The lack of innovation addressed in your article (Ninety years since the first Tampax, why aren’t there better menstrual products?, 4 May) makes for depressing reading. Not so much in relation to some very innovative products that are available – ie period pants, which can be thrown in the washing machine, and cups – but the fact that they are still largely unregulated. Independent tests have found harmful chemicals in some – a few intentionally added, such as antimicrobials, some not, such as plastics derivatives or PFAS, known as “forever chemicals”.
This is largely due to a lack of transparency about what is in these products that we use in one of the most absorbent parts of the human body – and a lack of effective regulation. Fragrance levels in cosmetics have to be listed on packaging yet, incredibly, the same doesn’t apply for period products.
At Wen (Women’s Environmental Network), we have been calling for regulation for decades due to concerns about health and the environment. This year, during our Environmenstrual week of action in October, we are demanding a menstrual health, dignity and sustainability action plan from the government to address all the issues around menstruation and period products. We must not keep making the same mistakes with period products, perpetuating old taboos around “sanitising” products with antimicrobials.
Progress comes with healthier, safer, more affordable, reusable and sustainable period products that benefit health and the environment.
Helen Lynn
Wen
