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Sainsbury’s has today (19 August 2019) confirmed it is stopping the production and sale of its own-brand plastic tampon applicators, following a targeted campaign co-ordinated by Ella Daish.
The supermarket is delisting and removing its own-brand range of ‘compact’ plastic tampon applicators from stores. All these products will have been removed from the shelves by the end of August 2019.
‘This is a significant and welcome step towards ending the production of unnecessary plastic at source’, said activist Ella Daish, who’s campaign to end period plastic calls on manufacturers to remove it from all their menstrual products. She explains below why this news is so important.
‘Plastic pollution has gained a lot of media attention over the last two years and has made many consumers consider the way they use plastic, the waste it generates and the damage it causes worldwide. People are becoming aware of the impacts their purchasing choices have and are changing the way they spend.
‘With plastic bags, bottles and straws usually dominating the discussion, period products don’t often get spoken about, meaning that many are unaware of the hidden plastic they contain. However, this is changing.
‘This year the campaign has risen to almost 200,000, which demonstrates that awareness is rising and with it the number of people who are demanding manufacturers bring about change.
‘Plastic tampon applicators are a huge issue; they are used for seconds, yet take centuries to break down. People have sent me pictures of plastic applicator pollution from the islands of Scotland down to the beaches in Cornwall – plus everywhere between and beyond.
‘There are plenty of viable alternatives that avoid plastic, including cardboard applicators and non-applicators, which is why I’ve been urging manufacturers to stop using plastic.
‘There is no excuse to make them out of plastic, it’s unnecessary and the environmental impacts they have are avoidable. This is why the step taken by Sainsbury’s is so important.
‘It’s fantastic that Sainsbury’s has made the decision to delist its own-brand range of plastic tampon applicators. It is the first manufacturing decision maker on the campaign to completely remove them from its range.
‘This is the kind of positive change we need manufacturers and supermarkets to be actively taking. It proves it can be done.’
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