Bleed Green:
Plastic Free Periods
Discover how menstration habits have an effect on the environment and your health.
Schools can sign up for free sustainable period products: Ensure your school is signed up.
Environmenstrual key facts
Did you know that women and people who menstruate use more than 11,000 disposable products in their lifetime?
Disposal of single use menstrual products: tampons, pads, and applicators generates 200,000 tonnes of waste per year
A typical box of menstrual pads= 5 plastic carrier bags
Moreover, 41% women in the UK admitted to flushing disposable period products. Plastic remains in our ecosystem for years, harming thousands of sea creatures every day.
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Research on Gender equality, reproductive health and sustainability.
Dr Sydney Calkin, Lecturer of Geography, QMUL
In my research, I explore how medication abortion pills are changing the patterns of abortion access. I also explore how medication abortion pills are making safe abortion more available in countries with very restrictive abortion laws. My work looks mostly at Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Poland. Abortion pills can be easily moved across borders into places where they are not permitted, so my work asks: 1) how these cross-border flows are changing people’s access to safe abortion, and 2) how governments respond when people decide to disobey restrictive abortion laws in large numbers. I explain more here.
Mollie Stevenson, BSc Geography Student, QMUL
In my dissertation research, I explored the different attitudes and opinions of people who have periods in Stamford, Lincolnshire. I also explored the factors that influence how young adults experience menstruation, whilst focusing on three important topics: period poverty, stigma, and sustainability. Through a set of qualitative and quantitative research methods, alongside geographical theory, I seek to gain an understanding of the lived experiences of those who menstruate, and the ways and extent to which they experience the different social, economic, and environmental factors. I also assess what needs to change to address the injustices that people who menstruate regularly face. Watch more here.
m.stevenson@hss18.qmul.ac.uk
Environmenstrual Products
There are many products on the market to make your menstruation sustainable. We hope that you will think about trying some of the following. It’s all about personal preference and circumstance, there is no right or wrong way.
Organic cotton, plastic free sanitary towels and tampons
Organic cotton, plastic free sanitary towels and tampons are avialable. These are the simplest change to make as you can just swap your plastic containing products for plastic free alternatives, and dispose of them as normal.
Reusable tampon applicator
A washable tampon applicator is avialable on the market to remove the need for disposable applicators, that are most often made of plastic. Fun fact these plastic applicators are known as “beach whistles” which shows you how prevelant they are on the beaches, and in the oceans.
Menstrual cup
These come in different shapes and sizes to suit the user. It might take a little time to get used to the cup and learn to apply it quickly. The cup lasts around 5 years and can be used alone or in combination with other products to start with to make you feel confident and leak free (especially for the first few times of using a cup). Most can be worn for up to 12 hours which is great for a fuss free day.
Periodproof underwear
Periodprood underwear are becoming more readily available in hgihstreet stores and affordable. This underwear encorporates absorbant layers of fabric that keep you feeling dry with no leaks. They are particularly good for a comfortable night sleep, or a heavy day.
Reusable sanitary towels
There are a huge range of reusable sanitary towels on the market in every shape, size and in great fabrics. You can even make them yourself, here’s a template and instructions from our partner, WEN.
Many thanks to our project partners and sponsors
