In the run up to Environmenstrual Week, City to Sea are running a video and digital campaign highlighting the connection between our ocean, plastic pollution and our periods. Their dramatic and stylish short film is produced by 2 female directors and features sports-women on the water. By amplifying the voices of sportswomen leading the way in sport and female empowerment, they can highlight one simple way that people can reduce single-use plastic in their lives.
After releasing their awareness-raising film they will be carrying out a retailer campaign, putting pressure on high-street chains to increase access to-and availability of plastic-free period products on the high-street.
City to Sea is an environmental, not-for-profit organisation campaigning to stop plastic pollution –from the city to our seas. Their vision is for the world’s waterways and coastlines to be strewn with sticks, sand and seaweed … not plastic!
So, What’s the scale of problem?
At RubyMoon we were stunned to find out the following facts!
- One pack of period pads contains the same amount of plastic as five carrier bags, and a staggering 4.3 billion disposable menstrual products are used in the UK every year.
- Period products are the 5th most common item found on Europe’s beaches, more widespread than single-use coffee cups, cutlery or straws.
- Most of these products find their way into our waterways and onto our beaches because they have been flushed down the toilet.
Why are City To Sea campaigning?
- Most people have no idea that our period products contain so much plastic!
- People with periods have the opportunity to reduce plastic pollution every single month by switching to a plastic-free period product and/or never flushing any period products, wet wipes or cotton buds down the toilet.
- Retailers need to know that we want the choice to go plastic-free with our periods, and in response increase the availability of plastic-free products in store.
- Young people aren’t being given the education they need and deserve about menstruation and its social and environmental context.
- We need to keep our beaches and oceans free from plastic pollution from our periods! Learn more by watching the film:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgqZVHiFt9s&feature=youtu.be
What should retailers and consumers to do?
Go the full Monty! Retailers need to stock a full range of both reusable and plastic-free period products across all stores including: menstrual cups, reusable pads, period pants, reusable tampon applicators, organic/plastic-free tampons, pad and liners. All of these products to be sold in plastic-free packaging. Brighton’s own Mooncup is a great solution, and as consumers we need to be switching quickly to create a demand!
Here’s hoping both retailers and consumers will do their bit to make these changes! And quick!