Most of us are unanimous in our concerns regarding the threats posed by plastics to the environment in terms of air, water or soil pollution. But the ease and comfort in the usage of plastic products, often overrides this concern when it comes to daily stuff. It is often just one plastic bag, just this one disposable cup, but cumulatively they don't stay just outliers in our daily patterns. Yes habits are hard to change, and it takes a lot of self-discipline to really incorporate these changes.
While many of us have switched to a cloth bag for groceries, or using more durable plastics, we, women need to take a moment to consider the recurring plastic waste caused by the usage of "Sanitary napkins". Several studies [1] suggest that sanitary napkins take a really long time to completely degrade (around 25 years). While they are often looked at as a more hygienic option than cloth pads which have been traditionally used in India, the issue of safe and hygienic disposal of the same is a non-trivial one.
The first issue is of the disposal itself. If you have had the chance to visit any rural area while on your periods, you would have inevitably faced the issue of disposing the sanitary pad. In India, most villages do not have a garbage collection or disposal mechanism. Traditionally most rural waste comprised of either food waste which was fed to the animals, or biodegradable waste, which was disposed openly in the backyards or farms. There is no system for disposing plastics in a rural lifestyle, and the tabooed sanitary pads end up being dumped secretively in some garbage dumps that are now becoming increasingly commonplace in villages. The fate of these dumps is often incineration.
This does not mean that the urban areas fare any better. The sanitary napkin is still viewed with precarious eyes by men and women alike. In most ladies washrooms, dustbins (if one cane be found!) are often overflowing with unwrapped sanitary pads and where there aren't any used pads find their way to window sills, toilet floors, under the basins etc. It is needless to mention how un-sanitary this disposal is. To avoid this, some women resort to flushing the used pads, this only serves to choke the drains and the pads inevitable find their way to a landfill.
The second issue is what happens to these napkins/pads once they find their way in the garbage dump? In urban areas the waste in landfills is sorted by manual labour who often have to handle these pads with their bare hands. While there have been campaigns of late like the "Red dot campaign" which encourage to mark your wrapped sanitay pads so that wastepickers and sorters have a more hygienic work environment [2] wouldn't it be better to address the issue of generating this waste itself?
An interesting advocate is a menstrual cup which boasts a lifetime between 5-10 years. Menstrual cup is just that, a cup that collects the blood. It works similar to a tampon and has to be inserted in the vagina, but unlike a tampon, it is reusable. One simply has to empty it, clean it and reinsert it. It is comfortable. It does not cause any impediments to your daily activities. You do not see red every time you use the washroom. Heck! you could even take a shower or go for a swim without seeing any blood. As a user of one such cup, the best part for me is a peaceful sleep without bothering about leakages. It is also cost-effective, it comes at a one time cost of around Rs. 1000 (MRP) which is often discounted. Though they can take some time to get used to, and can be a bit messy in the beginning, menstrual cups are definitely worth trying. And if you are sold on them, like me, spread the word or gift one to somebody who finds it hard to afford one.
There are several brands of menstrual cups available in India as well, and most sites contain detailed information about the product usage. It is wise to read these thoroughly before making your purchase.
In summary all I'd say is "Go cup it". Happy menstruating! 😉
[1] You can find more details in this article http://www.thechicecologist.com/2010/04/the-environmental-impact-of-everyday-things/
[2] More at http://www.reddotcampaign.org/
[3] Read more here https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/20/microfibers-plastic-pollution-oceans-patagonia-synthetic-clothes-microbeads
While many of us have switched to a cloth bag for groceries, or using more durable plastics, we, women need to take a moment to consider the recurring plastic waste caused by the usage of "Sanitary napkins". Several studies [1] suggest that sanitary napkins take a really long time to completely degrade (around 25 years). While they are often looked at as a more hygienic option than cloth pads which have been traditionally used in India, the issue of safe and hygienic disposal of the same is a non-trivial one.
The first issue is of the disposal itself. If you have had the chance to visit any rural area while on your periods, you would have inevitably faced the issue of disposing the sanitary pad. In India, most villages do not have a garbage collection or disposal mechanism. Traditionally most rural waste comprised of either food waste which was fed to the animals, or biodegradable waste, which was disposed openly in the backyards or farms. There is no system for disposing plastics in a rural lifestyle, and the tabooed sanitary pads end up being dumped secretively in some garbage dumps that are now becoming increasingly commonplace in villages. The fate of these dumps is often incineration.
This does not mean that the urban areas fare any better. The sanitary napkin is still viewed with precarious eyes by men and women alike. In most ladies washrooms, dustbins (if one cane be found!) are often overflowing with unwrapped sanitary pads and where there aren't any used pads find their way to window sills, toilet floors, under the basins etc. It is needless to mention how un-sanitary this disposal is. To avoid this, some women resort to flushing the used pads, this only serves to choke the drains and the pads inevitable find their way to a landfill.
The second issue is what happens to these napkins/pads once they find their way in the garbage dump? In urban areas the waste in landfills is sorted by manual labour who often have to handle these pads with their bare hands. While there have been campaigns of late like the "Red dot campaign" which encourage to mark your wrapped sanitay pads so that wastepickers and sorters have a more hygienic work environment [2] wouldn't it be better to address the issue of generating this waste itself?
After they are sorted since sanitary pads or the plastic they contain would not qualify as recyclable waste, the waste is either burned, or it disintegrates over time into smaller and smaller pieces which find their way into various ecosystems.
Let's pause and consider the numbers. On an average women experience menstruation between 15-50 years of age. That makes it 35 years with 12 menstrual cycles a year i.e. 420 menstrual cycles in a lifetime. During one cycle, one would use 12-15 sanitary pads, that makes it around 6300 pads in a lifetime for each woman. This would make around 80 kg of waste in a lifetime. As I mentioned before in isolation, the number may seem small but in total, it is a huge amount.
Another aspect that needs to be considered is that of hygiene itself. Ideally sanitary pads must be changed every 6 hours to prevent build up of microbes. Most women do not and simply wait till the pad is fully used. Some women also experience dampness and rashes, which we simply accept as "a part of life".
The sanitary napkin is not-so sanitary after all.
While hygiene is the reason we quote for our (in) convenience, if one wills, there are presently several reusable options available in the market. From absorbant menstrual panties to reusable cloth pads and menstrual cups. I am wary of using synthetic fibres since the microfibres shed by these also find their way into marine ecosystems and are presently posing a greater threat to them [3].
Depending on ones' comfort one could also consider reusable sanitary pads which offer designs similar to the disposable ones, and are better than the cloth pads. If one is not into the idea of giving up disposable sanitary napkins entirely, one could also consider using the reusable ones, when the blood flow is less.
An interesting advocate is a menstrual cup which boasts a lifetime between 5-10 years. Menstrual cup is just that, a cup that collects the blood. It works similar to a tampon and has to be inserted in the vagina, but unlike a tampon, it is reusable. One simply has to empty it, clean it and reinsert it. It is comfortable. It does not cause any impediments to your daily activities. You do not see red every time you use the washroom. Heck! you could even take a shower or go for a swim without seeing any blood. As a user of one such cup, the best part for me is a peaceful sleep without bothering about leakages. It is also cost-effective, it comes at a one time cost of around Rs. 1000 (MRP) which is often discounted. Though they can take some time to get used to, and can be a bit messy in the beginning, menstrual cups are definitely worth trying. And if you are sold on them, like me, spread the word or gift one to somebody who finds it hard to afford one.
There are several brands of menstrual cups available in India as well, and most sites contain detailed information about the product usage. It is wise to read these thoroughly before making your purchase.
In summary all I'd say is "Go cup it". Happy menstruating! 😉
[1] You can find more details in this article http://www.thechicecologist.com/2010/04/the-environmental-impact-of-everyday-things/
[2] More at http://www.reddotcampaign.org/
[3] Read more here https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/20/microfibers-plastic-pollution-oceans-patagonia-synthetic-clothes-microbeads
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