Sanitary and incontinence products are rarely talked about but are a significant environmental issue. The good news is that it is easy to make some simple changes that can help.
Here are some facts and figures related to sanitary products:
• It is estimated that in her lifetime the average woman will dispose of 11,000 menstrual products
• 1 pack of sanitary pads can contain the same amount of plastic as 4 carrier bags
• 1 pad can take as long as 500 years to break down
• It is estimated that around 700,000 panty liners, 2.5million tampons and 1.4 million sanitary towels are flushed down the toilet every day
• On average litter pickers record 6 pieces of period waste for every 100m of beach
So what can you do?
You can save money and reduce waste with resusable pads. They are just as absorbent, very comfortable, free from chemicals, and often made by ethical companies in the UK. They can also save you up to 9p per use when compared to regular disposables. There are loads of companies offering products online. Please ask Ros or Helen if you would like further advice!