Superdrug just made it easier to have a plastic-free period by removing plastic tampon applicators from its own-brand products.
The high street beauty retailer follows in the footsteps of Sainsbury's and Aldi in ditching plastic tampon applicators from its own-brand products.
It's an eco-conscious move which could have more of an impact than you might expect. According to the European Commission, sanitary products are the fifth most common plastic item found on Europe's beaches – even ahead of plastic bags.
During one British beach clean-up in 2016, the Marine Conservation Society found 20 tampons and sanitary items per 100 metres of shoreline.
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It's also been estimated that more than 200,000 tonnes of wast in the form of tampons, pads, panty-liners and their packaging ends up in UK landfill sites each year.
Superdrug's move has been welcomed by Cardiff-based activist Ella Daish, founder of the #EndPeriodPlastic campaign, who said: "It is crucial that retailers make changes like this to stop unnecessary plastic at source.
"I’m thrilled Superdrug have taken these progressive steps and hope to see other manufacturers move forward in this way."
Superdrug's Sarah Jenkins added: "Ella’s tireless campaign to help end period plastic is inspirational, and we have been working with her over the past year to help bring about this change at Superdrug."
Meanwhile, period poverty has once again become an especially pressing issue during the coronavirus pandemic. With most schools and youth centres closed during lockdown, many young women and girls have been unable to access the free sanitary products they're entitled to.
Consequently, a new report has found that three in 10 young women and girls across the UK are struggling to access sanitary towels, tampons and other period products and over half (54%) have been forced to use toilet paper instead.
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