We are looking for sponsors and donors to invest in our Eco-friendly reusable menstrual pad with the text "Ladies Without Plastic - Sustainable Menstruation

  Eco-friendly reusable menstrual pad with the text "Ladies Without Plastic" - Sustainable Menstruation

Ladies Without Plastic: Eco-friendly, Reusable Menstrual Products

Hello! My name is Sofonie Dala. I am the founder of Ladies Without Plastic and a proud Chevening Scholar pursuing my MSc in Environmental Sustainability Education and Communication at the University of York.

I am a woman, and I menstruate. There’s no shame in that. But for millions of women and girls worldwide, managing menstruation is a monthly struggle. Did you know that over 50% of the global population menstruates, yet conversations about menstrual health remain taboo? In Angola and many other countries, period poverty forces women and girls to miss school or work because they cannot afford sanitary products or access basic facilities.

Did you know that the little strip of plastic on the back of a disposable pad is non-biodegradable and consumes vast amounts of fossil fuel to produce? Across a lifetime, the average menstruator in the UK uses over 11,000 disposable products—enough waste to fill a bus for just one person! Globally, disposable pads, made of up to 90% plastic, take centuries to decompose. Every year, these products generate over 200,000 tons of waste and release greenhouse gases equivalent to burning 35 million barrels of oil.

Ladies Without Plastic offers a better alternative. Our reusable menstrual pads are eco-friendly, cost-effective, and life-changing. These pads not only reduce waste but also feature written educational messages, encouraging women to read, learn, and engage. By integrating education into sustainable menstrual products, we empower women with knowledge, reduce period poverty, and inspire behavior change.

Did you know many women in Europe have used plastic-based menstrual products their entire lives, unaware of the environmental impact?

Can Menstruation Harm the Environment?

No.

Menstruation itself is a natural biological process, but the products we use for menstrual hygiene can have a significant environmental impact. The widespread use of disposable products like sanitary pads and tampons—often made from non-recyclable, non-biodegradable materials—poses a serious environmental threat. These items end up in landfills and pollute waterways, releasing harmful microplastics and contributing to a growing health and environmental crisis. The true damage lies not in the process of menstruation, but in the waste we create.

This initiative aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 for health, SDG 4 for quality education, SDG 5 for gender equality, SDG 12 for responsible consumption, and SDG 13 for climate action.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, this initiative was introduced for the first time in the classroom at the University of York as part of our group discussions on menstrual health and environmental sustainability. Given the seriousness and the taboo surrounding these topics, I began by implementing two simulations designed to encourage deep reflection among participants. The first simulation highlighted the stigma surrounding menstruation and its impact on girls’ education, while the second focused on the environmental harm caused by plastic waste. Both exercises prompted critical thinking and emphasized the urgency of addressing these issues.

These simulations not only helped to break the silence around menstruation and plastic pollution but also reinforced the idea that solving these problems requires collective action. It is not the responsibility of one person alone, but a shared effort among families, communities, schools, universities, churches, and governments to create lasting change.

In the final segment of the discussion, participants were asked to write on the whiteboard:

1. The challenges of effectively communicating two critical ideas: breaking the taboo surrounding menstruation and advocating for the shift from plastic to reusable pads, particularly in both developed and developing nations.

2. Potential solutions to these communication challenges, along with identifying key individuals and organizations to spearhead these efforts.

Through the Ladies Without Plastic initiative, we provide a sustainable solution to both menstrual health and environmental challenges, offering reusable, eco-friendly menstrual pads that reduce waste and educate women on the importance of sustainable practices. By combining education with practical solutions, we empower women, reduce period poverty, and promote environmental responsibility. 

Together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Reference 

Dala, S. (2024, August). Reflecting on the success of the “Ladies Without Plastic” campaign. Ladies Without Plastic. Retrieved from https://ladies-without-plastic.blogspot.com/2024/08/reflecting-on-success-of-ladies-without.html?m=1

Dala, S. (2022, October). 

Advancing Climate Justice Through the SDGs - The Transformation of Education Begins with Teachers. Retrieved from https://ladies-without-plastic.blogspot.com/2022/10/advancing-climate-justice-through-sdgs.html?m=1

World Health Organization. (2024, August 15). Menstrual health is a fundamental human right. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/15-08-2024-menstrual-health-is-a-fundamental-human-right#:~:text=Over%20half%20of%20the%20world’s,dignity%20of%20girls%20and%20women.