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!

the tampons with the plastic applicators in the early 80s were notorious for killing women with Toxic Shock Syndrome

Disposable nappies should be near the top of the hit list, IMO. (they need to find some affordable and not-nasty alternative first, though!).

YANBU. Sooooo many things are plastic. Picking on one thing like plastic straws, water bottles (as opposed to milk bottles or any other liquid bottle ) and in this case tampon applicators is such a gimmicky move. They should focus on their veg isles first, and reduce the size of bloody crisp packets and other packaging that is double the size it needs to be just to make it look like there’s more contents.

Posted too soon.

The definition of single use. Even disposable razors can be used more than once.

I do get what you mean by card ones nipping. I think they were better before they created the ones with the sharp open ends.

Why can't you use applicator free tampons? They are much easier to use.

I can see why the non-applicator ones are an issue, but really, the cardboard ones don't work for you?

Try some other brands of cardboard ones (the tescos on brand cardboard ones are pretty good).

frankly, there will be lots of small changes happening over the next couple of years, I expect to see a lot of the single use plastic disappearing from sale. we will all just have to get used to it.

TapasForTwo No idea! I just can't get them into the right position so I can always feel them.

Yes, YABU. Get a grip and use your finger to shove it up there.

TSSDNCOP

I'm glad it's not just me who's noticed the cardboard nipping!

I think other people have noted how the green switch will disproportionately impact on women.

Not saying that changes don't need to be made, they absolutely do, but women's lib has a lot to thank plastic and a disposable society for.

It's still primarily women who will be having to cart around reusable containers to the supermarkets, washing reusable nappies, compromising on sanitary protection options, using inferior cleaning products, walking children to school at the expense of their lunch hours and washing out infinite yoghurt pots so the rest of society (men) can feel better about their environmental impact.

So it will be.

Oh, thank goodness, I am so glad to hear this!

I bloody hate the plastic ones - not just on eco grounds (though I do hate them on those grounds), but also because they're just shit. My DP repeatedly ends up buying them by mistake when I ask for the cardboard ones.

Realistically we should both be using mooncups, anyway.

I walk on the beach most days, without fail I see plastic tampon applicators in the sand. There are other ways to deal with period blood without having them.

I didn’t realise this was happening, and am another one who finds the Pearl Tampax most comfortable - the others feel like they are just not sitting quite right.

I don't know why they put the teeth on the cardboard ones. They were fine before.

@BeckyButters some of us can't just 'shove it up there'

I remember plastic applicators coming in, and being horrified even then, as a teenager, at the plastic. Never tried one, card seemed cleaner and breaks down easily.
How are the plastic ones easier than the cardboard ? I found non applicator tampons hard to use, but the card are pretty easy.
I was reading on the BBC website the other day that there are now plastic pieces in SNOW. We are risking our own health and the health of every creature on the planet with our craze for plastic.

I know what you mean about the cardboard nipping, OP. I suffer from primary vaginismus, and it took many years for me to even be able to use tampons. The plastic applicators have a lovely smooth glide, whereas there is a definite “scraping” with the cardboard ones. If you have an extremely sensitive vagina, I’m sure you know the difference. And I definitely couldn’t use non-applicator tampons, as that would be excruciating pain for an entirely avoidable reason.

However, we all have to acknowledge that disposable plastic is just NOT the way forward anymore. I’m switching to ModiBodi pants on all but my heaviest day, maybe this is something you could try?

Has anyone tried the reusable applicator? And do you just use non-applicator tampons with it?

YABVU

Yes, YABU. Get a grip and use your finger to shove it up there.

That only works for some of us. The shape I am means that, unless you have a way to break the laws of physics, all that 'shoving it up there' will do is result in a very uncomfortable few moments and a kinked-up tampon that isn't doing its job.

And I get to enjoy 'special' postures for my smear test. Oh joy.

Due to contraception I now rarely have periods but when I do I much prefer plastic applicators.

Ultimately I think we are all on a reducing plastic journey and it’s really hard but I think that hitting sanpro now is not great. And some of the “just use your fingers to shove it up there” type comments are neither sensitive in their language nor in considering the reasons why plastic applicators may be preferred by some.

SarahAndQuack

It's interesting that some of us are vehemently pro-cardboard and others pro-plastic (ignoring environmental issues) - there obviously is a difference or people wouldn't have a strong preference either way.

Re the mooncup, not with my vagina. I'd have to settle for reusable pads, I think, if it really came down to it and only reusable products were available.

Cardboard ones nip me too plus they are often too slippery to grip as don’t have the edge bit to hold. But I’ll look at reusable applicators.

I can’t use ones without applicators either as my anatomy just means I can’t get it far enough in - short fingers, tilted cervix?

I don’t understand how you got on with tampax pearl anyway . When I tried them the damn things wouldn’t come out of the inserter anyway. I kept having to virtually pull them halfway out of the end. I know what you mean about the nipping too with cardboard ones but I switched to lilets applicator free. I also can’t get a mooncup not to leak so this is the best I can do up to now. If I had more money I’d go for those period pants and persevere with the cup.

Back in the day this was why many of us had ky jelly on the shelf next to the cardboard tampax - a blob of that helped them go on easier.