Are tampons and pads toxic? intheflow is a new local social enterprise providing an alternative 

Are tampons and pads toxic? intheflow is a new local social enterprise providing an alternative 

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Em Anastasi a Period Poverty and Environmental Activist with a background in business consulting, recruitment & retention expert, mentoring with The Girls Network and the inspiring founder of intheflow. Salt chatted with Em to find out how this social enterprise came to fruition and  find out more about the crucial work she is doing on a local and international level for women's health. 

After Anastasi researched and found shocking statistics, sharing with me that 2.8 million people in the UK struggled for period care, 46% of respondents in a 2022 Brighton Report struggled to afford period care and that roughly 150 million working days are lost each year due to women's health. Another horrid eye opener was the Lead, arsenic and many other toxic metals have been found in tampons. According to a new study from researchers at the University of California, stated in a recent Sky News article in July 2024. Em then decided to take it upon herself to make a difference and start up intheflow. Which offers high-quality menstrual cups made from medical-grade silicone. These cups provide an eco-friendly, non-toxic and affordable alternative to traditional period products, aiming to reduce waste and promote comfort and confidence. 

But beyond just providing products, Anastasi is very committed to raising awareness about period poverty and women's health. The brand actively engages in initiatives that tackle the financial barriers many face in accessing menstrual care. Through a buy-one-give-one model, every purchase helps support those in need, directly impacting the lives of low income communities, charities and shelters, right here in the UK. Anastasi also raises awareness of the challenges women face during menopause. By creating an open dialogue around this often-taboo subject, advocating for better support and understanding in both personal and workplace environments by focusing on education. That’s where the Period Positive Employer Campaign comes in. Led by founder Em who stated that, “our campaign work is helping organisations, companies and employers receive their accreditation to become peer-in-trusted employers. That also includes a major health policy and the menopause policy. Really, we're helping them identify these gender-based barriers.”

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What initially inspired you to start intheflow?

This project has been a decade in the making. My journey began ten years ago when I first discovered menstrual cups. I was genuinely surprised at how few people knew about them and why they weren’t more widely available. As I reflected on my own experiences with pads and tampons, I realised how uncomfortable and wasteful they can be. I found out it takes a thousand years for a tampon or pad to break down. Then a pivotal moment came in 2022 when a report from Brighton highlighted that 46% of respondents struggled to afford period care. This was shocking and eye-opening for me, especially since I had initially thought of period poverty as an issue affecting other parts of the world. Understanding that this is a pressing problem in my own community was a wake-up call, motivating me to create a brand that would not only provide a sustainable alternative but also engage in meaningful conversations about period poverty and access to menstrual health. We mainly tackle period poverty through donations, but this comes hand in hand with raising awareness and reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our ocean, landfill and on our shores from period products and their packaging.

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How can we change the stigma around periods in the workplace and schools?

Periods should be treated as a natural part of health, similar to how we address other health conditions like colds. Our campaigns are designed to help organisations understand the importance of supportive policies that recognise and accommodate menstrual health. We aim to create environments where employees feel comfortable discussing their needs without fear of judgement or repercussions. By normalising these conversations, we can break down the barriers that often lead to silence and shame, ultimately fostering a culture of support and understanding.

We’ve begun working with various organisations eager to implement our supportive policies for menstrual health. The process involves reviewing existing workplace policies and contracts, conducting surveys, and designing tailored pledges to address specific needs. We aim to shift the perception of menstrual health from a fringe topic to an essential part of workplace wellness, recognising it as a fundamental aspect of employee care and from September we've delivered an empowering Future Change Makers program at schools. The program explored the importance of innovation and education in addressing social, economic and environmental issues. Participants will gain confidence and skills to develop their ideas, culminating in presentations where they can showcase their work and they'll be given a certificate of participation.

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You mentioned your Period Positive Employer Campaign earlier and how this supports women’s health and menopause, can you tell me more about it?

The impact of menopause on women’s lives is often overlooked, yet it can significantly affect their work and overall well-being. Many women face challenges such as hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and emotional changes that can be debilitating. Unfortunately, many workplaces lack the infrastructure to support these women adequately. Then these women of a certain age leave or take early retirement, because of not being able to manage their symptoms and then they leave because they've had their confidence completely squashed and they don't want to keep calling in sick. They feel like they're letting their team down and they feel like they're pushed out because they're underperforming. So if we can help employers build more support structures of flexibility, maybe say if they're able to work from home or work on different tasks or even just work different hours. That would offer so much support and actually will have a massive impact on the economy as well, because the stats are something crazy like 150 million working days are lost each year due to women's health.

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After discussing this I asked Em what she thinks about gender inequality in health care and how this links with the stigmas surrounding periods and menopause?

There’s a substantial gap in how health conditions that affect women are studied and addressed compared to those for men. This disparity highlights a broader issue of gender inequality in healthcare, which often leads to inadequate understanding and support for women's health needs. It's crucial to bring these issues to light because when we ignore them, we risk perpetuating cycles of misinformation and stigma. Conversations around these topics need to be more frequent and normalised to foster a more equitable healthcare environment.

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Going back to your products, can you tell me a bit more about your menstrual cups?‍

The menstrual cups are designed to offer a different experience than traditional products, and many users are pleasantly surprised by their comfort. Made from medical-grade silicone, they don’t absorb but rather collect menstrual fluid. Once you get the hang of inserting them, often easier in the shower, they can be worn for up to 12 hours without worry. Many people initially fear leaks or spills, but with practice, they discover that the cups provide a reliable, leak-free experience. 

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I’ve seen other alternatives to tampons and menstrual cups, like reusable underwear and pads. Have you thought about expanding the range? 

Very good question. We are going to expand our product range and the reason behind that is because our brand is for everyone, but right now the current product isn't. I think our next product launch is going to be reusable pads. The reason why we haven't gone into that just yet, is because being a social enterprise and very community focused, we want to teach people the skills to make them and create job opportunities that way instead of going to suppliers. As what we have found with some suppliers is they are using anti-odor properties and those anti-odor properties are carcinogenic and we don't want those materials or toxins in any of our products. So it's quite the process but reusable pads will be coming.

intheflow is not just a brand; it's a movement aimed at dismantling stigma and promoting holistic well-being for all women. Menstrual cups and reusable underwear could definitely be the future. Check out Em Anastasi’s website below for more information on her campaigns and products or to purchase a menstrual cup.

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https://intheflow.online/