This blog was originally posted on Sustainable Bath.
As we mark International Women’s Day 2026, the theme Rights. Justice. Action. Dr Rebecca Evans shares her views on the links between menstruation, environmental sustainability and the pursuit of justice.
‘This year’s focus on justice invites us to rethink everyday issues that often remain invisible. Menstruation is an obvious discourse for International Women’s Day, but what has the climate crisis got to do with it? I argue from an ecofeminist stance that menstrual justice is climate justice. The environmental impacts of menstruation are not a side issue; they are a justice issue that affects everybody.
The advent of disposable period products, such as pads and tampons, went hand in hand with the rise of feminism in the 1960s in the USA and Europe. Their convenience undoubtedly contributed to autonomy and empowerment for many women. Only a few voices questioned the responsibility for their disposal. Half a century later, products have continued to evolve, promising up to 12-hour leak-proof protection, with pockets, wings, super thin and super thick varieties, night time and maternity options, and frequently the claim that they are flushable.
“Ahh… flushable!” That is what we want. Nobody enjoys smelly sanitary bins in public toilets. The idea of being able to flush and forget is appealing. The assumption is that something labelled flushable will magically disappear in the sewer system, breaking down before the wastewater ever sees daylight again. But the truth is very different. Flushable simply means the product could, in theory, biodegrade under ideal conditions in around 500 years. Like disposable nappies, every single one ever made still exists. Sewer systems carry wastewater to filtration plants that separate contaminants by size. Nothing magical happens to menstrual products, and many escape.
The scale of disposal is staggering. There are around 17 million menstruators in the UK. Using an average of 20 pads or tampons per cycle and 13 cycles per year, each person could dispose of roughly 260 items annually. That amounts to 4,420,000,000 items potentially entering UK oceans each year.
The intersection of menstruation and sustainability is complex. Period poverty is a real issue. Organisations have been encouraged to provide free menstrual products to tackle this, and these are nearly always disposables because they are inexpensive, easy to use and familiar. With plastic barriers and chemical absorbents, disposables achieve lasting leak proof protection in ways that ordinary cloth cannot. Once flushed, they are out of sight and out of mind, and everyone can congratulate themselves on a job well done.
Yet many people, especially younger generations, are increasingly aware of the environmental impact of pads and tampons. More sustainable choices now exist, such as reusable pads, menstrual cups and period pants. However, people often hesitate to switch because of the upfront cost, which at around £20 per item can feel prohibitive, and the need for washing and reuse systems. If organisations want to support the provision of period products, they could consider ways to make sustainable options more accessible. This may require changes in infrastructure and policy, but as it affects the environment, it is everybody’s business. That’s menstrual justice. That’s climate justice.’
Written by:
Josephine Mcallister