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Overcoming Period Poverty with Free Sanitary Products

Period poverty remains a hidden crisis affecting millions worldwide. From developing nations to wealthy countries like the UK, period poverty doesn’t discriminate making the problem all the more important. People who menstruate face the monthly dilemma of choosing between basic necessities and period products. This invisible struggle carries profound implications for dignity, education and economic participation. 

Learn how free feminine hygiene products in washrooms offer a powerful and practical solution to this widespread problem. 

  • The Problem of Period Poverty
  • Current Free Pads and Tampons Initiatives
  • What You Can Do as a Washroom Manager 
  • How Free Feminine Hygiene Products Can Change Lives
  • Help Break the Period Poverty Cycle with Woosh

The Problem of Period Poverty

Period poverty manifests in devastating ways across the socioeconomic spectrum. Globally, an estimated 500 million people lack access to adequate menstrual hygiene resources. In the UK, 2.8 million people are affected with many girls missing school because they cannot afford sanitary products. This disruption can lead to lower grades, reduced confidence and the feeling of embarrassment on the topic of periods. 

There are also health consequences related to inadequate menstrual hygiene. Without proper products, many resort to makeshift solutions like toilet paper, rags or extending the use of tampons beyond the recommended timeframes. These practices increase the risk of infections, including bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections. In severe cases, extended pad and tampon use can lead to toxic shock syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition. 

Causes of Period Poverty

Period poverty stems from multiple interconnected factors. Financial constraints often make the cost of pads and tampons unaffordable, particularly for those living paycheck-to-paycheck or in extreme poverty. Many welfare programmes classify these essential items as “luxury goods”, excluding them from assistance. 

Persistent social stigma prevents open discussion about periods, limiting awareness and education about available resources or alternatives. In many communities, cultural taboos surrounding menstruation create barriers to access and support making people feel isolated when it comes to period issues. 

So, what has been done to help this large community affected by period poverty?

Current Free Pads and Tampons Initiatives

The landscape of free sanitary product initiatives has evolved dramatically over the years, with groundbreaking programmes emerging worldwide. Scotland made history in 2020 as the first nation to make period products universally free, enshrining access as a legal right. The Period Products Act mandates that local authorities and education providers offer pads and tampons for free in public buildings and schools, setting a gold standard for other nations. 

England launched its own Period Product Scheme in 2020, providing free period products to all state-maintained schools and colleges. This programme ensures students can access products in educational settings, reducing absences and supporting equal participation. The Department of Education funds this initiative, which schools can opt into through an online portal that offers a range of product options including environmentally-friendly alternatives. By 2022, over 94% of secondary schools had joined the scheme. 

Community-based organisations have also been instrumental in filling gaps where government provisions may fall short. Charities like Bloody Good Period, The Red Box Project and Freedom4Girls distribute free sanitary products in the UK. These products go to food banks, community centres, refugee services and homeless shelters. These grassroots efforts often operate by donations and volunteer networks meaning the community can help out where they can. 

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But, what can you do as a washroom manager to help people in your community?

What You Can Do as a Washroom Manager 

As a washroom manager, there are many ways you can support the cause to end period poverty. With free feminine hygiene product initiatives, you can help bring us one step closer to period product equality. 

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  • Install Appropriate Dispensers: Select and install user-friendly dispensers that are accessible, easy to maintain and aesthetically match the washroom environment. Consider wall-mounted options that don’t take up counter space and are visible without being obtrusive. 
  • Create Efficient Inventory Systems: Develop tracking systems to monitor product usage and establish regular restocking schedules to ensure continuous availability. Consider using a simple log sheet to record when products are restocked and how quickly they deplete to provide a constant flow of period products for your washroom users. 
  • Diversify Product Offerings: Provide a range of products including pads of different sizes, tampons and liners to accommodate the various needs and preferences of your washroom users. These options should also include different flow levels and organic or hypoallergenic alternatives where possible to accommodate as many people as possible. 
  • Include Inclusive Signage: Install clear, gender-neutral signage about the availability of free products that’s visible both inside and outside washroom facilities. Simple and direct language that avoids euphemisms reduces period stigma! 
  • Ensure Accessibility: Position sanitary products at appropriate heights and locations for all users, including those with disabilities. Dispensers can also be a great aid to offer a discrete and more hygienic way of providing free feminine hygiene products. 

How Free Feminine Hygiene Products Can Change Lives

Offering tampons and pads for free is more than just ticking a box off your list—it can change lives. With millions of people in the UK suffering silently with period poverty, doing your bit to help those in need can make all the difference. Here’s just a few benefits of offering pads and tampons for free in your washroom:

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  • Educational Equality: Free period products significantly reduce school absences among menstruating students, with studies showing attendance improvements when reliable access is provided. This consistent attendance allows students to participate fully without monthly disruptions in their education.
  • Economic Productivity: When workers have access to period products, workplace productivity increases as employees no longer miss work due to inadequate menstrual supplies. This can lead to reduced absenteeism and increased workplace satisfaction, creating a positive return on investments through enhanced productivity and retention. 
  • Health Improvements: Free access to proper feminine hygiene products reduces the incidence of infections and health complications associated with inadequate period management. People no longer resort to unsafe alternatives like overused tampons and homemade solutions, preventing serious conditions like toxic shock syndrome and chronic reproductive tract infections. 
  • Dignity and Mental Wellbeing: Having reliable access to period products alleviates the anxiety, shame and stress associated with managing menstruation without adequate resources. This improved mental wellbeing translates to better overall quality of life, increased confidence, and greater participation in social, professional and educational activities during menstruation. 
  • Reduced Financial Burden: Free period products eliminate a significant recurring expense that disproportionately affects those living in poverty. With menstruating individuals spending approximately £5,000 on period products over their lifetime, free feminine hygiene products make a meaningful difference to household budgets, especially during the cost of living crisis. 

Help Break the Period Poverty Cycle with Woosh

As a washroom manager, it is your responsibility to provide the best washroom experience for your clients. One way you can do this is to offer free feminine hygiene products. This small gesture not only provides a more inviting environment but it can also help change the lives of your clients. Show your support for those in period poverty today by exploring our feminine vending products. Together we can take the stigma away from period poverty and menstruation. 

FAQs

Are tampons more expensive than pads?

Tampons and pads are typically comparable in price, though specific costs vary by brand, quantity and features like absorption level or organic materials. On average, tampons can cost slightly more per unit than basic pads but the difference is usually minimal when comparing similar quality products. 

How many girls miss school due to period poverty?

In the UK, more than 137,700 girls miss school due to their periods. This is because they do not have the sufficient feminine hygiene products to handle their periods. With free sanitary products available in school bathrooms, there no longer has to be a choice between attending school or staying at home. 

Should tampons be free?

At Woosh, we believe tampons should be free! Access to period products should be considered a basic right as they are essential health items necessary for menstruating individuals to participate fully in education, work and society. Making tampons and pads free in schools, workplaces and public facilities helps address inequity and ensures that financial constraints don’t prevent anyone from managing their periods with dignity.

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