Periods are a natural part of life for millions of people, but the products we use to manage them often come with an environmental cost. Most single-use pads and tampons contain plastic, and when you add up how many are used over a lifetime, the waste is staggering. So it’s starting to raise serious concerns about sustainability.
Those who have periods will typically use more than 11,000 disposable menstrual products in their lifetime. Each year, more than 3 billion single-use products are used by the UK’s menstruating population alone. The resulting disposal equates to some 200,000 tonnes of waste a year. Single-use menstrual pads are among the worst offenders, as these can contain up to 90 per cent plastic, thanks to a leak-proof base, synthetics that absorb moisture and, of course, packaging.
