Free and 100% organic sanitary pads - Esch-sur-Alzette has you covered

The city will supply and maintain 138 dispensers in public buildings

Today, the city of Esch-sur-Alzette in Luxembourg announced a new measure for International Women’s Day. Better late than never, as they say. Local authorities have provided 138 dispensers which will give out free sanitary pads and tampons which are 100% biodegradable and made from organic cotton.  

The dispensers have been mounted in ‘strategic’ locations to help women when they are in a pinch. Additionally, they will be maintained and replenished by the city.

A feature of bathrooms in public buildings

According to a statement by the city, these would be the first free and eco-friendly dispensers for female hygiene products in the city. Esch-sur-Alzette authorities plan to install them in 138 buildings like primary schools, day-care centres and other municipal buildings.

The dispensers will be spread out to cover as much ground as possible, offering all the basic necessities in the event of an emergency. There will be two types of dispensers, ones that give out sanitary pads and others that give out pads and tampons. Moreover, the machines will be regularly maintained by the city.

Raising awareness and informing girls and boys

One of the points of the dispensers is to normalise the idea of menstruation, as it is still a taboo topic, according to local authorities. This is why local officials want to accompany the campaign with interventions in schools to raise awareness with health classes.

The classes would be targeted towards girls and boys and discuss the menstruation cycle and the changes in the body during puberty. This, officials say, would improve the awareness of different health products and options available to girls going through puberty, but it would also affect boys and their attitude towards the subject, normalising discourse.