September 2025: Campaigns, Events & New Books
Eliminate Harmful Chemicals from Period Products
Recent testing by Pesticide Action Network UK (PAN UK) and the Women’s Environmental Network (Wen) found glyphosate, a probable carcinogen, in tampons bought in the UK at 40 times the level allowed in drinking water.
“Unlike when ingested through food or water, chemicals absorbed via the vagina directly enter the bloodstream, bypassing the body’s detoxification systems and therefore posing a significant health risk”, reports PAN UK, the UK-based charity campaigning to end harmful pesticide use.
Despite this, the UK lacks a robust regulatory framework to ensure that period products are safe to use. The charity is encouraging people to write to Emma Hardy MP, the minister responsible for chemicals and pesticides. The PAN UK website has all the details, including an email template demanding action to eliminate pesticides and other harmful chemicals from period products.
Pesticide-Free Towns Campaign
PAN UK is also calling for an end to the use of hazardous chemicals in spaces where people live, work and play.
“In 2024, UK councils reported using 354 tonnes of pesticides, roughly the equivalent of 23 double-decker buses. The vast majority of these chemicals are herbicides (weedkillers). They are used in public spaces including parks, playgrounds and playing fields, and on pavements and housing estates, largely for cosmetic purposes,” says the charity.
PAN UK sent 390 Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to councils across the UK, asking about their use of pesticides in public spaces in 2024. To find out if your council is using pesticides and where they are applied in public spaces, use the search function on the PAN UK website. You’ll also find a template to email your council and ask them to go pesticide-free.
Stop Killing Our Rivers
“Industrial chicken farming might be the most ethically bankrupt and environmentally destructive business in Britain today”, says Rob Percival, Head of Food Policy at the Soil Association. He explains that aside from the obvious animal welfare issues, there are profound environmental concerns. The chicken feed is often sourced from ecologically sensitive areas and is implicated in deforestation and wildlife destruction.
Furthermore, the manure from the chicken sheds, which is very high in a nutrient called phosphate, is applied to nearby fields as a fertiliser and runs into surrounding rivers when it rains. This causes rapid algae growth that blocks sunlight and reduces oxygen in the water, essentially choking out aquatic life. You can sign The Soil Association’s petition calling for a ban on new intensive poultry units.
Organic September
“The organic movement is built on the principles of health, ecology, fairness and care. These principles guide everything that organic stands for today”, says the Soil Association. Organic September is the association’s annual celebration of organic producers who work with nature, not against it. This year, the campaign aims to highlight the vital link between healthy soil and healthy food, encouraging people to nourish their gut health by choosing organic.
Great British Beach Clean (September 19-28)
Join thousands of volunteers participating in UK beach cleans and litter surveys as part of the Marine Conservation Society’s annual citizen science project.
Autumn Equinox (September 22)
As the wheel turns and summer gives way to autumn, the season of soups and crumbles is upon us. Day and night are equal once again.
> Find out how to make a seasonal memory bank in this exclusive extract from Slow Seasons by Rosie Steer
Seed Gathering Season (September 22 – October 22)
“Going out to gather seeds, fruits and nuts ahead of the winter tree planting season is a great way to help us all grow a greener, tree-filled future”, says The Tree Council. Its annual Seed Gathering Season begins on the autumn equinox and is the perfect way to mark the changing season. The Tree Council website has plenty of information, including a downloadable seed ID guide.
> Grow the Trees of the Future: Top seed gathering tips from The Tree Council
Second Hand September
“Consumers are buying more clothes and wearing them for less time than ever before, discarding garments as fast as trends shift”, says the UN. Oxfam’s Second Hand September campaign encourages a more circular approach, inspiring people to donate and shop in a way that’s kinder to the planet.
New books
Clever Cleaning: The Natural Way to Clean Everything by Purdy Rubin & Charlotte Figg
This guide to detoxifying and simplifying home cleaning offers effective, safe alternatives to chemical-based products using natural ingredients and fragrant essential oils. Published by New River on September 25 (£14.99).
Lead picture credit: David J. Boozer on Unsplash
