Wed 03 Mar 2021 - Wed 31 Mar 2021
Did you know that an average menstruator will use more than 11,000 disposable menstrual products in their lifetime? This can amount to spending up to £18,450. Disposable menstrual products can also be damaging to the environment, with one pad containing up to 90% plastic.
Even tampons contain plastic, not just in the wrapper but also in the tampon itself. This is harming our oceans with 4.8 pieces of menstrual waste being found on average per 100m of beach in the UK.
However, there are some planet and purse-friendly options out there. While our choice of period product is a very personal one, and we all have different preferences and needs, it is important to be able to make an informed decision about what’s best for you. We’ve put together this short guide to help give you some more information about sustainable period products.
Did you know The Students' Union provides free organic disposable menstrual products in our toilets? We also substidise the cost of Lunette menstrutal cups through the SU Shop, reducing costs to £10 in oder to make them more accessible to students.
If you need advice or support accessing period products, you can contact the SU Advice Centre or UWE's Student Money Service and they will be able to help.
Would you like to try out a sustainable period product? We are looking for students to trial a product of their choice and create a review of your experience. This could be in the form of a blog or a vlog! We can then share these reviews with students, to showcase honest and unbiased experiences. These can be used to reliably inform others' product decisions.
If you'd like to register interest in taking part in these, please complete this short form.
Two members of the sustainability committee have reviewed their experience of trying the reusable underwear and menstrual cup, in this blog.