Accidents happen – a heavy flow, an early arrival, or lack of access to affordable menstrual protection. Menstruation can occur anytime. We want to offer an environmentally-friendly solution to our uOttawa community! No one should have to deal with the shame, embarrassment, lack of access, or financial burden that are often unfortunately associated with menstruation.

These products are for anyone on campus who menstruates. To be clear, it is not just a program for women, but for people of all genders who menstruate.

The dispensers can be found in the following buildings:

• CRX, floor 1 (universal washroom)
• DMS, floor 1 (women's washroom)
• Fauteux Hall, floor 3 (women's washroom)
• FSS, floor 1 (women's washroom)
• Hamelin Hall, floor 0 (women's washroom)
• LEES, (block A) floor 1 (women's washroom)
• Mashkawazìwogamig Indigenous Resource Centre, floor 1 (universal washroom)
• Morisset Library, floor 1 (women's washroom)
• Roger Guindon Hall, floor 2 (women's washroom)
• SITE, floor 0 (women's washroom)

There are also three secondary locations that menstrual products can be accessed for free on campus – the Feminist Resource Centre, the Pride Centre, and the Health Promotion Centre.

For the pilot project, there will be no dispensers installed in men’s washrooms on campus. However, the Pride Centre provides free menstrual products. For phase two, we plan to expand and include men’s washrooms.

Our pilot project offers pads and tampons from the brands Aunt Flow and Joni.

Why did you choose these brands?

Aunt Flow creates 100% organic cotton products. Both the tampons and the packaging are 100% biodegradable. Joni creates bamboo and cornstarch fibre pads and organic cotton tampons. There is an opportunity to reduce a significant amount of waste generated from menstrual products. Both options create less waste than standard brands commonly found in stores. 

From the raw the materials used, to the packaging, to their disposal, menstrual products create a lot of waste. The majority of products available are not compostable and do not break down easily, requiring being sent to landfill. Over the course their life, a person who menstruates will use somewhere between 5,000 and 15,000 pads and tampons and are expected to throw away roughly 200 kilograms of period product packaging.

You can follow the Period Project Instagram account for the latest updates and email to [email protected] if you are interested in getting involved!