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!

Yanbu, OP.

I never got on with non-applicator tampons, I bought a moon cup and continuously leaked no matter how many times I took it out/readjusted it and tried again. I always found the cardboard to nip upon inserting or my fingers slip on the card tubing.

I use Honour Your Flow pads. They're good enough don't get me wrong but I am aware I do compromise on a couple of areas for the sake of being ecofriendly and cost effective.

I always used tampax compact prior, for years.

I find it insulting when others say to "just" use . Shouldn't we keep in mind our anatomy varies from one to another and whilst the basics are the same (we're women, after all!) how our genitalia presents itself is determined by so many varying factors?

Anyway, I'm all for the planet and do as much as I am able to for it, but slowly but slowly funnel-knecking(is that the correct phrase?) our sanitary products for anti-plastic motives doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy upon hearing about it.

Christ, if I read the word convenience one more time, I may have an aneurism. While it may be “convenience” for some people, for others it’s a medical issue and I don’t see anyone demanding that single use catheters are banned. All those lazy buggers with colostomy bags should just poo like the rest of us, amirite?

Maybe if people took some personal responsibility and only used plastics when actually needed, we would have a much smaller issue.

If cardboard applicators or CSPs work for you, use them. Why the insistence that they must work for everyone when they simply do not?

What I find awful about reusables is not the cost of washing them, but the way they would just make life very difficult for any women and girls who live with male relatives and housemates

Why?

@Gwenhwyfar I use reusables and my husband has been known to wash them without fainting, he's also used to my mooncup hanging around being sterilised. I also wash his sweaty sports kit without offence. What's the issue here?

I expect the director or whatever of Sainsbury's is male

Quelle surprise that a female only product is the first to go.

What about the packaging of fruit and veg, plastic tat toys, disposable picnic and part ware?

Ffs.

Presumably a number of reasons such as embarrassment? Fear of ridicule? Abusive environments?
Not everyone is lucky enough to live in such understanding households where they can have sanitary products hanging on clothes horses or mooncups boiling on the cooker. Again, there seems to be quite a lot of privilege involved in this Eco friendly thing.

While it may be “convenience” for some people, for others it’s a medical issue and I don’t see anyone demanding that single use catheters are banned. All those lazy buggers with colostomy bags should just poo like the rest of us, amirite?

Nope, but just like colostomy bags, disposable nappies, single use sanitary items and the like can be a pharmacy item vs standard provision. It's simply not true that the majority of women using applicators have an underlying physical issue, for most it really is the convenience factor - and that's a crappy reason for destroying the planet. And yes, it's a female item, but the target is also because so many women flush tampons and applicators, causing further issue.

I do think that wet wipes should go first, but honestly, we need to do so.much that we can't have special exemptions for anything, really.

@caddywally @JacquesHammer @SachaStark @SinkGirl
Have so much appreciated your posts! It’s reassuring to know that there are women who understand.
Your point @SinkGirl that women shouldn’t have to visit their GP for prescriptions just because their anatomy is a different shape, for example, is spot on.

It’s the same point I’ve made regarding straws and wipes for disabled people. Why are we targeting people whose lives are already difficult? Shouldn’t we start with fruit and veg plastics! But oh no, it’s easier to get rid of straws and wipes, items people actually need!

I could never get the hang of using applicators of any type, so I used non-applicator tampons for 35 of my 37 menstruating years. I just couldn't work out how they were supposed to work! They were too complicated for me. Simply putting it in place with a finger was far simpler - and the spare tampons could fit in a small purse, which was another bonus.

Why can't you use cardboard applicators? They're no different from the plastic kind. It's not like they suddenly go soggy in the time it takes to insert a tampon.

I didn't get on very well with cardboard applicators as a teenager but plastic ones were only just coming in at that point and were quite a bit more expensive (mid 90s). My mum just bought me a tube of KY so I could put a drop on the end of the tampon. Sorted out the issue for me with inserting it.

Shouldn’t we start with fruit and veg plastics! But oh no, it’s easier to get rid of straws and wipes, items people actually need!

We need to get rid of all of these, and shed loads more. And in fact we needed to do it about twenty years ago. It's long beyond time to stop looking for excuses.

If people use plastic applicators for "medical reasons," what did people do before plastic tampon applicators were invented? Or even tampons were invented?

I'm only 67 and haven't used a tampon for about 10 years since the menopause. Tampax were all cardboard and not a problem - why on earth would the world need to use a non-recyclable/non biodegradable material for something like a tampon. Lillets didn't have an applicator at all and millions of women managed quite well with them!

@DaisyChains6

I'd imagine that before modern advancements in menstrual care there were more women in unnecessary pain and discomfort, leaking blood everywhere, missing work, having horrendous cramps etc (things that you obviously don't consider to be "medical reasons") , and the attitude was 'put up and shut up'. There are a lot of things that should be banned before this.

But you, like many others in this thread are unable to put yourself in someone else's shoes.

@PuzzledObserver

with you there!! Been a reusable nappy user from day 1 and never looked back. Honestly everyone should do it. It's perceived as a lot of extra work but really isn't. Maybe 10-15 minutes of your time every 2-3 days.

Watched a programme about landfill not that long ago and they found a nappy from 1986. Looked like it had only been pooed in yesterday.

re: sanitary wear, yes, as you have already realised, OP, YABU. Lots of options out there that don't involve plastic.

@SinkGirl

@Nat6999 Its not just Sainsburys trying to dictate what sanpro women should use There are women dictating it too as on this thread AND the period poverty threads where you get Lady Bountifuls saying that mooncups should be the main donation.

I use TENA Lady I have an overactive bladder so they double up as Sanpro I use the Extra most of the time and the Extra Plus when im on. ive never used tampons I tried once and it was painful I dont want to use a moon cup MY BODY MY CHOICE.

Lets face facts Mumsnet is NOT my body my choice Far from it. Threads about sanpro and weight prove this beyond any doubt.

I havent been abroad since 1986 and that was by coach and ferry on a school trip

Im child free by choice.

@NameChangerOfTheNorth I do think reusable nappies should be government subsidised and/or that the companies making them should offer payment schemes that allow you to pay over time. That would make them appeal to more people. Reusable nappy 'libraries' (yes, that exists) should also be better advertised - if people can try before they buy then they might feel more confident about buying and using them on their babies every day.

Not sure why you think they are 'nasty' though? Do you mean in design? Or in terms of the thought of disposing of the poo? There are plenty of beautiful designs and disposing of the poo really isn't a problem.

@Angelil

Do you think disposable nappies should be banned?

Op. I've not read the thread and not sure I will subject myself..I can only use tampax pearl and sometimes that is difficult and painful. I take the pill to reduce my periods,but so heavy that even the combined pill won't stop them..I'm actually considering a hysterectomy to deal with this. Was seriously anemic this year . And I can't even consider a coil if I'm terrified of a tampon. You are not alone!

@mum2jakie
You won't know if a Mooncup works for you if you don't give it a go. If it works for you then I guarantee you won't look back. You save money and the environment too so it's a total win.
I was a bit anxious about using one initially (what if it leaks? What if it gets stuck? etc) but my worries turned out to be unfounded.

@Stuckforthefourthtime
I totally agree about reusable wipes also needing to be prioritised. I use them for my son (instead of disposable/single use wet wipes) and initially I thought "good grief, we are going to go through these at a rate of knots" (a box of reusables contains 10-20 wipes compared to a pack of 50+ wet wipes). But actually you force yourself to be more economical (use one side of the wipe, fold it in half, use the other side of the wipe, fold it in half again even to finish off) and I'd say we use only one wipe per nappy change. 2-3 only if he is exceptionally pooey!

I think if I had a baby now I would try reusable nappies. My youngest is 6. Disposables were expensive and reusable nappies are so cute! I already use reusable sanpro and flannels instead of wipes.

Either I'm more aware now or the world has changed in the last 6 years. Maybe both!

Tampax used to use cardboard applicators yonks ago. Don't recall a problem with them!

@caddywally again, you won't know that a Mooncup won't work if you don't try it.

@BrightRight 100% with you on the nappy front!

@YesQueen I think @jennymanara's solution is good actually. Disposable nappies on prescription for the disabled. Reusables for everyone else. @TheInebriati I suspect you are talking about an extremely small minority of women in a developed Western country who cannot afford water or a washing machine.

@theministryhasfallen It's a false economy to say that if one reusable product costs £25 then reducing plastic is only for the wealthy. I bet plenty of people spend far more than £25 over time on disposable equivalents.

Babies need about 10ish nappy changes a day, don't they? Imagine how much plastic could be saved if disposable nappies were banned and people were forced to use reusables. Disposable nappies are a luxury surely?