Black Friday falls during the coldest month of the year. While many are spending money on not-so-essential goods, there are thousands living on our streets without access to basic necessities. The most requested (and least donated) items for homeless people are socks and period products.
For those without a home, having a period can be hugely difficult, shameful and painful. With limited access to pads or tampons, for many, the only option is to go without. So we’re challenging the consumerism of Black Friday by raising awareness of period poverty and homelessness. Together we can #TurnBlackFridayRed! Read more about our campaign here.
For our Red.Friday campaign, we are donating 15% of STI test kits sales on Fettle to purchase period products for those without secure housing. We’re donating environmentally friendly pads manufactured by a company who cares about people, planet and periods. That’s why we chose Natracare. We sat down with Eleanor Hunt from Natracare to find out more.
Who are Natracare?
At Natracare we’re all about saving both the planet and your vagina, one period at a time. We make period products from renewable and planet-friendly materials that are naturally absorbent, breathable, soft and biodegradable – everything that period protection should be!
Susie, our founder and owner, is an eco-warrior and period pioneer. Back in 1989, when she discovered what was in conventional pads and tampons (more on this later), Susie approached the big, mainstream brands to encourage them to change. She soon realised they didn’t care what their customers thought, so Susie set out on her own to search for a solution. Low and behold, Natracare was born!
Natracare shook up the period protection industry 30 years ago by making the world’s first 100% certified organic cotton tampon. Since then we’ve continued to push boundaries and changed the conversation around periods along the way.
But the work hasn’t stopped at periods. In our range you’ll also be able to find natural and organic protection for incontinence, mums & babies! We even took on the flushable wipe industry, launching the UKs first truly flushable wipe that’s made from 100% paper and is the first to pass the new ‘Fine to Flush’ standard.
What separates Natracare from other period companies?
Periods are completely natural and we’re big believers that our period products should be natural too. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks like us. Many of the period products you find in supermarkets are made from a cocktail of plastic and other nasty and unnecessary ingredients like perfumes, dyes and chlorine-bleached pulp or cotton – sounds great, right?
Many people start their periods each month not realising that the products they’re using contain materials and ingredients that are harmful to their intimate health and to the planet. In fact, you might be shocked to learn that a pack of conventional, non-organic pads contains 5 plastic bags worth of plastic! It’s not a legal requirement for period brands to list the ingredients that make up their pads and tampons, so it’s no surprise that this isn’t mainstream knowledge yet (although we’re on a mission to make sure it is!).
We challenge this standard (or lack thereof!) by always being open and transparent about what goes into our period products. All the cotton we use is 100% organic – it’s the only ingredient in our tampons and our pads and liners have an organic cotton cover. The core of our pads and liners are made from naturally absorbent wood pulp. There’s no need for us to use plastic because the back layer of our pads and liners are made from GM-free plant starch. It acts as a waterproof layer, is 100% biodegradable and can even be composted. We also use this material as the wrapper for some of our pads and liners.
No period product should have a lasting impact on the Earth, that’s why ours are 100% biodegradable and certified compostable.
How can companies like Natracare help challenge period poverty?
It’s hard to imagine that 1 in 10 menstruators in Britain aged 14 to 21 can’t afford to buy period products (according to Plan International UK). The stats are shocking, especially when you consider that many of these people will be missing school or work as a result, driving their education or career to a grinding halt every single month.
There are so many amazing charities and organisations that have risen to the challenge of eradicating period poverty. Organisations such as Bloody Good Period provide asylum seekers and homeless people across the UK with period products. By donating to and supporting organisations like this, companies can help them in their mission.
Another way is to provide free period products for employees at work (organic and plastic free ones, of course). Period poverty can affect those who you’d least expect. By providing free period products in the bathrooms at work, companies can support their employees during their time of the month and tackle this issue head-on.
Why buy ethical period products from Natracare?
We’ve been in the business of making period products that are better for the planet and our bodies for 30 years. So, we know a thing or two about making pads and tampons sustainably and responsibly.
From sourcing the raw materials, to the processing and manufacturing of each product, our entire supply chain is monitored to ensure that we are managing and using resources ethically and with respect for people and planet.
Behaving consciously is at the heart of everything we do. But we don’t just want you to take our word for it. That’s why we’re verified and accredited at every stage by independent organisations. Our products are certified vegan by the Vegetarian Society and the cotton we use is certified organic by the Soil Association. This year, we were the first period brand to become members of 1% for the Planet. Through this partnership, we have committed to donating 1% of our annual turnover to environmental causes. By buying Natracare products, you are giving back to the planet you love.
How can we help challenge the stigma around periods?
Tearing down the period stigma is no easy feat, especially since it’s been around for centuries. But the answer to normalising periods is actually really simple: better period education!
There are so many myths and misconceptions around periods, which are caused and perpetuated by a lack of understanding (does the myth about sharks and swimming on your period ring any bells?). This lack of understanding makes periods hard to talk about, especially for those that don’t menstruate. 72% of boys have never been taught anything about the menstrual cycle. This period knowledge gap contributes to and worsens the stigma. What might seem like a harmless period-related joke made by a child in the playground can affect somebody’s confidence and body image, potentially making them skip school and sacrificing their education. In fact, 90% of girls worry about going to school when they’re on their period.
We all have a role to play in breaking the taboo around periods. Improving education for girls and boys and encouraging open conversations about menstruation is the best way to normalise periods.