Fighting period poverty in our communities brought to life in new video

By the end of 2023, IP will host 50 Period Care kit packing events, and together with Always®, will provide more than 25,000 Period Care kits to people across the world.

See our award-winning Fighting Period Poverty in Our Communities program in action through this short video as IP joins forces with Always, Feeding America, The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA), and Brooke and Breanna Bennett, Co-Founders of Women in Training, Inc. (WIT) to drive awareness of period poverty globally.

Period poverty is the lack of access to period products and education – it affects at least 500 million women and girls globally, even in the most economically developed countries. In the U.S., 1 in 5 girls have missed school due to the lack of access to the period products – that is more than 3.5 million girls. It's an issue that leads to a number of problems like school truancy, reproductive issues, health risks and unnecessary shame.

That is why IP launched its award-winning Fighting Period Poverty in Our Communities program by hosting a series of period care packing and donation events globally to raise awareness about period poverty and provide Period Care kits to people who need them the most. Period Care kits include period products donated by Always.

"International Paper is passionate about this cause, and I believe that girls who have the opportunity to have these products and continue to stay in school – there is no limit to what they'll be able to do," said Clay Ellis, senior vice president, Global Cellulose Fibers. 

However, donations alone cannot resolve the systemic issue of period poverty. The stigma surrounding periods can prevent those affected from voicing their needs and prevents potential solutions from being widely discussed and implemented. To date, only 22 states have passed a law to provide free period products in some capacity. There is a need for national change to solve the issue of period poverty. We applaud the leadership of Congresswoman Grace Meng for the introduction of the Menstrual Equity for All Act which would ensure people have access to free period products in federal buildings and schools. 

In 2021, IP was honored with an inaugural award from The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for this Fighting Period Poverty in Our Communities program. 

Find out more of the ways that International Paper is committed to helping our community thrive.

International Paper is passionate about this cause, and I believe that girls who have the opportunity to have these products and continue to stay in school – there is no limit to what they'll be able to do.