Greenscore - A Sustainability Podcast

Menstrual Products: Breaking taboos for a "greener" period

Greenscore Season 2 Episode 3

Despite the fact that 50% of the world's population have periods during their lifetime, menstrual health and the products designed for it remain shrouded in mystery, confusion, and shame. With approximately 70 billion tampons and pads sold each year in the EU and US alone - over 80% of which are landfilled after a single-use - it is time to break taboos and explore innovative and more sustainable period products. 

In this episode with guest Elisabeth Dewey from the natural period products company Organic Mondays, discover how tampons and pads are made, their impact on the environment, and how switching to natural or reusable menstrual products that work for your flow and lifestyle can make you healthier while also reducing litter and your carbon footprint. 

Learn more about Organic Mondays: https://organicmondays.com/

Further reading:
- Life cycle assessment of common menstrual products - https://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/UNEP-LCI-Single-use-vs-reusable-Menstrual-Products-Meta-study.pdf
- History of menstrual products - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/how-tampons-pads-became-unsustainable-story-of-plastic
- Information on reusable menstrual products - https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/04/22/sustainable-menstrual-products/

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