Many traditional plastic-based hygiene products take over 500 years to decompose. On average, a person uses 12,000 disposable sanitary products in their lifetime, and 20 billion menstrual products end up in landfills each year – but people are starting to make a change.
People around the world are changing their menstrual hygiene habits and switching to healthier and eco-friendly reusable products such as menstrual cups.
So, for this year’s World Earth Day (22nd April), intimate health brand INTIMINA has conducted a survey to find out how aware people are of their ecological contribution when it comes to menstrual products, and even though 67% of those surveyed are unaware of the average number of disposable menstrual products people use in their lifetime, the results reveal that more and more people are jumping on the bandwagon of sustainability when it comes to managing their periods.
The research found that 72% of respondents said they consider their lifestyle sustainable, meaning that they try to make choices that aim to reduce their individual and collective environmental impact. When purchasing and using menstrual products such as pads and tampons, nearly three out of five (59%) respondents consider the effects on the environment and the amount of menstrual waste these products represent.
What’s more, 67% of those surveyed were unaware of the average number of disposable menstrual products people use in their lifetime. Still, 42% have tried eco-friendly menstrual products – with 63% switching to using a menstrual cup or a different reusable menstrual product.
There are many reasons why menstrual cups are good for the environment and health and the survey shows that people are well aware of these benefits.
When asked to name reasons why they would be inclined to switch to a menstrual cup, people said:
- 38% opted for them because they are reusable, giving people a chance to reduce their menstrual waste.
- Nearly half (48%) said because it saves money as a menstrual cup can last up to ten years, which means enormous savings when compared to buying pads and tampons
- Two out of five people (39%) would choose a cup because it is hassle-free and can be worn for up to eight hours without emptying it, which provides a sense of comfort during menstruation.
- 38% believe menstrual cups are a healthy choice because they are made of medical-grade silicone, while most pads and tampons contain chemicals and plastic.
Using a menstrual cup allows people to make a significant environmental difference, and to help people understand their menstrual waste production and its impact on the environment, INTIMINA has created the Greentimina Menstrual Waste Calculator.
This simple tool calculates the amount of waste a person produces by using disposable menstrual products during their lifetime. It also estimates how much money a person will spend on those products.
Danela Zagar from INTIMINA, the brand behind the research, comments: “When it comes to changing our daily habits for environmental benefits, changing personal menstruation management and switching to reusable products plays a crucial part.
“The numbers describing the waste attributed to disposable menstrual products can be overwhelming.
“Still, with small steps and small decisions oriented towards purchasing eco-friendly products, each person can reduce their carbon footprint and make a difference in saving the planet.”
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