Green Bleeding: Is Menstrual Cup Really Perfect?

Have you ever come across the idea that changing your menstrual product can help save the environment? According to Shihata and Brody (1), 20 billion pads and tampons are produced every year. The increasing concern of the negative environmental impact of disposable menstrual products might be one of the key drives of the favour of menstrual cups in the world. Menstrual cup, a reusable period product, is a small and collapsible cup that is made of medical silicone and can be inserted into the vagina to capture menstrual flow. Unlike pads or tampons, menstrual cup can be reused for around 10 years and decreases plastic waste. Ruby Cup, one of the most mentioned menstrual cup brands, claims that their product saved “+145,500,000 kg of plastic” (2), while the advertisement of Moon Cup, another popular menstrual cup commercial, concludes that menstrual cups are “the most environmentally-friendly way to manage your menstrual flow (3).” Menstrual cups seem to be one of the most significant inventions of the past decade, perfect and loved by all.

However, let's consider this: only individuals born with a uterus require menstrual products. For them, these products are essential, just like toilet paper is for everyone. Is it fair to blame this specific group of individuals for producing plastic waste and polluting the Earth simply because they have to manage their menstruation, which is not a choice?

  Reports indicate that the top 20 global companies are responsible for 55% of the world's plastic waste (4), and 100 companies account for 90% of global single-use plastic production (5). The pollution caused by these global capitalist companies poses a far greater hazard than the relatively small amount generated by individuals using pads and tampons.

  Of course, individuals have a responsibility to care for the environment. However, the prevailing environmentalist discourse surrounding menstrual cups, which suggests that disposable period products pollute the environment and that switching to menstrual cups will save the Earth, is problematic. This unreflective and one-sided praise of a commodity overlooks the fact that it is the global capitalist companies that are the main culprits in plastic pollution. By attributing the environmental responsibility to individuals with a uterus, rather than addressing the problem at its source, this discourse misdirects the push for positive social change.

  From a feminist perspective, individuals with a uterus have historically faced oppression. The harmful effects of “period shame” are only now being recognized (6). People with a uterus have just begun to talk openly and confidently about menstruation without feeling awkward. Yet, according to the current menstrual cup discourse, periods are oddly and unreasonably framed as a source of pollution, turning something natural and normal into an inconvenience and a negative aspect again.

  Moreover, just like the saying “there is no one-size-fits-all approach,” not everyone can use menstrual cups. Uteruses vary significantly among individuals, making menstrual cups unsuitable for everyone. Certain medical conditions, such as vaginismus, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis, can make using menstrual cups painful or uncomfortable (7). Therefore, menstrual cups simply do not work for everyone, even if they try to use them. It's similar to someone loving mushrooms but being allergic to them—it's just not a feasible option.

  However, the excessive praise for menstrual cups creates a division among individuals with a uterus, categorizing them as either good and eco-friendly (if they use menstrual cups) or evil and unconcerned about the environment (if they don't). Based on this dichotomy, menstrual cup commercials often use guilt-inducing tactics to pressure and make consumers of traditional pads and tampons feel anxious and guilty for not switching. This narrow view fails to consider how environmentally friendly individuals may be in other aspects of their lives. As a result, purchasing a menstrual cup becomes the sole measure of one's eco-friendliness in these discussions.  

Furthermore, the excessive praise for menstrual cups disregards the global scarcity of resources. Menstrual cups require sterilization in boiling water before and after use, as well as rinsing with clean running water during use to maintain hygiene. However, many countries lack access to clean running water. For instance, 55% of the population in Papua New Guinea, 54% in Chad, and 50% in Ethiopia lack basic water services (8). In such countries, menstrual cups are impractical, and individuals have no choice but to rely on disposable products like pads or tampons, which at least offer a relatively clean and safe option.

It is important to recognize that menstrual cups are not a perfect solution. While they are loved by many users, their limitations should not be overlooked. If we truly want to make positive changes, such as reducing plastic pollution, relying solely on flattery-filled advertisements created by capitalists or blaming individuals who use pads and tampons will not suffice. The environmental responsibility of governments and global cooperation must be acknowledged and addressed fully.

References

1. Shihata A, Brody S. An innovative, reusable menstrual cup that enhances the quality of women's lives during menstruation, Br J Med Med Res. 2014; 4(19):3581-3590. 

2. Period products with purpose [Internet]. Surrey: [publisher unknown]; 2001 [updated in 2024; cited 2024 March 27]. Available from:https://rubycup.com/. 

3. Life cycle initiative [Internet]. [place unknown: publisher unknown]; 2023 [updated in 2024; cited 2024 March 27]. Available from:https://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/menstrual-products-and-sustainable-alternatives-report-2021/. 

4. Twenty firms produce 55% of world’s plastic waste, report reveals. The Guardian. 2024 March 27. Available from:https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/may/18/twenty-firms-produce-55-of-worlds-plastic-waste-report-reveals. 

5. Just 20 companies are responsible for over half of ‘throwaway’ plastic waste, study says. CNBC. 2024 March 27. Available from:https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/18/20-companies-responsible-for-55percent-of-single-use-plastic-waste-study.html. 

6. Caldwell J, Meredith P, Whittingham K, Ziviani J. Shame and guilt in the postnatal period: a systematic review, J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2021;39(1):67-85.

7. Are menstrual cups dangerous? Here’s what you need to know [Internet]. New York: [publisher unknown]; 2021 [updated in 2022; cited 2024 March 27]. Available from:https://www.healthline.com/health/menstrual-cup-dangers

8. Kathryn Reid. 10 worst countries for access to clean water. Washington: [publisher unknown]; 2023 [updated in 2023; cited 2024 March 27]. Available from:https://www.worldvision.org/clean-water-news-stories/10-worst-countries-access-clean-water.