Re-usable menstrual products

ESF has received a $5,000 award to further look holistically at the campus' materials ecosystem and to build a zero-waste campus infrastructure that effectively addresses accessibility, equity, and systemic oppression from the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling (NYSAR3) and the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP21). 

With the grant, ESF will purchase menstrual cups and materials for reusable pads. This effort will build upon the College's zero-waste and inclusivity goals and move closer to becoming a zero-waste campus by 2025. ESF launched its campus-wide composting program in August 2019 and has seen a 27 percent decrease in trash (by weight) since that time.

Lack of access to menstrual products (AKA "Period Poverty") also negatively impacts quality of life for far too many individuals.  Such supplies are in constant demand at food pantries and other social support structures.  This can prevent full participation in school and field work; menstrual cups in particular can  Thus the Office of Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity has also pledged funds, and the Baobab Society has pledged their supplies of menstrual cups that the had purchased for a tabling event for Womyn's Herstory Month, as well as assistance in tabling.  As a cost saving measure, PIs budgeted funds for fabric, rather than cloth pads, and hope to recruit student groups and volunteers to make pads, and to teach others to do the same.

Read the press release from The Office of Communications & Marketing here.