Free Sustainable Period Products Initiative

To provide those experiencing period poverty with reusable products, eliminating the need for disposable products & dismantling barriers to education

This project will bring the university closer to a zero waste goal as it supplements an existing scheme to provide students with free period products. The average menstruator disposes of between 11,000-16,000 period products in a lifetime, which has a large impact on the planet given that each product takes between 500 - 800 years to decompose. This initiative will raise awareness of the issue of period poverty, as well as sustainable solutions to this and how menstruators can make more sustainable choices to prevent waste. It will also impact the barriers that exist to education for those experiencing period poverty, who may not be able to attend classes due to this issue. The products will be distributed via the Trinity Access Programme or Trinity Student Union on a first come first serve basis, along with an information campaign on the extent of pollution due to period poverty and sustainable solutions to this issue. This is highly relevant due to Trinity Student Union's campaign to end period poverty on campus this year by providing free disposable products. We expect that this will inform students on two issues that are not often discussed - period poverty and the pollution caused by menstruation, whilst also providing up to 30 students with a sustainable solution to this issue in the form of menstrual cups or reusable sanitary pads.

The product allocation will benefit up to 20 menstruators. The information campaign will be disseminated to both the students and staff of Trinity College Dublin, through student led bodies, social media and email mailing lists.

Yes, the maximum available funds that can be allocated will be welcomed, as the goal to provide the reusable period products for students at risk of period poverty. An information campaign on the issue of period poverty, the barriers it creates to education and sustainable solutions will also be carried out for free through student led bodies.

This project can be carried out mostly online, through online correspondence and ordering the products directly to Trinity College. If Covid restrictions allow we can discuss the issue with the space on campus that will provide the products (the Student Union or Access programme) and help distribute them to the student body. All information dissemination can take place online.