Irish women spend roughly €132 on period products every year.

With new figures revealing that as many as half of young Irish women have experienced issues around affording sanitary products, Munster Technological University (MTU) has launched a drive to remedy the problem on its campus.

This month, MTU will launch Code Red, a period dignity project providing free sanitary products to students and staff.

“Nobody knows another person’s circumstances or whether they can afford the products,” says Ellen O’Shea, MTU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team.

“If toilet paper is free, then sanitary products should be as well.”

A Plan International Survey found that 61% of young women felt too embarrassed to talk about their periods. Each Code Red bathroom dispenser is stocked with sustainable single-use sanitary pads and tampons, developed by Irish company We Are Riley.

There are also a limited number of re-usable products available upon request from MTU Students Union Offices, as well as Lidl-sponsored packs of sanitary products.

Code Red launch week, October 12th- 14th, is tackling period taboo through a series of online events including a ‘Make Your Own Upcycled Reusable Menstrual Products’ workshop and a seminar on ‘How to Use Sanitary Products’ presented by We Live Our Values, a ‘Periods and Contraception’ workshop run by the Sexual Health Clinic Cork, and a ‘Sport and Periods’ talk.

All launch events are free but as spaces are limited at certain events, booking is advised.  Tickets can be booked here.