Are periods contributing to plastic pollution?
You may have been warned to avoid BPA when purchasing daily use plastics such as water bottles and luncboxes. However, had it ever occurred to you that BPA may be present in your trusted menstrual products?... No, me neither!
BPA (Bisphenol-A) is an industrial chemical used to produce certain plastics.
In recent years it has been associated with food standards, after concerns arose that traces of the chemical were transferring from plastic packaging to the food and drink contained within them. But it wasn't until I began researching for this campaign, when it came to my attention that some brands of disposable menstrual produce are yet another source of BPA exposure.
Shockingly, manufacturers of disposable menstrual products are not legally required to disclose the ingredients contained within their tampons and sanitary towels. So to challenge this, Andrea Donsky - founder of Naturally Savvy - took matters into her own hands and sought to reveal what menstrual products are composed of. To her dismay, she discovered that a standard sanitary pad contains the equivalent amount of plastic as 4 plastic bags. Knowing the hazardous nature of plastics, this became a health concern for users as well as a wider environmental issue. Especially since a single plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to degrade, and even then will remain toxic once it's decomposed.
Plastics are present at every step of the process of manufacturing your menstrual products. From the initial raw material extraction of plastics, to the the oil intensive production of low-density polyethylene to wrap up pads and tampons. Then once the product has been used, the plastics take forever to break down. So your short-term commitment to buying a disposable tampon will ultimately have a long-term impact on the planet. Resulting in sanitary plastics adding to landfills, clogging sewers and littering beaches and oceans worldwide.
Although, menstruation doesn't have to be another contributor to plastic pollution. Especially when sustainable alternatives, such as medical grade silicone menstrual cups, exist on the market. They may not be biodegradable, but in comparison to disposable products, the menstrual cups will prevent a considerable amount of plastic pollution from adding to the problem.
So if you're still reluctant to make the lifestyle change, perhaps the environmental incentive will do it for you! Here's some brands we recommend to start your journey to a green period:
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