To be annoyed that Sainsbury's will no longer sell plastic applicator tampons?

[caddywally]

It's not a massive issue at the moment because I can buy them elsewhere, but if other shops follow suit I'm going to be condemned to a life of using pads because I don't get on with non-applicator or cardboard applicator tampons. I can't use menstrual cups, either.

I understand the problem with plastic but don't see why women who rely on plastic applicator tampons should suffer when there is excess plastic everywhere. I already live a fairly eco-friendly life - no car, 1 holiday in the past 10 years, rarely eat meat, most of the stuff I own is second hand (mainly for financial reasons than anything else, admittedly) - and I don't see why I should have miserable periods when there are people whose lifestyles are much worse for the environment than mine. I also don't flush sanitary products down the toilet, which I assumed was common sense. I probably am being unreasonable and should just suck it up for the sake of environment!

This is the problem. Whatever thing is targeted first as becoming plastic free, someone will get upset or angry that it doesn't work for them. Unfortunately the answer is that our lives, in many different ways, have to become a whole lot less convenient to what we're used to if we are to solve this plastic epidemic. OK, its not ideal they have decided on tampons but there has to be a start somewhere. Supermarkets need to get together and agree to go (majority) plastic free, all at the same time so it doesn't become a marketing issue. And people are going to have to change their habits drastically.

OK, its not ideal they have decided on tampons but there has to be a start somewhere

And something that affects both male and female consumers would seem more sensible, rather than expecting 50% of the population to carry the environmentally friendly can!

Oh and wrt nappies, my mum has said for years that children don't train as early anymore because the disposables are so absorbant now, the child doesn't feel uncomfortable in them when they're wet like they used to with the old Terry toweling ones.

Unfortunately, we need to stop single use plastics. Having seen many articles recently suggesting that these are not being recycled, even if we put them in a recycling bin, we have to stop using them.

I guess the tampons are an easy first step, as they have only been around a short time, but other plastics will need to follow. I shop at Sainsbury's and Aldi, and Sainsbury are not quite as bad for wrapping all their veg in plastic, but both could improve.

I know there are a small number of people with a huge carbon footprint, and it can feel like the small things individuals can do won't make a difference, but I think we need to do what we can as well as campaigning for change.

Every single fucking time people try and get rid of some excessive use of plastic, people moan. They dont like the mouthfeel of a paper straw, or cardboard applicators will mean their life is ruined. No offered solutions are ok.

Im pretty sure it will be the same fucking thing for every single plastic thing they try and get rid of. Its also much much harder for certain sections of society to adequately recycle so therefore limitations on black bag useage are also disablist.

Im not sure the solution, but im sure it just involves carrying on as usual for many, and just continuing to send it all to other countries to throw in their rivers.

Any proposed change is met with resistance because they havent banned everything, therefore lets not do anything

Any proposed change is met with resistance because they havent banned everything, therefore lets not do anything
There are lots if things very few people will miss.

Just sort out the pricing so that loose veg is cheaper than plastic wrapped stuff.

As I said before. Magazines and kinder eggs. No one needs a plastic car that falls apart. Party bag crap etc

They dont like the mouthfeel of a paper straw, or cardboard applicators will mean their life is ruined. No offered solutions are ok

How stupidly flippant.

@bouncingraindrops blood isn't slippery like lube. Think of it as akin to taking a too-tight ring off your finger using soap and water - water alone doesn't help much.

Well, if this thread proves anything, it is that the pain of women will be continued to be dismissed, including by other women themselves.

Until you have a true gynaecological issue, it is clear that there is no understanding of how under-diagnosed and under-funded female medical issues are.

“They can prescribe plastic applicator tampons for those who truly need them.” Yeah, sure they will. Yo, my fellow endometriosis or vaginismus sufferers, how many years did it take you guys to have a medical professional take you seriously enough to diagnose you? It was 11 years for me.

I'm also really fed up of the "well what about all the packaging, and the flights and everything else" argument.

I've switched to using solid shampoo and using refillable hand soap and washing up liquid. I'm not kidding myself that those actions alone are going to save the planet from drowning in plastic. But it's better than not doing anything at all.

Apart from the amount of plastic in applicator tampons there's the added issue that people flush them. Of course nobody ever admits to doing this but they don't end up on beaches by magic.

I’d be interested to see what those who are crying “yes, great idea” because it won’t affect them are doing to be more environmentally conscious....

It’s incredibly easy to pat yourself on the back about your stellar environmental conscience when you support other people taking the hit!

But it's better than not doing anything at all

Using a tampon with an applicator isn’t equatable with “doing nothing at all”. As I said earlier, we don’t need to be perfect, we do need to do what we can.

Unfortunately the answer is that our lives, in many different ways, have to become a whole lot less convenient to what we're used to if we are to solve this plastic epidemic. OK, its not ideal they have decided on tampons but there has to be a start somewhere.

How many times does this have to be repeated? For some women it is not convenience, it’s a medical issue.

How many of those complaining about tampon applicators run two cars in their household, fly internationally, etc?

What we need is some personal responsibility - if you don’t need to use something plastic, don’t use it. If you don’t need plastic applicator tampons or plastic straws, don’t use them. Minimise your own footprint. Make sure your waste is properly recycled. Don’t take things away from those who do actually need them just because most people are lazy and want convenience.

I would love it if someone would invent a reusable product that would work for women like me, but even other women won’t accept there’s an actual issue to be addressed, so what are the chances of that happening?

Go to Tesco. If they stop making Tampax Pearl I will cry. I will demonstrate outside No.10.

Jacques but it isn't only affecting 50% of the population? They have already tried targeting straws, they are also phasing out cotton buds aren't they? I am pro them getting rid of plastic tampon applicators. There are plenty of other options.
And it doesn't affect 50% because children will know no different so when they are old enough to need tampons, they will get used to the options out there. Many women don't have periods anymore. And for those who do, many don't use plastic applicators anyway!

I am pro them getting rid of plastic tampon applicators. There are plenty of other options

No. There aren’t. For me there is ONE brand of tampon that gives me anywhere close to a normal quality of life.

See my comment earlier about how easy it is to be “pro” getting rid of something when it wouldn’t affect you.

Switching to solid shampoo and refillable soaps is hardly going to affect your quality of life though is it? There are women here saying that using a certain brand of tampon with plastic applicators makes their periods less painful and uncomfortable. I was lucky that cardboard used to suit me but when I've used other brands in an emergency the shape of the tampon has given me cramps and/or the plastic applicator has given me thrush so I well believe this is not just about "convenience" for some women - it's what makes the difference between a period being bearable or not. Why do people refuse to believe us?

Just as a little example, here’s what I do to be environmentally conscious:-

*Work from home so no commute. On the odd occasion I need to go to a meeting I use public transport wherever possible.
*DD commutes to school by train
*Buy grain/pulses etc from a farm shop, measured out into my own containers
*buy all fruit/veg from greengrocer so no single use plastic at all.
*don’t use central heating (for a different reason but the impact is the same!)
*have one child

So yeah, tampons that give me a normal life aren’t something I’m prepared to compromise on.

This is why women's issues aren't always taken seriously, we don't even support eachother and are dismissive of others experiences.

I’m thinking about my local supermarket. There are a couple of shelves on one aisle dedicated to plastic applicator tampons, which, it has been proven time and again on this thread, that some women DO ACTUALLY NEED.

In contrast:

There are three full aisles of fruit and veg and bags of salad, the majority of which are wrapped in plastic. NOBODY NEEDS to have plastic-wrapped fruit and veg.

There is currently an aisle of garden ornaments, a lot of which are made from plastic. NOBODY NEEDS plastic lawn ornaments.

There is a full aisle of magazines, most of which are wrapped in plastic, containing smaller items also made of plastic. NOBODY NEEDS plastic magazine tat, or for multiple magazines to come wrapped in plastic together.

There are two aisles full of toys for children, the very vast majority made from plastic. NO CHILD NEEDS to have toys made of plastic. They NEED toys, but these could be made from other materials, such as fabric or wood.

There are three full aisles of soft drink and squash varieties, ALL of which are in plastic bottles with plastic caps! NOBODY NEEDS to have over a hundred choices of non-essential drinks that come in plastic bottles.

All of these areas of the supermarket are much, much greater in size than the shelves of women’s sanitary protection. All of which are designed to be marketed towards both sexes, also. By logic, if supermarkets truly wish to reduce their single-use plastics, they really should select at least one of these areas, alongside many others I could name, first.

But, no, instead they have selected to “tackle” the issues of plastic applicator tampons first, because women are always the easy target. It is a feminist issue. And it is unfair, because, as has been explained many times on this thread, there is a medical need to have plastic applicator tampons remain on the shelf for many women. At least until research is properly invested into women’s health!

Why are we debating between each other as to whether that other woman on the thread NEEDS to have a plastic applicator, IS she using it correctly, WHY can’t she just use a moon cup or her fingers?

Why aren’t we asking each other why plastic packaging on food can’t come first? Or frivolous purchases, such as lawn ornaments? Or the enormous and plastic-heavy toy industry? These would actually have a real and immediate impact, and wouldn’t be harmful towards their consumers.

Great post Sacha

I am the same and can only use Tampax pearl, not compact. Can't use a mooncup

Cardboard ones never push in for me and get in the right place.

It (stupidly) hadn't occurred to me about them being single use plastic. But I think as we are surrounds by so much single use plastic in food packaging that tampons weren't on my radar.

The reusable one looks excellent, but £25 is a big outlay for one and the tampons are also very expensive.

I do try in many ways to improve our plastic use, never get plastic carrier bags, toilet rolls from who gives a crap, cleaning stuff from splosh, never put loose veg at supermarket into plastic bags etc. But as most households I can do more. I am also a huge recycler.

Trying to get my head around the logistics of the reusable applicator and the washing and storing and remembering to take it out etc.

We’ve all changed our behaviour with plastic bags from the supermarket - they’re still available if you need them but you pay and the usage has dropped dramatically. That’s the kind of impact we need to make across the board on all things plastic.

If you shop regularly at Sainsbury’s and get your sanpro from there, maybe this would encourage you to try an alternative. If only plastic applicators work for you then you’ll have the relatively minor inconvenience of getting them from elsewhere. I can’t see them disappearing entirely.

I feel like all the people on this thread telling us to 'just get used to it', 'just shove it in', 'just use lube' are the kinds of people who would tell a homeless person to 'just get a job' or a depressed person to 'think positive', in other words, zero empathy or compassion despite being informed why a lot of us NEED these products over and over again. A complete refusal to acknowledge or understand that a lot of women have medical issues surrounding menstruation.

I was raised to be aware that my experience of things is different to others and that I should try to be kind and understanding, and not patronise, belittle or insult people who don't have the same life experience as me.

There are SO MANY THINGS that we do not need that could be banned before they even start on medically essential things. The fact that a lot of women don't see menstruation as a medical issue is actually really shocking to me.

I understand it though - 'just deal with it' is the kind of attitude that has surrounded womens issues basically forever. Luckily this is changing but there's a lot of people on this thread who still hold that old-fashioned sexist attitude.

Again, a lot of internalised misogyny on this thread.

I'm with Branleuse - I'm horrified that every single reduction in plastic use is greeted with hoards of protest. I get that for some people, plastic applicators are the only way you can use tampons. I get that for some people single use straws are vital for their disabilities.

I haven't been brave enough to try my moon cup yet. I hate tampons, although applicators when I last used them were better than nothing. I'm slowly moving over to washable pads, as they're too expensive to bulk buy. I get that change can be a downgrade.

What I hate to read is people insisting that other things should be done first, as if there are only the most limited of resources for change and a queuing system. Unilever for example has plenty of resources to bulk buy, r&d and change multiple products at the same time. Sainsburys can and should be putting pressure on their supply chain to reduce supply chain plastic at the same time as end user plastic. My local Tesco went backwards recently and added a line of Muller light yoghurt that was sealed with the normal foil then a plastic lid and plastic wrapped disposable spoon inside. Probably because customers at the sandwich aisle don't like the mouth feel of wooden spoons as much but haven't changed their behaviour to carry reusable cutlery if they might fancy a yoghurt.

Meanwhile our oceans, land and drinking water are in plastic crisis. We are at high risk of extinction within a few generations and it troubles me that people are putting convenience and comfort above fairly minor inconvenience for change.