Bleeding into the Earth: Microplastics and Menstrual Waste

You stand in the aisle of a grocery store, surrounded by boxes plastered in pretty packaging with big, bold labels like “organic,” “sustainable,” and “eco-friendly,” but you know that your most trustworthy source is on the back of the box. The ingredients section. This is normal practice when purchasing food items, as many people are increasingly concerned with what they put in their bodies and how it may impact the environment. Now, this being said, have you ever considered looking at the ingredients section on a packet of pads? When interviewed, most people said no. This is not yet a natural course of action; consequently, many menstrual hygiene products on the market contain a wide variety of unknown ingredients. The most concerning being microplastics.

What are microplastics?

Microplastics and harmful chemicals are all around us, present in the products we use daily, the food we consume, and the air we breathe. Over the last few decades, reports have emerged uncovering high concentrations of microplastics in the deepest parts of the ocean and on the tallest peaks in the world. Microplastics are generally categorised into primary and secondary microplastics, with primary microplastics being industrially produced plastic products that are intentionally small, whereas secondary microplastics are produced via the biological, chemical or physical breakdown of larger plastics.

Microplastics and menstrual hygiene products

It has been shown that regular pads contain up to 90% of plastic-based components. Pads structurally contain both primary and secondary microplastics, from the top sheet, absorbent core or adhesive bottom layer, causing a variety of different microplastics to be distributed when disposed of. Pads are disposed of through many different methods, depending on the country’s specific regulatory guidelines and resource availability. This likely leads to microplastics and other additives entering the surroundings through many different channels, like sewage, littering and wastewater.

Why should we worry?

Biological women who menstruate use, on average, up to 10,000 pads in their lifetime, with each pad containing chemicals like polypropylene, polyethylene, polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAs), phthalates and more. This means that each woman produces anywhere from 88-220 kilograms of plastic waste in her lifetime. Microplastics are inconspicuous in nature and are chemically stable, making them non-biodegradable and extremely difficult to dispose of. The concern doesn’t end in the production and disposal of these products, but studies have recently found that pads actually shed polypropylene microplastics with counts from 6-115 particles per pad. 

What does this mean for the environment? 

The mass production of plastics and industrial goods has been shown to contribute to the worsening condition of a planet already under pressure due to climate change and global warming. The mass consumption of these plastic-based goods leads to microplastics leaking into the environment, with around 40% of manufactured products being made of single-use plastics. In 2020, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reported that 2.7 million tonnes of microplastics were found in the environment, and the number was expected to double by 2040. Microplastics can negatively impact ecosystems on a multitude of levels. 

Effects of microplastics on different ecosystems

Through the different channels that microplastics enter the environment, they can integrate themselves into the soil, altering properties like oxygen flow, soil porosity, pH and nutrient levels. These modifications lead to significant shifts in the microbial and floral communities in ecosystems, which form the foundation for interconnected food webs. Without sufficient access to nutrients and resources, plants and crops will slow down, decreasing productivity in the agricultural sector.

Furthermore, many marine organisms struggle to differentiate plastics and microplastics from other food sources, leading them to consume massive amounts of these harmful substances. Although it may seem like a small organism is only consuming a small amount of microplastics, over time, bioaccumulation occurs, leading to an individual consisting of an irreversible amount of microplastics in its body by the time it becomes an adult. In 2024, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also showed that microplastics have been causing reproductive stunting and delays in animal development. Additionally, animals have displayed signs of decreased resilience towards diseases when exposed to higher concentrations of microplastics. Foundation species like zooplankton have recently been consuming microplastics instead of their usual nutritional intake, and the biomagnification of microplastics is observed to be higher in the food chain. Marine ecosystems are some of the most complex on the planet, and their food webs are closely interlinked with ours. Without stable foundational marine ecosystems, the effect on both aquatic and terrestrial species will be detrimental.

Microplastics are not just disruptive themselves, but they can also release and transport other harmful toxins and chemicals into their surroundings. Many plastics are often modified in order to enhance their colour, texture or flexibility. The substances used to make these modifications can be unpredictable and are still underresearched. There are still many unforeseen environmental impacts that are yet to be identified.

Does this mean that microplastics are unavoidable?

The production and demand for plastic-based products are inevitable, but it doesn’t mean that the extent and severity of their distribution can’t be mitigated. Studies showed that pads containing purely bamboo topsheets already displayed significantly less polypropylene shedding than those without. Initiatives towards plastic-free menstrual hygiene products are a turning point for this issue, and may be able to reduce the amount of plastic waste polluting the environment. Women should be able to respect their bodies without sacrificing their respect for the earth. Rather than blindly purchasing menstrual hygiene products, it’s important to make a conscious effort to read those ingredient labels, just as if it were something you were going to serve for dinner. What you put on your body affects the planet just as much as what you put in it.

OVO: Planet. Power. Period. 

OVO^TM is a menstrual hygiene brand that believes that every woman has a right to good health and deserves access to products that support her health, dignity, and well-being. Through combining innovation with sustainability to create plant-based menstrual hygiene products, OVO’s products honor the body’s natural rhythms while protecting the world around us. The use of bamboo-based, compostable pads and packaging provides consumers with a greener, guilt-free option when purchasing period products. Dermatologically tested and independently certified, OVO pads ensure your and the planet’s wellbeing. OVO is industrially compostable according to EN 13432, and OVO pads are USDA Certified Biobased. OVO envisions a world where every woman has access to affordable, preventive, and environmentally responsible menstrual hygiene solutions, breaking barriers to health equity and enabling every woman to thrive. Additionally, tree planting initiatives in collaboration with EcoMatcher, post the purchase of OVO products, provide carbon offsets and the option for consumers to interact with trees planted in their name. Be a part of OVO’s heart and join the movement www.TheOVO.co.

Disclosure

Aishu Santosh is currently working for 149 Technologies, which provides sustainable menstrual hygiene products through OVO. 

LinkedIn link: www.linkedin.com/in/aishu-santosh

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