Ella Daish is a British environmental activist campaigning to persuade retailers and manufacturers to remove plastic from menstrual products.[1] In February 2018, whilst working as a postal worker, she started the End Period Plastic campaign.[2][3][4] She went on to become a full-time activist.[5] The BBC put Daish on its 100 Women of 2019 annual list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.[6]
"Period products are the fifth most common item found on Europe's beaches" and "200,000 tonnes of [such] material is believed to end up in UK landfill every year."[1][3] Around 90% of a menstrual pad is plastic.[5][3]
In December 2018 Daish launched the Eco Period Box campaign to address period poverty, donating plastic-free and reusable period products around the UK.[7] In 2019 she helped persuade Caerphilly County Borough Council to spend all of its grant money for providing free menstrual products to schools, on eco-friendly products. Councils had been asked to spend only 10% of the money on reusables.[8]
Awards and recognition
edit- Included in the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Power list 2020[9]
- One of the BBC's 100 women of 2019[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Turns, Anna (2 October 2019). "The women taking the plastic out of periods". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-12-31 – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ "This Girl On A Mission Wants To #EndPeriodPlastic". British Vogue. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ a b c "Time for a red revolution: Breaking the cycle of unsustainable feminine hygiene products". www.irishexaminer.com. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ "Sainsbury's stops production and sales of own-brand plastic tampon applicators". 17 August 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ a b Thompson, Rachel. "A postal worker noticed more waste on streets. Now she's making shops ditch plastic period products". Mashable. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ "BBC 100 Women 2019: Who is on the list?". 16 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-12-31 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Shops back Eco Period Box". The Ecologist. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
- ^ Smith, Nicola (25 September 2019). "Plastic-free sanitary products plan welcomed". Retrieved 2019-12-31 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "Woman's Hour Power List 2020: The List". BBC Radio4. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "BBC 100 Women 2019: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2022-12-17.