Materials

Cotton

For tampons, we love cotton. It’s soft, breathable, and absorptive -- the ideal characteristics of a period-catching instrument. Unfortunately, conventional cotton is a water-intensive crop that takes a significant toll on the soil and is associated with deforestation and heavy pesticide use. Almost 10% of all agricultural chemicals and 25% of all insecticides come from the cotton industry. But, not all cottons are created equal. Choosing organic cotton will lower the likelihood that your purchase is associated with the use of these chemicals, which end up poisoning our soil and waterways, and can lead to endocrine disruption. Go the extra mile by choosing cotton certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), the most stringent textile certification ensuring that the product complies with environmental and social criteria along the entire supply chain. 

Plastic

From polyester in the soft, plush part of a tampon, to polyethylene in the applicators, plastic is present in most conventional tampons. Plastic is made of petroleum, aka oil, which we extract from the earth’s crust by drilling and fracking. These practices have a host of negative environmental consequences that can devastate already fragile wildlife populations and expose people living and working near drilling sites to toxic gasses and contaminated drinking water. Between the high heat and chemical refining processes required to make plastic, it’s one of the most energy-intensive materials to produce. Also, any plastic that ends up in our environment breaks down into microplastics, which have been found at the top of Mount Everest and the bottom of the Mariana Trench.

Unfortunately, plastic tampon applicators might be a necessary evil for some. There’s enough discomfort involved with menstruation – if you prefer plastic applicators, do you. However, if you can avoid them and buy applicator-free tampons instead, that’s great. A life cycle assessment performed on tampons by the Royal Institute of Technology revealed that the largest environmental impact of tampons comes from the production of plastic applicators made of LDPE (low-density polyethylene), so by eliminating them you can significantly reduce the impact of your tampon use.

Chemical Treatments

Chlorine Bleach

Tampons are often treated with bleach to achieve that super-clean white and fluffy look. We recommend looking for chlorine-free or unbleached tampons, since bleach can contain dioxins and furans, which are known to cause cancer, endocrine disruption, and reproductive toxicity.

Synthetic Fragrances

Because fragrances are considered trade secrets, tampon manufacturers aren’t required to tell you everything that goes in their products to give it that fresh scent. This means that pads with “fragrance” could contain a host of nasty chemicals like phthalates and synthetic musks, which are known to disrupt hormones and can lead to developmental and fertility problems.

Certifications

Here are some certifications to look for when shopping this category.

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