Reflections on Environmenstrual Week.
Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of taking part in ‘Why's Access to Sustainable Period Products a Social Justice Issue?’, a Webinar organised by the Women’s Environmental Network as part of their Environmenstrual Week. I heard from Kasey Robinson, Founder of @proudofmyperiod, Gabby Edlin, CEO and Founder of Bloody Good Period, Ruby Raut, CEO and Founder of WUKA, and Larissa Copello, Consumption and Production Campaigner at Zero Waste Europe.
It is clear that period inequality has been exacerbated by the current pandemic situation, however, how do sustainable period products play a part in this?
Menstruating people cannot access period products. This is clearly a social justice issue that needs to be addressed. Gabby, who primarily works with asylum seekers and refugees who are often in insecure housing, spoke about how these women may not have access to washing machines or a sink to wash reusable products in. More often than not, they find disposable products much easier to use. The point is therefore not about everyone having to use sustainable period products but about everyone having access to them and information about them.
Despite numerous studies showing that disposable products contain a whole host of reproductive and developmental toxins including chloroform, acetone, and styrene, information on sustainable, chemical-free products is not widespread. Larissa spoke about the assumption of safety that we as consumers make when we see mainstream products on the shelves of supermarkets. Large manufacturers have often exploited and propagated pre-existing stigmas surrounding menstruation. Messages around the supposed uncleanliness of periods, and the need to be discreet about them, have often taken centre stage in marketing campaigns. When we as consumers purchase a period product we entrust our health and wellbeing to the manufacturer. We buy menstrual products on the assumption that they are safe to use and do not contain harmful chemicals. We deserve transparency and honesty. Access to and information on reusable chemical-free alternatives is not only a social justice issue, but also one of health justice.
Kasey spoke on the importance of centring the menstrual experience of people of colour in the fight for menstrual equity and in conversations around accessing sustainable period products. She spoke about the urgent need to change the perception of black and brown communities being subordinate and the recipients of help, not as those leading or pioneering the work. Ruby reiterated the importance of being seen and represented and how the journey to sustainable period products must, as a priority, be both inclusive and diverse.
Access to sustainable period products is clearly a social justice issue, made even more so when the intersections of the fight for menstrual equity are addressed. Webinars such as this are absolutely crucial to highlighting these intersections on our journey to make sustainable period products and information around them more accessible for everyone.