The Impact of Disposable Feminine Hygiene Products

FOR THE EARTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT,

FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH,

THEIR WALLET

AND SELF-ACCEPTANCE.

Menstruation, or periods, visits all healthy women – almost half of the world's population – every month, for a few days. This lasts for about 40 years, affecting every woman, on average, from 10-14 years old to 45-52 years old. This is women's daily reality – a monthly cycle! So natural, so real. It flows every month, as long as we are not pregnant, as long as we are not breastfeeding (for some women, it flows even while breastfeeding), as long as we are healthy. Periods affect every woman, regardless of education, social status, financial situation, or religious beliefs. They affect all of us.

Although a completely natural process affecting half of the world's population and directly influencing the rest, who are born due to women's fertility cycle (menstruation is part of this cyclical nature), it has been shrouded in shame, impurity, and other taboos.

As women entered the workforce, disposable products arrived in stores about 100 years ago to "help" them. These quickly gained popularity due to rapid industrial growth and the particularly strong feelings of shame and taboo surrounding menstruation.

It is estimated that one woman, over her entire menstrual period, which averages about 38-40 years, will use between 5,000 and 15,000 disposable pads and tampons, depending on flow and duration of menstruation.

What are typical disposable products made of (excluding eco-friendly ones)?

Disposable pads are usually made of 90% plastic. The most common is polyethylene, mixed with other materials depending on the layers, as well as bleached wood pulp, sodium polyacrylate, polypropylene found in inner layers, adhesives, and various synthetic fragrances.

Disposable tampons are made of absorbent materials (over 90%) and a thin layer of plastic in the absorbent part, or rayon, cotton, polyester, or a blend of these, which are usually also bleached. The tampon string is also made of polypropylene or polyethylene fiber. Each unit is individually wrapped in plastic packaging.

 

IMPACT ON THE EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT

The impact on the earth and environment includes: pollution of nature, mountains of waste, contaminated water, air, soil, and also the inhabitants of the earth, people too!

Conventional disposable products contribute to pollution already in the manufacturing phase, then, once used, they become waste in landfills, nature, and waters, as well as air pollution when waste is incinerated. It is also important to note that pollution reaches a woman's body in two ways: 1) when she uses them, and 2) indirectly through contaminated water and air - this also reaches other people, men and children.

In the production phase, on average, one woman in her menstrual cycle accounts for 5.3 kg of CO2 equivalent per year (study by Rezero, Zero Waste Europe, and Break Free From Plastic). On average, 46 billion disposable menstrual products are used in EU countries, contributing to the emission of 245,000 tons of CO2.

The figures for menstrual waste when using disposable products are truly immense:

A study conducted by Rezero, Zero Waste Europe, and Break Free From Plastic found that in just one year (2017), 28 EU countries used over 46 billion menstrual products, generating over 590,000 tons of waste.

It can take 500-800 years for a single conventional disposable sanitary pad or tampon to decompose.

When we throw disposable tampons and pads into the trash, they are transported to landfills, where they will remain longer than we will be alive. This means that all the tampons you have ever used are still somewhere in our environment.

Menstrual waste in general waste complicates waste sorting efforts, as it is thrown together with general waste, not to mention the difficulties faced by those working in sorting.

Some of the waste travels through pipes, clogging plumbing and some ends up in waters / seas / oceans.

 

 

Indirect impact on the health of all people:

1) Through water contaminated by disposable products, conditions arise for bacteria (e.g., E. Coli) and viruses to spread.

2) Through the air, when incinerating massive amounts of waste, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and other toxins are released into the environment, along with ash residues, these affect the health of many people.

Of course, this is the cost, the part of the impact, which seemingly does not directly affect a woman personally at this moment, "as if it were something distant."

 

IMPACT ON HEALTH

Many of us still remember how we could identify in class whose bleeding days it was by the smell. Do you think it's the smell of blood? No, it's the reaction of secretions meeting synthetic materials, artificial fragrances that saturate typical disposable pads.

Products are placed near the most sensitive part of the body, the mucous membrane, which, after testing, are found to contain the following substances (different manufacturers, different quantities, not specified):

Some of them are identified as carcinogens, neurotoxins, irritants, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and reproductive toxins.* These substances can affect a woman's natural pH balance.

Traces of dioxin, pesticides, herbicides, and glyphosate are also found in disposable menstrual products. With long-term use of disposable products, these substances enter the body through the mucous membrane.

When using disposable tampons, not only blood but also vaginal discharge is absorbed – the mucous membrane dries out. Although extremely rare, tampons can leave residues in the vagina, which could cause bacterial infections and inflammations.

Plastic pads are air-impermeable; one of the most sensitive parts of the body, related to fertility and the emergence of new life, cannot breathe. Using air-impermeable pads can also irritate the skin.

Menstrual pain and heavy bleeding, and infertility problems are also associated with substances found in disposable products.

*Carcinogens - substances causing cancerous diseases. Neurotoxins - toxins affecting nerve cells (neurons) and their synapses. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals - disrupt the function of the endocrine system. Reproductive toxins - toxins affecting the reproductive system and fertility.

 

IMPACT ON THE WALLET

The impact on the wallet is experienced by women who pay monthly for disposable conventional products; it's like a subscription to manufacturers for about 38-40 years.

After conducting research, we found out how much of one type of menstrual hygiene product a woman uses per year and approximately how much it costs. We compared how much a woman would spend on disposable versus reusable menstrual hygiene products over one and three years.

The results show that the cheapest, and also the most ecological, choice is the menstrual cup.

For reusable pads and menstrual panties, you will spend slightly larger amounts - 46-100 euros.

This amount, of course, also depends on the heaviness of menstruation. For those who use fewer disposable hygiene products, correspondingly fewer reusable ones will be needed.

 

IMPACT ON FEMININITY

One of the most difficult to measure and subtle aspects of this topic is the impact on femininity, when a woman does not accept herself as she is, with her natural menstrual cycle and flowing blood. The menstrual cycle is a woman's rhythm, as natural as the seasons in nature, as the changing phases of the moon in the sky. If we have separated it from ourselves, rejected the menstrual cycle, hated this part of ourselves, mostly unconsciously due to the history of menstrual taboos: in the family, in the lineage, in human history - this shows that we do not accept ourselves.

In our work, we still meet women who cannot talk about this topic, who avoid it completely. Also, women who cannot look at and see their menstrual blood, experience its flow, its smell. (It is understandable when blood is mixed with chemical cocktails, there will not be a true smell there.) When a woman has the opportunity to see the difference in the appearance and smell of her menstrual blood, feeling the sensations in her body - a woman can detect changes in her health much earlier and take positive steps for her health, seek help in time.

Often, we become completely accustomed to living "normally," because we have adapted, because "it's customary," because "it's how it is for everyone." When a woman tries to always be "the same," "productive," "not to fall out" of the big circle of activity, she loses a part of herself, "as if something is missing," she does not have the opportunity to use her powers as a cyclical woman. To be diverse, to be changing and to do or not do certain things at certain times.

Yes, this is different from what was customary, it was not taught, and it was not passed on how to live in society in a feminine way. Now we are learning again, we are rediscovering the connection with our body, with our nature.

Finally 

We have already paid a heavy price and are still paying it at the expense of nature and the environment.

• Some of us have experienced a personal impact on our health (infertility, missing periods, allergies, ...) and all of us are still affected by the environment by what was left behind by us and is still left behind by those who currently use disposable conventional products.
• The price we pay in money can already be changed to reusable products in the first year - a cup, and over a longer period, reusable pads and special menstrual panties.
• Will you choose yourself, completely? With your periods too. As they are right now?

By taking comprehensive care of her body and natural cleanliness, and by restoring the connection with her body, a woman takes responsibility for herself. She then feels when and how to take care of herself, her health.

Friendly to yourself, friendly to the earth and the environment.