TEDx Talks - Save Earth and Women's Health, Use Cloth Sanitary Napkin | Benedicta Evienia Prabawanti | TEDxUAJ
The speaker highlights the significant environmental impact of disposable sanitary pads, noting that a single woman uses approximately 16,000 pads in her lifetime, contributing to 16 tons of waste. This waste often ends up in landfills or water bodies, causing pollution. Additionally, disposable pads contain harmful chemicals like chlorine and dioxin, which can lead to health issues such as irritation, infections, and even cervical cancer. Economically, women spend a substantial amount on disposable pads over their lifetime, which could be reduced by switching to reusable cloth pads. Cloth pads are cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and free from harmful chemicals. They can be reused for up to four years, significantly reducing waste and health risks. The speaker encourages both women and men to support the transition to cloth pads to protect the environment and women's health.
Key Points:
- Disposable sanitary pads contribute significantly to environmental pollution, with one woman using about 16,000 pads in her lifetime.
- Disposable pads contain harmful chemicals that can cause health issues, including cervical cancer.
- Women spend a significant amount of money on disposable pads, which could be reduced by using reusable cloth pads.
- Cloth pads are environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and can be reused for up to four years.
- The speaker encourages both women and men to support the use of cloth pads to protect the environment and women's health.
Details:
1. 🌍 Women's Role in Environmental Conservation
- The session is focused on women's roles in saving the planet, emphasizing the power of storytelling and personal experiences to convey impact.
- Benedta, the speaker, plans to share narratives that highlight women's significant contributions to environmental conservation.
- These stories are intended to inspire and educate about the diverse ways women are making a difference in protecting the environment.
2. ♻️ The Environmental Impact of Menstrual Products
- Women contribute significantly to global waste through menstrual product usage, with approximately 16,000 disposable pads used in a lifetime, equating to around 16 tons of waste per woman.
- A woman uses roughly 20-25 sanitary pads per menstrual cycle, totaling about 250 pads annually.
- This waste predominantly ends up in landfills, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives.
- Comparatively, the waste from menstrual products is substantial when considering the overall waste produced by individuals globally.
- Exploring reusable menstrual products like menstrual cups or cloth pads could significantly reduce this environmental footprint.
3. 🩺 Health Risks of Disposable Pads
3.1. Health Risks of Disposable Pads
3.2. Environmental Impact of Disposable Pads
4. 💸 Economic Costs of Menstrual Products
- Each woman uses approximately 250 menstrual products per month, costing between 50,000 to 100,000 IDR monthly.
- Annually, this amounts to over 2 million IDR spent on disposable menstrual products.
- A woman uses menstrual products from age 10 to 50, totaling an estimated 50 million IDR over her reproductive lifetime.
- Significant financial investment in disposable menstrual products could be redirected towards more valuable personal investments.
- Addressing environmental, health, and economic impacts of menstrual products is crucial, necessitating alternative solutions.
- Developing and using alternative menstrual products could lessen the financial burden on individuals.
- Economic benefits could also be extended to broader society by reducing waste and healthcare costs associated with disposable products.
5. 🧵 Sustainable Alternatives: Cloth Pads
- Cloth pads are presented as a sustainable and economical alternative to single-use pads, with a lifespan of approximately four years when properly cared for.
- A single cloth pad costs around 35,000 to 40,000 Rupiah, and owning about seven can cover a woman's menstrual needs, costing less than 300,000 Rupiah over four years.
- Cloth pads reduce waste as they are reusable, addressing the environmental issue of disposable pad waste.
- They are made from natural materials like cotton or fabric scraps, reducing the risk of health issues linked to chemical materials used in disposable pads.
- The initiative to produce cloth pads also supports women's economic empowerment by providing additional income and job opportunities.
- Men are encouraged to support women in transitioning to cloth pads to help reduce the risk of health issues and environmental impact.
- The movement advocates for both women and men to participate in promoting cloth pads as a means to protect the environment and reproductive health.