Ella Daish

Ella Daish is a British environmental activist campaigning to persuade retailers and manufacturers to remove plastic from menstrual products.^[1] In February 2018, whilst working as a postal worker, she started the End Period Plastic campaign.^[2][3][4] She went on to become a full-time activist.^[5] The BBC put Daish on its 100 Women of 2019 annual list of 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world.^[6]

"Period products are the fifth most common item found on Europe's beaches" and "200,000 tonnes of [such] material is believed to end up in UK landfill every year."^[1][3] Around 90% of a menstrual pad is plastic.^[5][3]

In December 2018 Daish launched the Eco Period Box campaign to address period poverty, donating plastic-free and reusable period products around the UK.^[7] In 2019 she helped persuade Caerphilly County Borough Council to spend all of its grant money for providing free menstrual products to schools, on eco-friendly products. Councils had been asked to spend only 10% of the money on reusables.^[8]

Awards and recognition

• Included in the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Power list 2020^[9]
• One of the BBC's 100 women of 2019^[10]

See also

• Disposable product
• Plastic pollution