TY - JOUR

T1 - Addressing the Commercial Determinants of Menstrual Health: A Call to Regulate Menstrual Products Manufacturers

AU - Olsen, Céline E J L Brassart

PY - 2024/6/30

Y1 - 2024/6/30

N2 - Over the past two decades, menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) have come on the global health agenda. As governments and international organizations are adopting measures to make menstrual products accessible, corporate actors producing these products have been subject to limited scrutiny. Yet their products and commercial practices raise issues, which warrants increased attention and regulation. Menstrual products manufacturers have shaped menstrual norms by presenting menstruation as a problem to be solved with commercial products. However, these products raise health, environmental, equity and societal issues. As such, menstrual pads and tampons contain endocrine-disruptors. These products are also made of up to 90% plastic, and sold with high profit margins. Moreover, advertisements for menstrual products often reinforce menstrual shame and secrecy. However, so far, no global regulation or standards exist to regulate menstrual products and manufacturers, and evidence for measures promoting MHH is lagging behind. To fill this gap, a few countries have started to regulate menstrual products, and the International Standards Organization is in the process of developing global standards to regulate the content and labeling of menstrual products. In order to support the emergence of regulation in this area, this article conceptualizes a first, comprehensive framework for the regulation of menstrual products manufacturers. This framework consists of five complementary measures regulating the content of menstrual products; labeling; production and waste management; pricing; advertising and marketing. The article calls for more research to build evidence, and for increased governmental and inter-governmental attention to menstrual products manufacturers.

AB - Over the past two decades, menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) have come on the global health agenda. As governments and international organizations are adopting measures to make menstrual products accessible, corporate actors producing these products have been subject to limited scrutiny. Yet their products and commercial practices raise issues, which warrants increased attention and regulation. Menstrual products manufacturers have shaped menstrual norms by presenting menstruation as a problem to be solved with commercial products. However, these products raise health, environmental, equity and societal issues. As such, menstrual pads and tampons contain endocrine-disruptors. These products are also made of up to 90% plastic, and sold with high profit margins. Moreover, advertisements for menstrual products often reinforce menstrual shame and secrecy. However, so far, no global regulation or standards exist to regulate menstrual products and manufacturers, and evidence for measures promoting MHH is lagging behind. To fill this gap, a few countries have started to regulate menstrual products, and the International Standards Organization is in the process of developing global standards to regulate the content and labeling of menstrual products. In order to support the emergence of regulation in this area, this article conceptualizes a first, comprehensive framework for the regulation of menstrual products manufacturers. This framework consists of five complementary measures regulating the content of menstrual products; labeling; production and waste management; pricing; advertising and marketing. The article calls for more research to build evidence, and for increased governmental and inter-governmental attention to menstrual products manufacturers.

M3 - Journal article

JO - Health Promotion International

JF - Health Promotion International

SN - 0957-4824

ER -