A recent study helped us better understand our community’s thoughts and attitudes about reusable menstrual and continence products, and consider ways to increase usage of these products in Whitehorse.

The study involved Knox City Council, City of Stonnington, Whitehorse City Council, Hume City Council, Maroondah City Council, Maribyrnong City Council and Yarra Ranges Shire Council was conducted earlier this year to ultimately reduce the volume of single-use products going into landfill.

Community engagement included surveys, workshops and telephone interviews of current and past users of reusable products and potential users, as well as service providers.

There were a total of 1,363 respondents to the surveys, while 15 respondents attended workshops and 7 people took the telephone survey. There were notably few respondents from the City of Maribyrnong, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) community members and service providers.

Over two-thirds of the survey respondents currently used reusable products, mainly period and leak-proof underwear. The key reasons for using them were:

• Perception the products were environmentally friendly
• Social responsibility to address climate change
• Cost effective in the long term
• Products worked well for them
• More comfortable

The disadvantages highlighted were that the products were ineffective, unhygienic and uncomfortable.

Other barriers identified were:

• Initial high cost of purchase
• Lack of information about reusable products
• Challenges for changing, washing and storage when in public

Recommendations from the study

There is positive support from respondents for Council involvement in helping to facilitate the increased use of reusable period and continence products over single-use products.

Councils are encouraged to combine efforts to provide more information about the range of products available and their benefits and advocate for the reduction of single-use products going to landfill.

It was recommended to target young people starting menstruation and people experiencing mild or intermittent incontinence.

Finding ways to reach members of our CALD community better, people living with disability and gender-diverse people with information about these options was also recommended.

This research was supported by Sustainability Victoria, funded by the Victorian Government’s Recycling Victoria Councils Fund.

We are now in the process of informing study participants of the research outcomes and planning ways to help increase usage of reusable menstrual and continence in our community.

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