The sustainability movement is driven mainly by women expressing environmental concerns where disposable menstrual products play a significant part.
Many traditional plastic-based feminine hygiene products take over 500 years to decompose. On average, a woman uses 12,000 disposable sanitary products in her lifetime, and 20 billion menstrual products end up in landfills each year.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 19, 2022
The sustainable lifestyle has become one of the most important trends worldwide. And the sustainability movement is driven mainly by women expressing environmental concerns where disposable menstrual products play a significant part. So, for this year’s Earth Day, INTIMINA, an intimate health brand, asked 2,000 women aged 18-45 about how aware they are of their ecological contribution when it comes to menstrual products.
Many traditional plastic-based feminine hygiene products take over 500 years to decompose. On average, a woman uses 12,000 disposable sanitary products in her lifetime, and 20 billion menstrual products end up in landfills each year. These facts have affected women around the world to change their menstrual hygiene habits and switch to healthier and eco-friendly reusable products such as menstrual cups.
In INTIMINA’s survey, 72% of respondents said they consider their lifestyle sustainable, meaning they try to make choices that aim to reduce their individual and collective environmental impact.
When purchasing and using menstrual products such as pads and tampons, 59% of respondents consider the effects on the environment and the amount of menstrual waste these products represent.
However, 67% of respondents were unaware of the average number of disposable menstrual products women use in their lifetime. Still, 42% did try more eco-friendly menstrual products – with 63% choosing a menstrual cup or other reusable menstrual products.
There are many reasons why menstrual cups are good for the environment and health. The survey shows that respondents are well aware of these benefits. When asked to name reasons why they would be inclined to switch to a menstrual cup, they chose multiple answers resulting in 48% favoring the money-saving aspect. A menstrual cup can last up to 10 years, which means enormous savings from taking pads and tampons off the shopping list.
39% would choose a cup because it is hassle-free and can be worn for up to 8 hours without emptying it, which provides a sense of comfort during menstruation. 38% believe menstrual cups are a healthy choice because they are made of medical-grade silicone, while most pads and tampons contain chemicals and plastic. 38% opted for the fact cups are reusable, giving people a chance to reduce their menstrual waste.
Using a menstrual cup allows people to make a significant environmental difference by ending their contribution of disposable menstrual products to the earth. To help everyone understand their menstrual waste production and its impact on the environment, INTIMINA created the Greentimina Menstrual Waste Calculator. This simple tool calculates the amount of waste a person produces by using disposable menstrual products during their lifetime. It also estimates how much money a person will spend on those products.
When it comes to changing our daily habits for environmental benefits, changing personal menstruation management and switching to reusable products plays a crucial part. The numbers describing the waste attributed to disposable menstrual products can be overwhelming. Still, with small steps and small decisions oriented towards purchasing eco-friendly products, each person can reduce their carbon footprint and make a difference in saving the planet.
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