Some UAB students are striving for a sustainable future through cost-effective and reusable menstrual products. Through the Campus Cup Initiative, students can sign up to receive a free menstrual cup from OrganiCup.
Menstrual cups serve as an alternative to disposable menstrual products like pads and tampons. The OrganiCup can be cleaned and reused, unlike single-use products.
Ari Villanueva, president of Planned Parenthood Generation Action at UAB, said students have until Oct. 14 to sign up for a free menstrual cup.
“We want to give people a sustainable and more effective way to manage menstruation,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva said OrganiCup is a Denmark based company that creates menstrual cups similar to the DivaCup.
While this project is new to UAB, Planned Parenthood Generation Action has a history of providing free menstrual products to UAB students.
“Generation Action is an organization on campus that focuses on advocacy around reproductive rights (and) reproductive health,” Villanueva said. “Specifically following the mission of reproductive justice, which is a more inclusive approach to human rights. The undergraduate buildings have all the menstrual products for free on campus with the dispensers.”
Rose Albert, president of the Green Initiative at UAB, said this partnership serves as an alternative to single-use products without students having to worry about price.
“It is such an important intersection between environmentalism and women’s [reproductive]rights and just general accessibility,” Albert said. “In environmentalism, we talk about reusable products, but they’re often more expensive. Even though it does pay itself off in the long run, the upfront charge is a major barrier to accessibility.”
Albert said the free OrganiCups provide students with a sustainable option that can save them money.
“A lot of menstrual products are single use and over the course of time, that adds up very quickly,” Albert said. “Monthly, the number of products someone uses generates a lot of trash.”
Madalena Limao, creative project manager at OrganiCup, said what makes their company unique is their focus on creating environmentally friendly products.
“Coming from a country with a long history of design that typically focuses on simplicity, clean lines and natural materials, we wanted to bring that same ethos to the world of period products, which in our opinion should not pollute our bodies or our planet,” Limao said.
Limao said the life span on the OrganiCup lasts longer than alternative products.
“The OrganiCup is reusable for years, registered with The Vegan Society and AllergyCertified – it is the healthier, easier and greener alternative to pads and tampons,” Limao said.
Limao said OrganiCup aims to remove the taboo around menstruation while giving access to a healthy menstrual solution to as many people as possible.
“For young people (and everyone else really), menstrual cups are a way of leading a more sustainable life, while not spending a crazy amount of money in what should be basic products,” Limao said. “We know that younger generations are taking matters into their own hands and are the true changemakers of our days – their sustainable life starts with everyday habits, such as choosing to use a menstrual cup for their menstruation.”
Menstrual cups are limited to one cup per student. Students can head to bit.ly/freecup4blazers to sign up until Oct. 14.
Students that miss the sign up deadline can purchase an OrganiCup at a discount of 30% using the code UAB30 on their website.
