So whose problem is it?

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What can be done to lessen the environmental impact of sanitary products?

We can start by looking at the following areas:

1. Labelling advice
2. Product design

1. Labelling advice for disposal

Manufacturers have in the past been responsible for promoting the " no hassle - flush it " image by focussing on the "flushability" of sanpro. It presented the user with an instant disposal solution.

The new environmental conscience of the manufacturers, and pressure brought to bear by campaigning groups OR vice/versa, has brought about a new focus on the instructions for disposal. Some packages state emphatically NOT to flush, others use selected icons to relay the message for multi-national distribution. However, these icons should be more prominently displayed or perhaps the disposal messages need to be stronger in order for the user to really take notice. To take an extreme view, if we say;

" Danger - Do Not Flush " I suspect the user would heed the warning! Or " Beware - Sanitary waste pollutes " might bring a positive reaction or plainly " DON'T FLUSH " would do the job.

The problem is still left with the end-user to dispose of the used pad or tampon.

Consumer education, through continuous access to the buying public, is crucial to encourage responsible use and disposal of the products we all use. This needs to be facilitated by " good information " on the packaging as well as by discussion in the general media.

Having defined the problem, we need to highlight solutions

Public amenities should aim to provide suitable disposal facilities. One large corporation that I contacted, who employed over 700 women, installed disposal facilities because of concern for hygiene, the environment, and of course, the plumbing. However, knowledge of where the waste went after leaving the building was not evident.

Domestic disposal is probably where we need to do most to encourage responsible practice. Embarrassment and timidity about periods puts females under pressure in their own homes. I'm not convinced that menstruating women are as confident and brazen as marketing companies would have us believe. Flushing a pad or tampon removes the stress of having to walk from the toilet to the kitchen refuse. By putting a covered bin in the bathroom for such items may reduce any potential embarrassment and discourage flushing.

2. Product design

Since 1985, the trend has been towards thinner sanitary pads using less wood-based fluff pulp and increased consumption of super absorbents. Apertured plastic film, used as a coverstock, has gained on conventional non-wovens (carded or spunbonded). Over 55% of pads use this type of " Dri-weave " top sheet made from loaded polyethylene film. (Such brands as Always, Bodyform Invisibles, etc ). Europe's consumption of this type of pad is the highest in the world - more than a third of total worldwide consumption of 43 billion units - All eventually needing to be disposed of somewhere!

Airlaid material, a compressed cellulose with usually also contains super absorbent polyacrylates, are used more and more in place of wood pulp fluff as an absorbent core in sanitary pads, incontinence pads and diapers.

Additional applications of the new non-woven materials are in baby wipes, wet wipes and moist toilet tissues. No doubt, all ending their " useful lives " flushed down the toilet.

There has been new product development in the non-wovens industry to include a Biodegradable material to replace polyethylene materials. Some of these materials are derived from cornstarch, but care needs to be taken to ensure that the corn is not GM stock. This material is destined for use in diapers and incontinence pads. There is available now, an all-cotton non-woven coverstock. Our aims are to use certified organic cotton to produce non-woven material for the sanitary pads.

Despite environmental pressures of the early 90's, sanitary protection is utilising more plastic materials in its construction. The runaway technological development highlights the need for raising consumer awareness of proper disposal. The consumer is probably not even aware of the high loading of plastics in the products they use. Manufacturers can assist the consumer by relenting to pressure and printing a full list of ingredients/materials on the product packaging.

In summing up

There is only so much information manufacturers can get on a pack, (or are willing to put on the pack) but the Disposal Statements can be stronger and more direct. Manufacturers can do more to make the materials they use more eco-friendly, the technology is there, all is needed is the will and commitment to move away from the apertured plastics which are currently the vogue.

Nowadays, more people use bottle banks because they are convenient. In earlier days, a special journey to a distant bottle bank some miles away meant that only the true " Recycle-er " would make the trip.

Toilets are always going to be convenient, and therefore viewed as a quick exit for bathroom items! This is always going to be a difficult battle to win. The issues must be discussed more openly in the media. Local government and schools need to be involved, and ultimately, the Water Authorities need to get involved in disseminating information about the impact consumables have on water reclamation.