UK government have pledged to tackle period poverty by providing free products to all primary and secondary schools – a ground-breaking and long-awaited move! However, if they only buy from megabrands like Lil-lets and Always, they will be sending the equivalent of 90 MILLION plastic bags into the UK school system, in just 1 year.  This is following a challenge from the UK government for all schools to go plastic-free by 2022.

City to Sea is calling on the worldwide movement of Plastic-Free Period supporters to sign their petition calling on government to tackle environmental and social problems together and only send plastic-free period products into schools. Plastic-free products include plastic-free disposables (like Natracare, TOTM, and Hey Girls) as well as the option of reusables which will save people with periods huge amounts of money over the coming years. Please join more than 35,000 others and sign the petition here! (Must have a UK postal code)

Rachel Carson, a Primary school teacher said: “There is a gaping hole in general understanding of the plastic problem and school is a great place to start making a difference. Providing plastic-free period products to combat period poverty seems like a golden opportunity to lift girls out of embarrassment and shame whilst simultaneously investing in their future. Plastics are derived from oil, so why the government would not make this a priority having recently declared a climate emergency, is beyond me.” 

Huge thanks, we couldn’t do what we do without you!

Jasmine and the City to Sea Team x