The Case for Sustainable Period Products - Women’s Media Center

Oct 17, 2024

For many people, getting their first period is an exciting development. But for the estimated 500 million menstruating people around the world who lack basic access to menstrual products and bathroom facilities during their cycle, it’s not so exciting. Without access to menstrual products, many women are unable to work and educate themselves. It's a destructive cycle known as “period poverty.”

Not only are millions of people across the world left without access to basic hygiene, but even those who are fortunate enough to have access to period products still have concerns and reasons not to use them. In the United States, there’s the economic burden of paying an extra menstrual product tax in 21 out of 50 states. There’s also the fact that menstrual products generate more than 200,000 tons of plastic waste per year and take 500 to 800 years to decompose, according to a study done by California State University. Multiple studies have repeatedly found toxic chemicals in feminine hygiene products that can negatively impact a woman's reproductive and vaginal health.

There is a potential solution that could help all menstruating people, however: universal access to sustainable and reusable period products. Reusable period products are sustainable menstruating products that can be used multiple times, such as reusable pads, menstrual cups, and period underwear.

For many reusable period products, there is no extra tax, no damaging chemicals, and no plastic waste. Many reusable period products can be made at home with minimal materials. Using reusable products also limits the risk of damaging vaginal and reproductive health, as there are no significant chemicals in the cotton and thread of homemade reusable pads, and many reusable products do not contain the chemicals that mainstream commercial products do, making them safer alternatives. Sustainable products also help alleviate the plastic waste burden on the planet and, therefore, decrease plastic pollution. Reusable period products also allow people to complete their menstrual cycles by alternating between a minimal and permanent number of products, which would allow young people to stay in school, make money, and be caretakers during their cycles, which makes a big difference for struggling families.

You could make a difference, and women across the world need help. Actions as simple as donating to nonprofits dedicated to ending period poverty, such as The Pad Project and The Alliance for Period Supplies, or leading your community and sewing reusable pads to donate could improve so many lives. The greatest change starts with ourselves. Be the difference. You could change two lives today just by picking up a reusable period product for yourself and for someone in need of one.