A sanitary product that, actually, is more sanitary.
For far too long, females in Malawi have had to use cloth rags for their periods, because they simply could not afford any kind of menstrual product. A packet of ten disposable pads in Malawi costs £2 – the equivalent of a day’s salary.
Cups are more hygienic, more comfortable, and better for the environment alternative to cloth rags and a more sustainable, comfortable and cost-saving option to disposable pads and tampons. In Malawi providing disposable pads is not the answer.
![Period cups](https://www.ufulu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Rag-Image-p-500.png)
![Period cup](https://www.ufulu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/cup-image.png)
Don’t flush the environment away.
Did you know…
- 1 in 5 pieces of plastic on a UK beach is a tampon applicator
- The average sanitary pad is made from 90% plastic
- A disposable pad can take up to 400 years to decompose
- Most single-use pads and tampons contain harmful chemicals and toxins
- Unlike pads and tampons, cups are reusable, designed to last up to 10 years
- A cup is designed to hold up to 12 hours of blood flow
Ufulu - Better For Everyone's Environment
In every Ufulu workshop we ask females what, if any, sanitary products they have used. Most answer that they use cloth rags and maybe 1 or 2 disposable pads every month.
The problem they face is that in Malawi there is little or no rubbish collection. As such, women and girls struggle to dispose of their pads.
- 10% of pads are disposed in a river or lake causing water pollution
- 65% of pads are disposed in a latrine or toilet causing soil pollution
- 25% of pads are disposed by burning causing air pollution
![Malawi Villiage](https://www.ufulu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/people-1.png)
![Malawi Villiage](https://www.ufulu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/people-2.png)
Satisfaction guaranteed
- Do you find going to work/ school easier with a cup? 100% said YES
- Do you prefer your cup to any other product used? 100 said YES
- Do you recommend a cup to your friends? 100% said YES
- Do you save money using a cup? 100% said YES
![](https://www.ufulu.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Smiling-with-cup.webp)