to think plastic applicators for Tampax are disgraceful and unjustifiable?

[appropriatelytrained]

I sent DH to buy me a pack of tampons recently from the local shop. He came back with Tampax Compak (the only choice).

I'm no green activist, but I was shocked to see non-biodegradable, non-recyclable plastic applicators used for this product.

It seems to me that applicators are generally pretty unnecessary but to make them out of plastic just for convenience and comfort (Tampax's response to my query) makes them an unjustifiable vanity product.

Churning out plastic applicators for no genuine purpose when the company know (despite what they may say) that these products will end up flushed down the toilet, is disgraceful.

Right, I'll get off my soap box. I don't post here usually but I just felt really angered by this when so many companies are trying very hard to change the necessary packaging of their products, this company is producing unnecessary packaging without thought of consequence.

The Tampax Compact tampons are the only tampons I've been able to use successfully ever. I usually stick to pads but on occasions when I have an event to attend or similar I use these.

I'm a bit at why so many are turning up on beaches though? Do people really flush them? I know sending to landfill (or in my area, incineration) isn't great but still way better than flushing surely!

totally agree, YANBU!!!
It's really unnecessary to use plastic to make them. I've never really got applicators though...having had a period for about 20 years I've got used to the whole blood thing. Think it's way more gross for little kids to have to find them on beaches.

I think I've just persuaded myself to try a mooncup (if I can get one big enough!).

yanbu
WHy are they non-recyclabe?
Don't have a problem with plastic ones but they should be recyclable fgs.

I use a mooncup .

Think the midwfe stitched me up a bit wonky after I had DD and I can't get non-applicator tampons up my crooked fanjo. Thank goodness for tampax compaq (and yes I throw the applicators in the bin)

I hate the use of plastic applicators. I wouldn't use them myself for environmental reasons - and I'm no tree-hugger!

YANBU - before too long the seas with be too polluted to swim in and landfill will be up to our ears in this stuff just so squimish ladies don't have to touch their bloody fanjos! Good job we only have to touch th dirty thing once a month eh!

i think there should be an option to collect tokens from tampax compact to buy an artificial hand made from durable eco friendly material that you can use to insert tampon without applicators or using yer own fingers and as a bonus it is dishwasher safe!!

They are indeed all over beaches. The shingle ones I've been to on the south coast are covered in the things.

have never understood the need for an applicator

different if you have medical issues, I s'pose

I use Lillets, they don't come with one

I can't get a tampon far enough up my vah-jay-jay without an applicator. It's like a right angle up there.

For the 15 years I had periods before having my DS, I used cardboard applicators. After having DS, I just couldnt. They were painful. Neither could I use non-applicator, they hurt going in.
So I tried Tampax Pearl and they were fine.

Trust me, at the ridiculous price for them, I wasnt pleased either [hgrin]
But YABU, to me they are essential.
(and the applicator goes in the bin, not down the loo)

PS, hoping prolapse doesnt get worse with this labour so I can try mooncups in future :)

I would be a lot more concerned about other stuff in the water and on the beaches than the plastic applicators, ie, the rest of the stuff that floating along with the applicators.. raw sewage.

The sewage is at least bio-degradable. It won't still be there in 50 years time. The applicators will.

Same here, pre-DCs I could use any tampon, post DCs and a badly stitched tear, non applicator ones are impossible, cardboard ones hurt and mooncups leak. However I have a Mirena coil so I hardly ever need them.

Without an applicator how would you not have to stick your fingers up to insert? Unless you don't push them far enough and just leave them at the entrance where you can feel them? I use the ones with applicators, if I wanted to put my fingers inside my bloody vagina I'd use a mooncup.

Yanbu, they are a fairly new innovation - how did we all manage before them?

YABU for using any kind of disposable sanitary protection. Totally unnecessary.

We managed because we had to. For me, the compaq are much easier to use, and also do not get ripped or dirty while in my handbag either.

YABU. I NEED the applicator, I can't use them without. Get a mooncup if you are that bothered.

YABU there are far worse things that are harmful to environment.

Have any of you lot who are wailing about the environment re plastic applicators used disposeable nappies? If you have, I hope you realise you're hypocrites. Huge (compared to a tampon) plastic covered items, you use several a day for 2-3 years and they take decades to biodegrade in landfill all the while with your baby's s h i t inside it. Tiny tampon, tiny applicator, there are much worse things for the environment.

All of you that say plastic applicators ought to be banned, lets start with disposeable nappies.

Where did the idea that women in general (not the poor fingerless people of the world ) needed a device that mimics a finger to insert a tampon come from anyway? I genuinely don't get it, I've used both and don't have a preference. Could someone explain what the difference is?

OP - YANBU

Plastic which ends up in the sea does immeasurable damage. These single-use applicators should be at the least bio-degradable so at least they would break down eventually if they end up in the right conditions.

I think they are fantastic. yes, they arent green ( i bin them, and so should everyone else) but for me personally, they are fab.

I have small hands. My fingers cant push one up high enough, cardboard ones hurt me, and tbh, i had almost given up on tampons and had resulted in towells and not wanting to leave the house, which is not really practical when you have a job to go to.

Tampax pearl are amazing.

YANBU They are indefensible.