The ‘Green Period’ Movement Neglects the Needs of Disabled People

UNICEF estimates that there are 1.8 billion people in the world who menstruate. The World Bank counts 1 billion disabled people in the world. And while the number of people with disabilities who menstruate are unknown, the intersection of these two groups is sure to be in the hundreds of millions.

Since the first tampon similar to those produced today entered the market in 1931, disposable menstruation products have been a favorite of consumers across the world. But these products were not initially created with global warming in mind. Or, critically, menstruators with disabilities. Now, the two are in conflict, as environmentalists try to reduce the plastic waste associated with period products, and people with disabilities argue that they need these reusable products to live a comfortable and accessible life.

The market for menstruation products has grown exponentially since the invention of the tampon to include a number of single-use and reusable items. The Mooncup, the first reusable silicone menstruation cup, was introduced in 2002. Their motto encourages consumers to have a “safer, greener, cheaper” period.

The concept of having a “green” period is relatively new. There is a strong argument for making the shift: The waste produced by disposable menstrual products is massive. A study by the European Commission found that single-use sanitary products are among the most common plastic products found dumped in the ocean.

Researchers estimate that the average menstruation cycle lasts for 40 years, during which time, a person who menstruates is expected to use somewhere between 5,000 and 15,000 disposable period products throughout their life, National Geographic reports. These pads, tampons, non-reusable cups, and so on are used for a few hours and then dumped into a landfill, where they will sit for the next 500 years.

Yet the argument against single-use plastic products neglects to consider people with disabilities, for whom reusable products can be too difficult to navigate.

“I basically can’t use anything other than pads,” said writer and disability advocate Jennifer McShane. “Tampons I can’t get in quickly nor that easily. I’ve some pelvic pain thanks to mild cerebral palsy, so cups, etc., are out too. There should be options on the market that aren’t ‘standard,’ because all women’s bodies differ.”

Aside from convenience and comfort, maintaining hygiene during menstruation is a priority for people when considering which menstrual product to use. Reusing dirty pads can cause bacterial infections, among other health problems. For some people with disabilities, washing reusable ones can be a difficult chore. Also, handling, inserting, removing, and washing reusable menstrual cups can be prohibitive for those with restricted movement and dexterity issues.

Wheelchair user and former Paralympic athlete Eimear Breathnach said she prefers single-use pads over reusable products like the Mooncup: “I always drop out of the conversation when my friend raves about Mooncups. I just wouldn’t have the dexterity to use them.”

Breathnach shared her frustration with the idea that it should be everyone’s responsibility to make the switch to “green” period products, saying, “I don't feel ashamed, just frustrated — like with the straw debate —that our needs are always excluded from the conversation.”

The plastic straw debate was ignited online in 2019 when climate activists began to target their use as part of the fight against climate change. Again, this move neglected to consider that people with disabilities sometimes need these utensils to live a comfortable and independent life.

Unlike Breathnach, wheelchair user and PhD student Megan Smith does feel shame for using disposable products. “I grew up in a super hippie Californian environment and always felt really guilty for not using reusable pads — because it took so much energy to wash and change — or for the electricity my chair used,” she said. “Even the expense of the environmentally friendly products were super prohibitive.”

She talked about the difficulty of remaining “green” during her period because of the limitations imposed by her restricted mobility: “So much of the environmentally friendly practices are physically or time or labor intensive resources that disabled women don’t have.”

More and more countries are introducing bans on single-use plastic straws, stirrers, and bags. It’s only a matter of time before other disposable products are prohibited, such as those to do with menstruation. While the argument for a greener planet is important, so are the needs of people who require the simple assistance of a disposable tampon.