For the last few academic years, The Students’ Union has worked to make sustainable period products more accessible to students by running a free sustainable period product trial. This trial gives all UWE Bristol students and staff the opportunity to receive a free reusable period product, to spread awareness of reusable and more sustainable period products while removing the cost barrier.  

The products available this year were: period pants, reusable pads, menstrual cups or a menstrual cup sterilising pot. You can read about each of these products and how to use/wash them here. 

We supply products from Hey Girls (reusable pads, menstrual cups and menstrual cup sterilising pots) and WUKA (period pants). 

This academic year, 352 people (323 students, 29 staff) took part in our sustainable period product trial -  an increase of 21% in students and 70% in staff from the previous academic year!  

We saved students a total of £7,770.65 for the cost of these reusable period products:  

• We gave out 89 menstrual cups for free which would have cost students £10.40, we therefore in total saved them £925.60 

• We gave out 205 WUKA period pants which cost an average of £24.02 each, meaning we have saved students £4,924.10 

• We gave out 50 reusable pad bundles, which would have cost an average of £36.68 per package, saving students £1833.75 

• We also gave out 8 reusable sterilising pots which would have cost students £10.90, saving them £87.20 

We have also saved approximately 130.78kg of plastic per year with the reusable period product trial!  

Feeback from our 2025/26 trial: 

“I would invest in period pants again. The trial allowed me to test them and justify the significant upfront expense of them. They are much more comfortable, my periods hurt less because I no longer wear tampons and it is far more sustainable. Thank you for the opportunity!” 

“I absolutely loved the pants from WUKA and bought another pair for myself! They are so so so comfy and I’ve been wanting some for a long time.” 

“... it gave me the opportunity to try something out that I wouldn’t have tried otherwise. It’s a risk spending money on expensive reusable period products when you don’t know if you’ll actually like the way they feel. This was a really good opportunity and I ended up loving the product!” 

“[The trial] has helped me manage my period so much better, as someone with endometriosis.” 

Did you know about the other reusable period products that exist, such as :  

• Menstrual Discs – like a menstrual cup but it’s held in place by your pubic bone instead of suction, and can be used in conjunction with an IUD . Discs also have a higher capacity and are therefore a better option for heavy periods  

• Period Leggings – leggings with a built-in period pant, a great option if you're active during your period 

• Period Swimwear– swimwear with a built in multi-layer lining, made to absorb blood, both in and out of the water 

• Reusable Tampon Applicator –  works just like a normal applicator, but made to be reusable 

We hold period stalls at Frenchay, Glenside and Bower Ashton to offer students an opportunity to top up on disposable products for the month, learn about our sustainable period product trial and talk with us about plastic pollution and period poverty. These stalls are also used as opportunities for students to ask any questions about how reusable period products work and to have myth and taboo busting conversations. We hope by facilitating open conversations around menstrual products, we can reduce the stigma sometimes associated with menstruation. 

The trial is currently closed for this academic year. It will reopen for the 26/27 academic year in September.Find out how it works and sign up here. 

The Student's Union at UWE are proud to provide free, organic and plastic free single use menstrual products in all our toilets. By using products from NatraCare, an eco-friendly, Bristol based, disposable period product company we can tackle period poverty whilst also caring for the environment and promoting sustainable products. 

Check out our tips for having a sustainable period 

Image Credit : www.kaboompics.com