Launching of the Educational Programme “Sustainable Menstruation in Menorca”

“A new educational programme targeted at teenagers is launched in Menorca to raise awareness of the environmental problem caused by single-use menstrual products”

• The programme seeks to raise awareness of the huge impact caused by this waste and, at the same time, to offer more sustainable and healthier alternatives for both people and the environment.
• 1.7 of the tons of CO2 emitted in the Balearic Islands come from the use of these products. In addition, tampons and sanitary towels are in the top 10 of single-use plastics collected on beaches and sea surfaces.

The educational programme “Sustainable Menstruation in Menorca”, a project promoted by the Rezero Foundation with the support of Menorca Preservation, aims to raise awareness among Menorcan students in the 3rd and 4th years of secondary school about the waste caused by the use of tampons and single-use sanitary towels.
The main idea is to provide more knowledge about the great environmental impact caused by the use of these products, while providing alternatives that allow them to understand how the menstrual cycle works from a physiological, psychological and psychosocial perspective, involving all students in the reflections on the main myths and taboos surrounding menstruation, thus encouraging them to live it naturally and freely. In this way, students will have the opportunity to analyse with Rezero the chemical composition of materials such as sanitary towels and tampons.

“It is estimated that a single person can consume up to 14,000 single-use menstrual products throughout their fertile life”, according to Rezero, while adding that “a conventional sanitary towel is 90% made of plastics, and could take around 500 years to decompose”, according to their Guide to Zero Waste Menstruation in the Balearic Islands.

In addition, it is estimated that in 2019 alone, 1,618 tonnes of menstrual waste were generated in the Balearic Islands, corresponding to approximately 135 million menstrual products consumed.

These sustainable menstrual education sessions are aimed at students in the 3rd and 4th years of secondary school, and will be held during the second term (January-February 2024). If any secondary school is interested in incorporating this project into its educational programme, please contact Rezero (laiag@rezero.cat) or Menorca Preservation (contact@menorcapreservation.org).

This educational programme is part of the Nou Període programme. More information, resources and activities on sustainable menstruation can be found at:
https://www.rezero.cat/campanyes/nouperiode/