Periods, Plastic and Pollution – The Impact of Disposable Period Products
By Kate McGreary
Did you know it is estimated that some women can use up to 15,000 period products in a lifetime? This alone is hard to comprehend, but then knowing that it takes a tampon longer to degrade than the lifespan of the woman who wears it is equally as shocking. Thankfully, a shift to more sustainable and environmentally friendly products is gradually occurring, with campaigns like ‘End Period Plastic’ gaining more traction. But we still need to spread this important message that reusable sanitary products are out there, and have many benefits you may not have heard of.
A bit of history…
The first tampon with an applicator was produced in 1933. The applicator was firstly designed, says gender studies experts, because doctors, as well as members of the public, were squeamish about the idea that women—especially young women—might come into contact with their genitals during tampon insertion.[1]The applicator was therefore seen as a solution to this so called ‘problem’ - women could insert the tampon ‘demurely’ and as a result, this added even more plastic to the product.
This trend of periods being shameful, and continuing to be something women should be ‘discreet’ about is still being seen today. In 2013, Tampax released its new tampon where the campaign emphasised the ‘resealable wrapper for discrete disposal’ as well as adverts featuring bloggers reassuring women that ‘just because its your time of the month doesn’t mean you have to hide!’[2] It is unfortunately still the case throughout the world that women are shamed for something that is completely natural and out of their control. And as a by product, more and more plastic is produced.
Impact on the environment…
In the last decade or so we have become more aware about the impact that plastic pollution is having on our world. As a result, we are seeing more action from national governments to curb plastic pollution, for example through shoppers paying for their plastic bags. We often don’t think about the amount of plastic waste sanitary products produce, despite the fact women throughout multiple countries use them on a monthly basis. In fact, a big-brand pack of 14 menstrual pads contains the same amount of plastic as 5 carrier bags. Altogether, tampons, pads and panty liners along with their packaging and individual wrapping generate more than 200,000 tonnes of waste per year, and they all contain plastic – in fact, pads are around 90% plastic! Plastic waste ends up in a landfill or, even worse in the oceans, rivers and beaches. Shockingly, in 2010, a UK beach clean found an average of 23 sanitary pads and 9 tampon applicators per kilometre of the British coastline.
Advantages?
You may be able to guess the first - reusable sanitary products help curb the environmental harm that plastics have already caused to the environment. Making a small change in your life really can have a big impact. We can’t forget that the process of manufacturing these disposables also pollutes our waterways, air and animal habitats. Reusables are part of the ultimate solution to a multitude of problems!
Next, you will save loads of money. Cloth pads can last for years if cared for properly; buying disposable products every month is an expense which can be avoided.
Lastly, they’re good for you! Disposable feminine hygiene products contain synthetic materials including plastics, adhesives, artificial fragrances, and toxic chemicals.[6] Granted, this is something we don’t often think about, but with reusable cotton pads you are reassured that none of these scary sounding chemicals are going anywhere near your body.
Our mission…
Free flow’s main aim is to sell reusable sanitary pads in order to educate communities in India about menstrual health as well as providing them with free pads in a step to eradicate period poverty. 2% of those who experience periods in India have access to safe menstrual products. We want to change this. Making the small step towards reusable pads has so many advantages, and really can have impacts far beyond our own lives.
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