Yesterday, Wen took our campaign for toxic free period products right to the heart of government, starting the day at the House of Lords and ending at Defra calling for regulation to make all period products safe.
Despite millions of people using them every month, there is still no specific UK regulation to ensure period products are free from harmful chemicals like glyphosate, PFAS (forever chemicals), and heavy metals. Wen’s event, hosted by Baroness Natalie Bennett (Green Party Peer), shone a light on the challenges and the need for change.
A powerful line up of voices
The discussion was chaired by Wen’s own Helen Lynn, Senior Consultant, Research Fellow and Environmenstrual Campaign Manager, who opened by reminding us why this issue goes to the heart of women’s health and environmental justice.
We heard from:
Katherine Schilling, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University, who shared her groundbreaking research findings on metals in period products.
Karen Joash, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Scientific Advisor to Global Black Maternal Health, who highlighted the potential health impacts of exposure to toxic residues:
“It’s a public health crisis, not just a reproductive crisis, with these toxic chemicals affecting every single system in a woman’s body.”
Josie Cohen, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK), spoke about the decision to partner with Wen on testing tampons and why cotton is one of the dirtiest crops in the world when it comes to pesticide use.
Susie Hewson MBE, Founder and CEO of Natracare, reflected on her decades of campaigning for safer products:
“The problem that we’re seeing is that there’s no independent testing. And when there is, there’s pushback to discredit the research and the researcher. We need constant pressure, independent research and funding.”
Helen Lynn added:
“Consideration of the chemical cocktail is important and that we understand how chemicals are interacting with each other, and the impact that has on women’s health.”
Real momentum for change
Despite the evidence, there was also a strong sense of optimism in the room.
“We’ve got a female minister responsible for chemicals, which is quite unusual. For the first time, pesticides and chemicals are regulated by the same minister, Emma Hardy, and period products and women’s health are areas she cares about. There really seems to be the chance to do something with this government,” said Josie Cohen.
“There is some will to act here on the regulation of period products,” added Baroness Natalie Bennett.
Karen Joash reminded us of the power of collective action:
“Women have a lot of buying and spending power and we don’t recognise that. If we educate women, they will help change things.”
And Helen Lynn reminded us that:
“We can’t have the regulation without the education.”
Powerful questions, powerful answers
The audience came ready to act, asking what we can all do next, how to make safer products accessible for young people who might not be able to afford them, and how to involve more men in the movement.
Representatives from Hey Girls urged parents and carers to ask schools to provide free reusable or organic products.
Susie Hewson spoke of the power of citizenship and the importance of educating boys, while Kathrin Schilling reminded us that this is a global movement, growing stronger in many countries.
“Talk about it. Don’t take any prisoners,” said Natalie Bennett, urging everyone to keep the pressure on.
“We’ve got a four year window with this government to make real progress,” added Josie Cohen, a call echoed by every speaker in the room.
From the Lords to Defra and onward to No. 10
After the discussion, we took our placards to Defra to deliver our petition, now signed by more than 76,000 people, calling for regulation to ensure all period products are safe to use.
The energy, passion and solidarity in the room, and on the streets, were electric. There was a shared commitment to keep collaborating and pushing forward until every period product is free from toxic chemicals. But this is just the start. On 5 November, we will be taking the petition to Downing Street to make sure this message reaches the very top.
If you have not already, please add your voice and help us keep up the momentum for safe toxic free period products.
Sign and share the petition here
House of Lords event and taking the petition to DEFRA
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