Incentivizing Sustainable Menstruation: Best Practices from Rosemont, Montreal
Subsidizing reusable period products is a great way to promote sustainable alternatives while working toward menstrual equity
Featured
Policy
Together for toxic- and plastic free periods
Most of female sanitary products contain up to 90% plastic and toxic chemicals. The average woman will use 12,000 to 16,000 disposable feminine hygiene products in her lifetime and it can take up to 100 years or more for something like a plastic pad or applicator to break down.
Science
Phthalates are more ubiquitous than was previously known – and are commonly found in menstrual products
Phthalates are plasticizer chemicals found in a variety of products designed for daily use.
Exposure to this class of chemicals has been associated with several adverse health effects
Alternatives
Incentivizing Sustainable Menstruation: Best Practices from Rosemont, Montreal
Subsidizing reusable period products is a great way to promote sustainable alternatives while working toward menstrual equity
Young Females
New school program in UK: Rethink Periods
City to Sea launched the new schools program Rethink Periods. The program covers some basic biology around periods, products, environmental impacts, period poverty, taboos, myths and celebrations.
Health
Phthalates are more ubiquitous than was previously known – and are commonly found in menstrual products
Phthalates are plasticizer chemicals found in a variety of products designed for daily use.
Exposure to this class of chemicals has been associated with several adverse health effects
Enviroment
No wipes are ‘flushable’: wrong claims may mislead consumers
Adapted from ‘Be Good A**Holes’ from My Green Pod. Article available at: https://www.mygreenpod.com/articles/be-good-aholes/ The UK’s Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has
In the Media
Environ-menstrual Advocates
The Guardian features some of our partners, in an article by Anna Turns. Publication available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/02/the-women-taking-the-plastic-out-of-periods?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Perspectives
Pandora’s Box: Menstrual Equity on Film
Up until recently, even ardent feminists have been reluctant to address menstrual equality, choosing instead to focus on issues such as workplace equality and childcare. This hesitation is understandable considering the discrimination women often face while on their period in all parts of the world.
Action
This International Women’s Day women break period taboos to fight plastic pollution’
For International Women’s Day (8th of March), 4 women are speaking out about the most controversial form of plastic pollution – the plastic that comes from our period products.
Partners
To save the world, empower women
The environmental NGO City to Sea is spreading the word about sustainable alternatives through their ‘Plastic Free Periods’ initiative, which incorporates environmental advocacy into female health education.