Did you know…

• In the UK, the use of tampons, pads and applicators generates more than 200,000 tonnes of waste per year

• An average woman throws away an astonishing 125 to 150kg of tampons, pads and applicators in her lifetime

• The problem is getting worse, with increased marketing and use of disposable pantyliners and feminine hygiene wipes

Half the world's population has periods, but how often do we challenge the assumptions behind the products marketed to us? Why are we still manufacturing disposable sanitary products containing plastics that will take hundreds of years to break down? 

Women's Environmental Network has campaigned for over 20 years to draw attention to the health and environmental impacts of our consumer choices. "Seeing Red" is a four-page briefing exploring the links between sanitary products and health, waste, advertising, and chemicals. 

WEN  believes that women deserve access to the best and safest options for our bodies and the environment. Our updated briefing hopes to reignite the conversation and get women thinking about their full range of choices, including the sustainable alternatives, such as washable pads and menstrual cups.