24 Aug Campaign calls for change to school sex education to include reusable period options as mandatory
An award winning reusable period brand is calling for the UK Government to make a much needed change to sex and period education, to highlight the reusable options available for periods.
Wear ‘Em Out, one of the UK’s leading reusable sanitary pad providers, has called for the change after a survey data found that 2 out of 5 (40.83%) of us learnt about periods at school, with over a third (34%) learning about types of protection at senior school.
However, despite the growing trend to use more sustainable methods of protection, the school education system in the UK is still failing to teach young people about alternatives to disposable products and is lacking in its attitude towards reusable options.
Lauren Derrett, CEO and founder, said: “We know that sex education in schools tends to teach pupils about the disposable period protection options available, but this needs to change.
“With the majority of us learning about periods at school, it’s absolutely vital that teenagers and young people are educated about all the options available to them and this includes reusable pads, but there are also cups, period pants and other products out there which don’t need to be thrown away after a single use. We’re calling on schools to update the sex education they provide to their young people. Reusable period products have been on the market for over a decade now but what is taught to students hasn’t changed in that time.
“It’s really important to us that the next generation are being educated in alternative reusable options for when they period. They are the ones who are championing the change and they can’t do this without the relevant information and an introduction to what else is available. Imagine if our future young people seamlessly went into eco-friendlier periods before getting too dependent on disposables, what a huge impact that would make on both their physical and our planetary health and wellbeing.”
The introduction of the Governments Period Product Scheme for all schools and colleges in England provides free products to people that period in their place of study. However, despite reusable products being included in the list of items available through the scheme, only 44% of ordering organisations bought environmentally friendly or reusable products in 2022.
Recent Wear ‘Em Out research found that most people are aged between 31-40 years old when they make the switch to reusables, with many stating they weren’t even aware of the option prior to this age. With menstruation starting from as young as 12, that leaves 18 years where reusable and more sustainable options aren’t being seen as an option for period protection.
Data has also shown that menstrual waste from disposable products is ever growing, and WEN research indicating that half of the people who period in the UK use disposable products and flush tampons and sanitary pads away, this estimates that 1.5-2 billion menstrual items are flushed down Britain’s toilets each year. By opening up period education, the UK can make huge steps to change the impact that period products have on the planet and the UK waste system.
With disposable pads and tampons taking longer to degrade than the lifespan of the person who wore them (it can be up to 800 years!), Wear ‘Em Out was created to help people find an alternative to disposables and embrace reusables that can still deliver the comfort, convenience and support needed during a period.
As a successful and award winning sustainable business, Wear ‘Em Out is turning its focus to making real changes to how periods and female health is taught in school. From widening the choices from disposable products to include every option to also helping young people break down taboos and eradicate ‘period shaming’ in future, Wear ‘Em Out wants to spread the message far and wide that periods are normal and that people can make the choice that’s right for them as well as lessening the environmental impact.
To help teachers open up the discussion of reusables, Wear ‘Em Out also offers storage bags, period trackers, starter kits as well as education kits for schools and other settings that help educate young people about the reusable options available to them.
Lauren continues: “At Wear ‘Em Out we think that the best way to introduce reusable products is without judgment, but to inform, share and allow time for change. We think it’s important that young people work out the best way for them. Gaining confidence in reusables takes time and we are hugely aware of this which is why we apply a chilled non-judgemental education. It’s more about empowering young people, not enforcing and giving them the information and options they need to be able to make informed choices.”
Wear ‘Em Out is calling for support to get the UK Government to make mandatory changes to education and to teach young people in the UK education system about the reusable options available to them: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/640635
