Periods & Sustainability: Celebrating the Diverse Ways We Menstruate!
How often do you hear your friends or family celebrating their menstrual cycles? Well, for many of us who menstruate, this important bodily function has unfortunately never been something to praise. Often shrouded in shame and embarrassment, our periods have often been a source of secrecy. However, this past weekend, the Berkshire Doula Project (BDP) collaborated with the Zilkha Center for the Environment (ZCE) to host a Menstruation Celebration focused on celebrating the diverse ways we menstruate—from the products we use to the ways we take care of each other and ourselves while on our periods!
The Menstruation Celebration kicked off with self-introductions to get to know one another. The chairs of the BDP, Suzanne Penna and Hannah Yoon, introduced their Registered Student Organization (RSO) and the purpose of the Menstruation Celebration: Providing an essential space in the Berkshire com munity to increase access to education and highlight our experiences with periods!
Next, attendees got a chance to learn about menstrual cups: A small, flexible, reusable cup-shaped product that is inserted into the vagina to collect blood. After a round of questions, BDP handed the presentation over to the ZCE to discuss the importance of environmental sustainability in menstrual practices.
Morgan Eigel, an EcoRep, and I, a Zero-Waste Intern, worked together to create a slide presentation highlighting four essential points in the use of menstrual products: (1) environmental impacts of single-use menstrual products, (2) economic and environmental benefits of reusable menstrual products, (3) an overview of the most common reusable menstrual products, and (3) the recognition of equity and access issues when considering reusable menstrual products.
Regarding the environmental impacts of single-use products, Morgan and I came across some staggering findings, such as the fact that “close to 20 billion sanitary napkins, tampons, and applicators are dumped into North American landfills every year” (Harvard Business School). Additionally, findings from the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics described the impact of single-use menstrual products on our beaches and oceans, alongside how microplastics are released into the environment during the breaking down of these products. However, not only the products themselves harm the environment but also their packaging “as roughly 400 pounds of period product packaging is thrown out per menstruator per lifetime” (Harrison and Tyson).
While the negative environmental consequences of single-use menstrual products are daunting, Morgan and I also wanted to highlight the importance of why people should buy reusable menstrual products, such as the fact that reusable menstrual products often last for years, which means that people with periods spend less money in the long run! Additionally, the materials that make up single-use versus reusable menstrual products often differ, with reusable menstrual products containing fewer irritants and chemicals (Harrison and Tyson).
In the spirit of promoting education on reusable menstrual products on the market, Morgan and I gave brief overviews of menstrual cups and discs, reusable menstrual pads, and period underwear. Each of these products has pros and cons, which is important to keep in mind when recognizing that we all menstruate differently!
Finally, in understanding the importance of considering equity and access, Morgan and I spoke about how, although reusable menstrual products may be part of a zero-waste solution, not everyone has the privilege to use these products. For example, people without access to running water may lack the ability to sanitize their reusable menstrual products properly. Or, for some people, the initial $30 investment that a reusable menstrual cup costs is not a possible financial decision they can make. By considering people’s unique situations, we hoped to emphasize how menstruation is a deeply personal experience that impacts people differently. By no means should people who decide to use single-use menstrual products feel guilty over their menstrual practices. Rather, our goal as ZCE interns was to educate our community on possible alternatives for those who want to and can afford to make the shift toward more sustainable practices!
Overall, our experience at the Menstruation Celebration with BPE was a success. Whether it was listening to community members speak on the history of menstruation or filling up a self-care package with homemade heating pads and tea, I was happy to find a space so deeply invested in the well-being of our community. Like the overarching message of Menstruation Celebration, I hope that people begin to feel more free celebrating the diverse, personal ways they experience their periods!
Written by ZCE Zero Waste Intern Isabelle Jiménez ‘26