The Green Review

The Student Sustainability Fund (SSF) provides students at UNB Fredericton with hands-on learning and experience in a fast-growing sector. The projects by students and their partners help cultivate a culture of sustainability on campus and allow students to make a meaningful impact in their community.

The Menstrual Health Society recently utilized the SSF to purchase sustainable menstrual health products for the UNBF community. In their entry, they provide an overview of their society, the SSF application process, and the importance of addressing period poverty.

"The UNB Menstrual Health Society is a volunteer-driven student society on the UNB Fredericton campus aimed at reducing period poverty and addressing the stigma around menstruation. One of our goals is to spread awareness about the environmental impacts of disposable menstrual products and promote the importance of sustainable menstrual health. We have been working towards providing free sustainable menstrual product options to UNB students.

The Student Sustainability Fund application process was straightforward and accessible. Even when we needed help with an aspect of the application, UNB Sustainability was quick to answer our questions. There are endless opportunities for potential initiatives under the SSF, including awareness campaigns and zero/low-waste projects. Sustainability often has a cost associated with it, but applying for the UNB Sustainability Fund is the perfect opportunity to make your event or initiative more sustainable and meaningful in nature.

Our society used the funds received from the Student Sustainability Fund to order a variety of sustainable menstrual products from Aisle, a Canadian sustainable menstrual product company. The products will be distributed as part of a sustainable menstruation workshop in collaboration with UNB Sustainability on March 16th from 4-6pm in the Harriet Irving Library Event Space. This workshop will focus on the environmental impacts of disposable menstrual products and provide insight on the different sustainable menstrual product options that are available. Our team has reusable pads, menstrual cups, period underwear, and vouchers from Aisle to distribute to workshop attendees.

These sustainable products will also be distributed to members of the UNB community at the UNB Menstrual Health Society Spring Pickings event on March 22nd from 11am-4pm. This event will also be located in the Harriet Irving Library 3rd Floor Event Space. It is an open-house style event where students are invited to pick out disposable and/or sustainable products of their choice. We understand that period poverty is not limited to campus, so we hope this event will make products more accessible for students both at school and when they are off campus.

Period poverty is defined as the lack of sufficient resources needed to manage menstruation. These resources include money to purchase period products and general access to menstrual products. Period poverty is not limited to those living in poverty. It is experienced all around the world by people from all different backgrounds. In Canada, 1 in 3 individuals under the age of 25 struggle to afford the necessary products to manage their menstrual cycle, and therefore experience period poverty.

Although the long-term expenses of reusable products are significantly lower, the higher upfront costs can act as a financial barrier for many. By providing sustainable menstrual product options to students, we can alleviate the financial burden and create a greater understanding of the significance of sustainable menstrual health. Thanks to the UNB Sustainability Fund, more UNB students will soon be practicing sustainable menstruation!"