Ending Period Poverty with Dignity and Sustainability

Across the world — and in our local communities — millions of women and girls face period poverty: the lack of access to safe, affordable menstrual products, adequate education, and proper hygiene facilities.

The Global Crisis

According to the World Bank, an estimated 500 million people who menstruate globally lack access to basic menstrual products and hygienic facilities, putting their health, education, and livelihoods at risk.
(World Bank, “Menstrual Health and Hygiene,” 2024)

Period Poverty in the United States

Recent research highlights the scope of the issue in the U.S.:

Among U.S. teens ages 13–19, 20% reported difficulty accessing period products in 2019, rising to 23% by 2021 due to inflation and inequality. (Brookings Institution, 2022)

2 in 5 menstruating individuals struggle to afford menstrual supplies, often resorting to unsafe or unhygienic alternatives. (Journal of Global Health Reports, 2023). Approximately 16.9 million menstruating women in the U.S. live in poverty, unable to consistently purchase pads or tampons. (National Institutes of Health, PMC, 2023)

Challenges in Education and Hygiene

Globally, the crisis goes beyond affordability:

Fewer than 31% of schools have bins for menstrual waste in girls’ toilets.
This leaves millions of students struggling with privacy, dignity, and hygiene daily. (WHO Global Report on Menstrual Health, 2024).

Only 39% of schools worldwide provide menstrual health education.

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Eco Pure Flow’s Response

For those affected, the consequences are life-changing: missed school and workdays, social isolation, health complications — all compounded by stigma and silence.

At Eco Pure Flow, we believe no one should have to choose between their health, dignity, and opportunity. Through our First Flow & Dignity Kit Initiative, we provide:

• Free organic and biodegradable pads and tampons
• Eco-friendly disposal bags
• Education on menstrual health and sustainability

These kits ensure every individual can manage their cycle with comfort, confidence, and respect, while replacing plastic-based products with biodegradable alternatives — reducing non-biodegradable waste and protecting the environment.

By addressing period poverty through sustainable solutions, we improve women’s health outcomes, advance gender equality and education, and promote environmental responsibility.