LETS THINK ABOUT THE
Environmental & Social Impact of our Menstrual Cups
OUR IMPACT →
1,693,721
kg CO² eq. Global warming potential reduction (greenhouse gases)
$76 Million
Amount saved by communities by buying or being gifted a menstrual cup
1262 Tonnes
Menstrual waste saved from landfills and waterways in New Zealand
Product comparison kg C02 eq over 1 year
A study done by Thesis Weir concluded that a medical grade silicone menstrual cup rates very highly in comparison to single use products over a period of a year.
- Overall, the menstrual cup produces the least amount of fossil fuel depletion.
- A menstrual cup produces the least amount of abiotic depletion.
- A menstrual cup produces the least amount of global warming potential
- A menstrual cup produces the least amount of acidification.
- A menstrual cup produces the least amount of eutrophication.
- A menstrual cup produces the least amount of waste per year.
- A menstrual cup does not change and vaginal pH
- A menstrual cup does not cause mucosal alterations.
- On a single unit basis the menstrual cup has the lowest environmental impact if used over a year.
The True Cost of the Impact on our Planet
Production of single-use products
Here are some of the environmental impacts of the manufacturing, use and disposal of all menstrual products.
ENERGY
A huge amount of energy is used globally to produce single-use menstrual products. This includes:
- Harvesting of raw materials: human energy, fossil fuels
- Manufacturing raw materials: electrical, thermal energy & fossil fuel energy
- Distribution and Transportation: fossil fuel energy
- Waste Management: thermal, chemical and electromagnetic energy
MATERIALS
The main raw material used for the production of disposable menstrual products is cotton. Other materials may include:
- rayon fiber
- polyester
- polypropylene
- paper pulp
- polyethylene
- synthetic polymers
- super absorbent polymers
- bleach, optical brighteners
ENVIRONMENTAL
The following environmental impacts occur through the production and disposal of all menstrual products
- Abiotic Depletion
- Fossil Fuel Depletion
- Global Warming Potential
- Acidification
- Eutrophication
- Waste
See descriptions below
Abiotic Depletion
Abiotic depletion refers to the depletion of nonliving (abiotic) resources such as fossil fuels, minerals, clay, and peat.
Fossil Fuel Depletion
Fossil fuel depletion. Fossil fuel depletion is the extraction of natural gas, oil and coal reserves at a rate higher than nature replenishes them.
Global Warming Potential
Global warming potential. Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere up to a specific time horizon, relative to carbon dioxide.
Waste
Waste (or wastes) are unwanted or unusable materials which may pollute land or water ways.
Acidification
Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide (CO. 2) from the atmosphere.
Eutrophication
Excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to run-off from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life such as algae blooms.
Social Impact of Reusable Menstrual Products
Community
Cost
Real savings to a person over the life of a menstrual cup (10 years) equates to an average spend of $2400.00. This can contribute to real life consequences when you may have more than 1 person menstruating in your household.
Health
Menstrual Cups collect rather than absorbing, they do not contain harmful unknown chemicals and keep your vagina health balanced. A healthy body ensures you can get on with life!
Empower
Reusable menstrual products empower people as they don't have to worry about the financial burden of single-use products and they give them more freedom.
Waste
A person can dispose an average of 39.5 kgs of single-use menstrual waste over 10 years. A menstrual cup weighs an average of 15 grams and is disposed as clean waste into landfill at the end of its life.
Environment
A cleaner, greener planet and healthy waterways. A healthier planet for our family and future generations.
Copyright © MyCup NZ 2014