Redefining Sustainability: Menstrual Policies

This policy brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute argues for a holistic approach to menstrual policy that integrates social and environmental factors, moving beyond a narrow focus on waste and product choice to address menstrual justice, climate change impacts, and structural inequalities.

• Current menstrual policies in countries such as Argentina and Colombia often focus on incentivizing reusable products based on environmental narratives, but they frequently fail to consider how cultural beliefs, social norms, and climate change affect menstrual practices. A narrow focus on environmental sustainability can unfairly place the burden of pollution on consumers who may have no alternative but to use disposable products, thereby increasing inequality and stigma.
• The ISO Technical Committee 338 is developing non-legally binding standards for four categories of menstrual products: single-use pads, single-use tampons, reusable cloth-based products, and reusable menstrual cups. These standards are expected to be finalized by December 2026 to improve quality, accessibility, and safety.
• Environmental impact assessments of menstrual products vary by region and product type. A study across France, India, and the US indicated that menstrual cups generally have the lowest environmental impact, whereas organic pads have the highest negative impacts regarding eutrophication, acidification, ecotoxicity, carcinogenic effects, and land use.
• Climate change and environmental degradation directly impact menstrual health, particularly regarding water access. Reusable products require clean water and private drying spaces, which are often unavailable to socioeconomically vulnerable individuals or in areas with water scarcity. This is especially critical for breastfeeding mothers and those in zones of violent conflict, where water scarcity is fueled by extreme weather events.
• Market shortcomings, including supply chain inefficiencies and limited availability, hinder access to safe menstrual products in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Specifically, the availability of environmentally friendly reusable cups and tampons remains low in many LMIC markets.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2024). Redefining Sustainability: Menstrual Policies. https://www.sei.org/publications/redefining-sustainability-menstrual-policies/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Redefining Sustainability: Menstrual Policies. 2024. https://www.sei.org/publications/redefining-sustainability-menstrual-policies/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Redefining Sustainability: Menstrual Policies |date=10 December 2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/redefining-sustainability-menstrual-policies/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2024redefining, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Redefining Sustainability: Menstrual Policies}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/redefining-sustainability-menstrual-policies/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }