Use sustainable menstrual products to protect the planet

According to “‘Period Poverty’ Affects Millions of Women, Girls Globally” from Brigham Young University, there are 3.5 billion women globally that are on their menstrual cycles each month. On average, women will have around 456 periods over the 38 years that they menstruate. This is roughly around six years of bleeding or 2,280 days that are spent on periods. If you use 20 tampons during a five-day menstrual cycle, that is roughly 9,120 tampons in your lifetime.

Annually, the net greenhouse gas emissions from one woman using pads are 3.03 kilograms of CO2, and the emissions from one woman using tampons are 4.62 kilograms of CO2, according to “The Value of Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products Evaluated by Comparative Environmental Life Cycle Assessment” by Amy Hait and Susan E. Powers. The emissions come from the extraction of raw materials that are used in creating the products, manufacturing, transportation, use and disposal. Thinking about how many women have periods in our world today and use disposable menstrual products, this adds up to be a lot of carbon that is being emitted annually. Many issues that fall under the umbrella of menstruation including period poverty, inequality, lack to resources involving health and education. Period poverty is a term used that describes how many women globally do not have access to menstruation education and supplies. Period poverty can lead to women missing school for extended periods of time, infections, diseases and increase the stigma around menstruation.

There are people that are fighting to make a change for women’s health and livelihood. Organizations like Days for Girls, which is based out of Washington, are creating sustainable menstrual products like reusable pads and menstruation cups. Other sustainable materials that can be used for menstrual products includes bamboo fibers or wadding, hyacinth and banana fibers. Pads made from bamboo are more absorbent than commercial pads and can be worn for longer periods of time without bacteria building up. Menstrual cups are another great alternative; they are reusable and can be used for up to ten years. Menstrual cups can be found at most stores and online. In the long run, they are cheaper than buying disposable products and better for the environment. Shifting towards reusable or biodegradable menstrual products is valuable in combatting the climate crisis and supporting women.

At CSB+SJU, there are some menstrual products provided in the women’s restrooms. The CSB Senate recently purchased around a year’s worth of menstrual products for our campus. At the SJU Senate however, they only purchased a semester’s worth of menstrual products. These products that are bought are disposable and leave a larger impact on the environment, especially if they are not disposed of correctly. If CSB+SJU is working towards sustainability and CSB claims to be a sustainable campus, sustainable and eco-friendly menstrual products should be offered to students. We should invest in menstrual cups due to their reusability. They are made from less non-renewable materials and have less carbon dioxide emissions in their production. This is a call for action to the CSB+SJU Senates to invest in sustainable menstrual products in the future for our campuses, as well as the Sustainability Office to consider holding a menstrual cup drive in the future.