The disposable of sanitary products is causing issues – says new reasearch (Picture: Getty)
Periods are a natural part of life.
However, no matter how many adverts come on the TV, there is a stigma that follows menstruation.
Those who menstruate will identify with the slight panic and chaos that comes with going to the bathroom and trying to hide the pad or tampon from public view.
We have all stashed one up a sleeve or clasped our hands to hide the evidence.
In addition to this, the disposable of such products is still causing problems in 2023. Finding somewhere to dispose of sanitary towels or tampons can be a real torment, especially if there is no bin nearby.
And this struggle has research to prove it.
A new study has found that people still find the disposal of period products challenging. The results revealed that more than half of women and people that menstruate have had moments where they’ve struggled to find an appropriate place to dispose of their period products.
A massive 70% claimed that no bin has been available.
This meant that nearly two thirds of women (65%) had to then stash the used period pad or tampon in their bags until they found a suitable place.
One in four also admitted to putting a used period product in a doggy poo bag when there has been no other disposal option.
The survey, commissioned by the world’s only flushable period product Fluus, has shown that even when there is a bin available, over two-thirds of people (67%) get the ‘ick’ when it comes to disposing of their used period products.
Meanwhile, some women have also encountered tricky situations after proper disposal. More than a quarter (26%) of those questioned said they have experienced ‘trash traumas’ in the form of small children and dogs taking used period pads and tampons out of the bin.
When it comes to dating, those surveyed also said they feel embarrassed to leave their period products in the bin.
One in 10 claimed they didn’t want to leave a trace of it at their date’s house and even more (11.8%) felt uncomfortable leaving them at a partner’s home.
This discomfort and the lack of facilities is resulting in women getting rid of their used products down the toilet – despite almost all being unflushable.
Menstrual bag with cotton tampons and sanitary pads (Picture: Getty Images)
Also, 1 in 3 women (37%) admitted to flushing a pad, and of those who flush, over half (52%) stated they do it monthly, with nearly a quarter (23%) finding it more convenient.
Gen X (42-57) are the biggest flushers, with 47% of British women in this age bracket admitting to having flushed a period product compared to only 20% of women aged 16-17.
Unfortunately, this is having a huge impact on Britain’s waterways, with a third of women (33%) surveyed stating that they’d seen a period product in British waterways.
Thankfully, it seems younger consumers are seeking more eco-friendly products, with nearly three quarters of Gen Zs (74%) thinking about a brand’s sustainability credentials before buying.
However, sustainability isn’t as much of a priority for Gen X, with only 58% admitting that sustainability influences their purchasing decisions.
In terms of period care specifically, more than three quarters of women in the UK (78%) are concerned about the environmental impact of their period products.
The period industry is a huge contributor of waste. A shocking 3 billion menstrual products are used each year in the UK, generating 200,000 tonnes of waste.
Conventional disposable menstrual products are made from 90% plastic, and plastic products take up to a thousand years to decompose, meaning the waste will stay in landfill for more than 800 years.
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However, there are now options available that will save you in moments where proper disposal isn’t available.
Fluus has created a flushable pad that disappears entirely in just 30 days – following in the footsteps of the brands like Planera.
After six hours, over 80% of the pad will have dissolved or broken down into plant fibres the size of an eyelash. Then, by the time the pad reaches the water treatment centre, it can safely pass through the screens where it is then treated and regenerated into biogas and fertiliser.
The hydraulic action of the flush tears the pad apart meaning that the pad dissolves in water.
So, say goodbye to period panic moments and say hello, to a less stressful life.
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