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Used period products are polluting Britain's waterways
A third of women in Britain have seen a period product on a British beach, or in a river or waterway, a recent survey has revealed.
This statistic is unsurprising, considering there are around 2.5 million tampons, 1.4 million pads, and 700,000 panty liners that are flushed down the toilet every single day. Over a third of women have flushed a period pad or tampon, and out of those women, over half do it every month.
According to Fluus, who commissioned the study, many women flush their period products down the toilet because they are unable to dispose of them properly.
In fact, 70% of the women surveyed stated that they have been unable to access bins when needing to change their pad or tampon, which leads to women having to put the products in their bag or flush them down the toilet.
Flushing period products has resulted in pads and tampons being the fifth most common item found on European beaches. This means they are more prevalent along coastlines than single-use coffee cups, cutlery, or straws.
The content of disposable period products is 90% plastic and a big-brand of 14 menstrual pads contains the same amount of plastic as five carrier bags. With plastic products taking up to a thousand years to decompose in landfills or the ocean, it is clear the products littering Britain’s waterways will remain a large environmental issue.
When flushed, period products can also block sewer pipes which create overflow that escapes into our waterways. This can also cause financial issues, as dealing with these blockages costs water companies around £100 million each year.
In an attempt to tackle this problem, over 10,000 school children across South West England and East Anglia have been taught about period products, and why they should never flush them.
The programme, Rethink Periods, is run by the environmental not-for-profit organisation City to Sea and is funded by the Environment Agency.
Another solution to tackling period product waste is menstrual cups. A UN sponsored report revealed that the environmental impact of a reusable menstrual cup is only 1.5% of the impact of disposable period products.
Biodegradable pads are also a more environmentally-friendly option, and Fluus has created a pad that breaks down into plant fibres and biodegradable materials when flushed, which means no permanent waste is left behind.
Dr Olivia Ahn, co-founder of the sustainable period product company, said: 'This World Oceans Day I want to call on other period care brands to consider the impact that their products have on our country’s ecosystems. We have created a pad which guarantees zero microplastics, zero period pollution, and zero permanent waste.'
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