While it is great that such sustainable products exist, governments need to work with retailers and producers to make them more accessible and affordable to ensure that both people and the environment are cared for.
References:
Collie, M. (2020, February 23). Pads and tampons can harm the environment. what’s the alternative? Global News.
Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://globalnews.ca/news/6535090/pads-tampons-climate-change/
Hi Annesha,
Really interesting topic! I will admit I have never really thought about the impact of single-use menstrual products on the environment. This is an interesting product category since there’s that aspect of hygiene and sterileness that plastic provides that many consumers will expect for feminine hygiene products. I wonder if this expectation for plastic packaging and applicators is specific to different parts of the world. I bring this up as I remember my roommate from Europe would bring tampons from abroad to Canada as they surprisingly contained little to no plastic since they do not require an applicator. I also hope that in the near future, we will see increased access to affordable yet sustainable menstrual product alternatives.
Hi Annesha,
This is a great topic to shed light on. I recently went to the store and was shocked to see the huge price difference between sustainable menstrual hygiene products and non-sustainable ones. Making sustainable menstrual hygiene products accessible and affordable to everyone is crucial. The introduction of new, innovative products like August is a great step forward in reducing the carbon footprint of menstrual products, but it’s crucial to ensure that sustainable options are accessible to all individuals regardless of their socioeconomic background. Mainstream brands like Tampax have introduced ‘pure organic tampons’. But they still use plastic applicators, and its $5 more than their usual tampons!
Great article! I have been using a menstrual cup since high school and I really like it. You usually keep them for 1-2 years so a $40 purchase pays off long term. If you don’t like the blood, you can always remove and dump in the shower.
I think period underwear is a really cool area of innovation too. I have a pair from Knix that I really like.
Hi Annesha,
Thank you for bringing up the critical issue of menstrual health and sustainability. I completely agree that there is a significant gap in menstrual education in terms of sustainability. The issue of menstrual health in India was popularised by the “Pad Man” 2018 movie. Based on the real-life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social entrepreneur who created the machine for making affordable sanitary towels. I recently came across Omkar Sathe, founder of All For A Smile, an organization that takes this a step further with pads that are made out of cotton cloth that can be used for 3-4 years. Alternatively, tampons without the plastic applicator can also be a more sustainable alternative.
Hi Annesha,
I’m so glad you brought up this topic, I feel it needs to be discussed more. As we’ve discussed in class, the best way to solve any problem is by tackling it at its core, which in my opinion is through education. Thus, I completely agree that menstrual education should not only cover menstrual health but also the environmental impacts of traditional menstrual products. As you pointed out, menstrual cups may not be a suitable option for everyone, especially those with a history of sexual trauma or an increased risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome. Are there any other sustainable menstrual products available that cater to different requirements and preferences? For example, sustainable pads?