New SustainaCup Program: Addressing Social Justice, Sustainability, and Wellness with One Menstrual Product

In October, the Sustainability Office and Health and Wellness jointly launched a SustainaCup program to distribute menstrual cups. SustainaCup is a program designed to improve menstrual sustainability through alleviating the cost burden of periods, reducing stigma, offering gender-neutral and discreet products, and ensuring the health safety of cups. The cups are available in the Health and Wellness office as well as through Mailing Services. In addition, during the first few weeks, the Information Desk distributed cups as well. The program has been well received. There are now over 350 cups that have been distributed and Health and Wellness is working to find financing for an ongoing program in future years.

Based on estimates of our student body as 2000 students wherein 60% is female bodied, there are 1200 menstruating students on campus. Assuming an average flow that is managed using tampons and pads, each student uses 240 period products per year. That suggests that Macalester’s student body would use about 350,000 tampons and pads per year. These products don’t biodegrade as a result of their manufacturing design and the interaction of blood with cotton. As a result, our period products end up in landfills or waterways. 

Economically, 240 tampons or pads per year costs about $60. The user also must pay tax on their tampons due to the fact that Minnesota views tampons and pads as a luxury item. While this cost might not seem substantial to some, it can be enough to prevent 1 in 4 menstruators from accessing period products during their periods at some point. While Macalester tends to be wealthier, there are still numerous students on campus who are burdened by the cost. Menstrual cups can save students from this cost burden, although many students are hesitant to pay the upfront cost for a product they may not like. A menstrual cup costs $30 and can be used for 3-4 years. This upfront cost still prevents many students from accessing it particularly those who are off-put by the idea of putting a cup into their vagina. 

Hygienically, the menstrual cup fosters a much safer vaginal environment. They are safe to wear for up to 12 hours and users don’t worry about toxins. However, tampons absorb the natural lubricants in the vagina and release toxins which may lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome and other severe and stigmatized health problems. 

Social justice also plays a key role in the importance of menstrual cup availability on campus. Unfortunately, despite the fact that half of the world is made up of female-bodied individuals, it is still taboo to say, “I’m going to change my tampon.” As a result of period stigma, menstruators often smuggle period products and are constantly concerned about what if I get blood on my clothes? These concerns are mitigated by the period cup which can be worn for 10-12 hours. For people who might feel particularly uncomfortable with having a public period, removing the need to manage periods or have visible signs of being on their period removes a large burden. 

written by Sustainability Office student workers Miriam Eide and Zella Lobo