Personal period products, period poverty, and the future of the environment

Period product waste has a huge impact on the environment with 2.5 million tampons, 1.4 million menstrual pads flushed into the UK waterways every day, causing strain on sewage systems and increasing beach pollution. Concurrently, economic inequality limiting access to period products is increasingly concerning.

There is a lack of awareness about personal care product environmental impact, and social norms surrounding which menstrual management products should be used. This project will examine the socioeconomic and environmental reasons for using these products, and explore the economic, social and environmental inequalities in the promotion of menstrual cups as a safer, more sustainable way of managing menstruation.