Sustainable Menstruation is the Key to Ending Period Poverty
January 15, 2025By Tafadzwa Ashely Gore, 2024 Future Blue Youth Council member
Cover image by Cartography M.Sc.
Prologue
If there’s no solution, what’s the point? My heart bleeds for young people globally whose natural cycles are burdened by period poverty, where the cost of living stains their days with needless worry. As these young souls feel shame from their biological need, the environment weeps bitterly under the weight of disposable pads that scar the earth. Yet, in this sorrow and anguish, eco-reusable pads are the solution; cost-effective, healthy, and environmentally friendly, offering a remedy that benefits the wallet, body, and the environment, which this article will explore through the lenses of individual struggles, economic implications, and cultural impact.
Individual Perspective
Growing up in Zimbabwe, a Low Economically Developed Country (LEDC), I experienced period poverty firsthand. I remember the feeling of anxiety gnawing at my stomach as my period approached, knowing that I, along with my peers, might have to use paper, old clothes, leaves, cotton, or wool pieces instead of sanitary pads. The sight of stained uniforms and the shame that followed forced many of my friends to skip school altogether. The cost of disposable sanitary wear, lack of privacy, inadequate toilet facilities, and poor water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure made managing periods a nightmare. In a 2014 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO report), it was revealed that one in ten menstruating youth globally miss school during their menstrual cycle due to a lack of access to menstrual products and resources. The tragedy of missing school due to a lack of menstrual products snatches away young dreams, leaving futures in disarray. It’s a cruel twist of nature that shouldn’t dictate success or failure.
As humanity has always adapted and evolved, isn’t it time humankind fully introduces eco-reusable pads and ends this injustice? Evidential signs displayed by the statistics, though staggering and melancholic, barely scratch the surface of the daily struggles faced by young menstruators across the globe. The cultural stigma surrounding menstruation, coupled with the fear of leaks and the use of unhygienic materials, erodes the self-confidence and self-esteem of young girls, therefore jeopardizing good mental health. It’s not just a problem in developing countries; period poverty affects youth globally, with many facing similar challenges in developed countries due to the cost-of-living crisis or high costs and inadequate access to menstrual products. I firmly believe that the solution lies in sustainable menstruation through eco-reusable sanitary wear. Eco-reusable pads offer a cost-effective, sustainable, and healthy alternative, as they can be used multiple times and are free from toxic chemicals. Furthermore, they are environmentally sustainable, significantly reducing the number of disposable pads that end up in landfills. Alarming figures disclose that a single menstruator can use up to 16,000 disposable pads or tampons in their lifetime. This adds to the mountains of waste that suffocate our planet. Moreover, period poverty is a universal issue that intersects with education, health, and social equality. My call to action is for my fellow young people to stand together, empathetically and urgently, to promote sustainable menstruation and end period poverty for good. By introducing eco-reusable pads into the lives of young girls, we can take a significant step toward alleviating this global crisis, ensuring that no young person will miss out on their future due to a lack of basic menstrual products.
My heart bleeds relentlessly for young women ensnared by period poverty.
Economic Perspective
I moved from Zimbabwe, a Low Economically Developed Country (LEDC), to Scotland in the United Kingdom, where I lived for a year and a half before relocating to Perth, Australia. Living in these vastly different countries has given me a diverse perspective on the challenges of affordability and period poverty. In Scotland during 2022, the cost-of-living crisis dominated headlines, as households grappled with rising expenses in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, despite the struggles there, as a resident in Australia, Australia’s high prices have been particularly eye-opening, especially when considering the affordability of menstrual products for women. The air feels heavy with anxiety as financial strain becomes a constant companion. Period poverty is a sorrowful and disheartening issue that affects young people worldwide, including those in developed countries. Despite their tremendous economic stability, nations like Australia, the United Kingdom, and others continue to struggle with providing affordable menstrual products to those in need. The cost-of-living crisis, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has left many young women grappling with the financial burden of purchasing period products.
Can you picture the frustration of standing in a brightly lit store, scanning the shelves for the cheapest option, only to realize you cannot afford the necessity of menstrual products? This scenario isn’t limited to LEDCs like Zimbabwe; it’s a stark reality even in Australia, a More Economically Developed Country (MEDC), where almost two-thirds of young women face period poverty as inflation and the cost-of-living crisis take their toll (The Australian Guardian, 25 May 2023). Furthermore, the Cost of Living Index for Perth, Western Australia, stands at 69.6, making it the 32nd most expensive city globally (Cost of Living Index by City 2024 Mid-Year). This financial strain is particularly challenging for young women, including new workforce entrants, school dropouts, immigrants, refugees, and the homeless. Nonetheless, on a positive note, the Western Australian government has taken steps to address this issue by providing free period products in public schools (WA Government, April 2024). This initiative predominantly offers disposable pads, which, while immediately useful and effective, are not a sustainable long-term solution.
Sustainable menstruation promises a brighter tomorrow, while disposable pads perpetuate environmental decay. Reinforcing this further, in Australia, a 2023 study by C. Ramsay, cited by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), found that among university students, 65% primarily used disposable pads, 24% tampons, 8% menstrual cups, and 2% period underwear. The preceding findings disclose that while a few people have started to adopt more sustainable menstrual products, the majority still rely on disposable options. Disposable pads, each a silent culprit, contribute to carbon emissions during their production, leaving a permanent environmental impact. Unlike their eco-reusable counterparts, these pads are not biodegradable, lingering in landfills for centuries, like ghosts of our unsustainable past, haunting the soil and seas. I hold the view that the evolution towards eco-reusable pads and sustainable sanitary wear must happen, especially for young women. Not only are these products environmentally friendly and healthy, but they also offer a cost-effective solution amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Reusable pads can be used multiple times and are therefore budget-friendly, and they do not contain harmful chemicals like disposable pads and are thus healthy. Each eco-reusable pad used is a step towards preserving this delicate balance, a promise to the earth that we will cherish and protect it.
A heart-wrenching investigation into period poverty in developed countries reveals a hidden struggle that many face in silence. According to Plan International, almost six in ten Australian women find it more difficult to pay for menstrual products now than before the current cost-of-living crisis. Over a lifetime, the average person who menstruates will spend approximately $10,000 on period products, excluding costs related to pain management. This issue is not confined to Australia. In the U.K., one in ten girls cannot afford menstrual products, and one in seven have struggled to purchase them, based on a representative survey of one thousand girls and young women aged 14-21 by Plan International UK. These statistics highlight a pervasive issue: even in developed countries, many young people face significant barriers to accessing necessary menstrual products. I am resolute in my belief that eco-reusable pads present a viable and sustainable solution to this crisis. By choosing sustainable menstrual products, young people in developed countries can mitigate both financial and environmental burdens. This is especially relevant for menstruating young women entering the workforce, experiencing homelessness, or facing other economic challenges. The cost-of-living crisis has intensified the need for affordable and sustainable menstrual solutions. While global governments have made efforts to alleviate period poverty by supplying free disposable pads in public schools, a more sustainable approach is needed. Eco-reusable pads can significantly reduce the long-term costs associated with menstruation and contribute to environmental conservation. Period poverty in developed countries, characterized by financial strain and environmental waste, urgently requires a shift to eco-friendly menstrual products.
My heart bleeds relentlessly for young women ensnared by period poverty.
Cultural and Community Perspective
In our society, where menstruation often drifts into silence, can we truly ignore the potential of sustainable menstruation to shatter this deep-seated taboo? Can we overlook the profound relief of a young person, once weighed down by stigma, now empowered by choices that benefit their finances, health, and our planet? When 63% of men still feel uncomfortable discussing menstruation (as reported by Plan International Australia), can we afford to let this unease block the broader conversations necessary for progress? Introducing sustainable menstruation into educational settings can effectively eradicate the deep-seated cultural stigma surrounding menstruation through comprehensive education and increased awareness. I stand by the view that in dynamic classroom and social settings, conversations about innovative, eco-friendly menstrual products can replace fleeting whispers of embarrassment with engaging, confident discussions among students. The noticeable shift from uncomfortable silence to enthusiastic, informed dialogue carries the possibility to highlight the benefits of these sustainable options. The presence of practical, reusable pads heralds a future where menstruation is openly and informatively discussed, free from lingering shame. This fundamental movement aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gender equality is advanced as menstrual health becomes a shared responsibility rather than a solitary challenge. Good health and well-being are promoted through access to safer, sustainable products. Quality education thrives as students gain vital knowledge about menstrual health. Responsible consumption and production are supported by reducing waste and encouraging sustainable choices. I firmly believe that this approach helps transform discomfort into understanding, making the conversation about menstruation a normal, empowering, and educational experience for young people.
This article has examined the issue through individual struggles, economic impacts, and cultural effects. I am deeply moved by the silent suffering of young people burdened by period poverty, where high costs strip away dignity and disposable pads damage the environment. Eco-reusable pads offer a cost-effective, healthy, and eco-friendly solution.
My heart bleeds relentlessly for young women ensnared by period poverty.
Bibliography
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings.jsp
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-21/coles-woolworths-cost-of-period-sanitary-products/102993324
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10006563/
https://www.citronhygiene.com/resources/period-poverty-world-stats-solutions/