Menstrual Products and Carbon Footprint

WE ARE IN A CLIMATE EMERGENCY.

Together we are part of a mass movement toward a low carbon global economy to halt the rise in global temperatures that scientists are stating is an existential threat to humanity.

Our mission at WUKA® is to Wake Up, Kick Ass, break taboos and accelerate a sustainable world, which means designing out waste, designing in innovation, sustainability and ethics.

We make award-winning period pants that have at least 5x less carbon footprint than disposable pads and tampons.

Periods and carbon footprint.

Menstruation is a natural body function but the products we use to manage it do have a carbon footprint and it’s bigger than we thought. From manufacture, shipping and recycling, this all contributes to a product’s carbon footprint.

A year’s worth of disposable pads and tampons for one person produces 8.9kg of CO2 emissions, the same as charging a mobile phone more than 1000 times.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO REDUCE THIS FOOTPRINT?

It’s as simple as switching to period pants.

They have 6x smaller carbon footprint compared to pads and 4x less compared to tampons.

Every pair of WUKA replaces 200 disposables, which is great for waste reduction.

By using sustainable materials like Tencel™ and Organic Cotton, we keep our footprint naturally small but for the rest we offset more than we use and are Carbon Neutral and rated by the carbon footprint.

This is huge

To date, WUKA customers have prevented an estimated 3500 tonnes of CO2, the same as planting 60000 trees, which is amazing but we can go much further.

If 15 million women and individuals who menstruate in the UK switched to WUKA Period Pants, we would save 4.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Or more than 2.5 million return economy class flights from London to New York.

One simple swap, a positive global impact.

Sign up your friends to committing to a sustainable period and make a real difference.

More than a third of British women (36%) are unaware of the impact that single-use period products have on the environment, so sharing this knowledge alone can make a big impact.

42% of women revealed that simply knowing about the environmental consequences has made them think again about switching from single-use products to reusable options, with more than half (53%) wanting to hear more about the damage from single-use products.

WUKA Period Pants are scientifically proven to be at least five times less damaging than disposable alternatives, protecting the environment with each pair. For the data geeks like us we like to share our workings.

You can read our full analysis by downloading the main report here:

WUKA CARBON OFFSETTING PROJECTS

The carbon we can't yet displace we offset. All of our WUKA undies are certified Carbon Neutral+ through supporting the projects below.

project 1
UK Tree Planting + Protecting the Amazon

Type: Tree Planting and Reducing Deforestation (REDD+)
Country: UK + Brazilian Amazon

This project provides an opportunity to plant trees in the UK whilst also helping to protect the Amazon Rainforest – the largest remaining rainforest in the world. The Amazon is known for its amazing biodiversity, containing 10% of all species, including many endangered species.

For each tCO2e offset, one tree is planted in the UK in the region of your choice and an additional tCO2e is offset through the Brazilian Amazon Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) project to guarantee the emission reductions.

In the UK, the trees are typically planted across school grounds, parks, farms, woodlands and other biodiversity sites, providing wildlife habitats and often bringing educational and community benefits.

verified carbon standard
project 2
VP Biosupply Wastewater Treatment and Biogas Utilization Project

Country: Thailand
Type: Biogas
Reference: VCS 415

This project captures methane at a Thai starch plant using two closed anaerobic wastewater treatment facilities and converts the gas into energy, partially replacing the need for fossil fuel consumption. The project has a twofold effect: it prevents methane from harming the climate and avoids thousands of tonnes of fossil fuel being burnt per year.

Just a few years ago, the starch plant treated its wastewater through cascading open lagoons with a retention time of more than a year. The combination of atmospheric and water temperature led to methane generation from the organic content in the wastewater. The methane was then released into the atmosphere, emitting greenhouse gases that are 20 times more powerful than CO2.

With this project, not only has the local air and water quality improved, the starch plant has also reduced its fossil fuel consumption significantly. In addition, the project and revenues from carbon credits have generated jobs for locals and supported social and educational activities in the community.