Hi Super Supporters!
Today I’m updating because 2 years ago on the 17th February 2018 I came home from work and decided I had to take action. I had been going over and over the issue of plastic in period products for a few weeks and thought to myself ‘enough is enough, I’ve got to do something about it!’. I clicked on the ‘Start a petition’ button and now two years and over 200,000 signatures later, here we are today!
SO much has happened over the last two years with this campaign. In the first-year decision makers didn’t take me very seriously and likely thought I would go away with their long emails and excuses, but unfortunately for them, that didn’t happen. The second year however has been incredible, with manufacturers and supermarkets finally accepting requests to meet, listening and making significant changes.
A huge thank you to you all for your support, it wouldn’t be what it is today without it and by standing up together and raising our voices we are making a difference! I thought for the 2-year mark I would share what’s happened and where the campaign is with each decision maker to break it down since there is 14 of them!
Procter & Gamble (Owners of Tampax and Always) – We took action on them in February 2019, they were the first to meet me in May 2019 and we have an ongoing open dialogue.
Lil-Lets – In January 2019 we took action on them, I held a demonstration outside their HQ, and they wouldn’t allow me in to speak to them, but I did give them the petition box. I have a meeting with them this week.
Kimberly Clark (Kotex) – I have been sending email correspondence to them for 2 years, however the manufacturer has not responded.
Bodyform – We met in October 2019 and have an ongoing open dialogue. In February 2020 they have made packaging changes including listing product ingredients on packaging and switching to 50% renewable material on their ‘Ultra’ range.
Carefree – I have been sending email correspondence to them for 2 years, however the manufacturer and their parent company Edgewell Personal Care have not responded.
Tesco – We took action on them in May 2018, in response they made eco-friendly period products and reusables available in stores nationwide in October 2018. They accepted my request to meet and we did so in November 2019, we have an ongoing open dialogue.
Sainsbury’s – We took action on them in October 2018, in response they made eco-friendly period products and reusables available in stores in November 2019. They have been very receptive and stopped the production of their plastic applicators in August 2019, saving 2.7 tonnes of plastic annually. They accepted my request and we met in October 2019, we have an ongoing open dialogue.
Asda – I have been sending email correspondence to them for 2 years, however the supermarket has only ever responded with the usual plastic packaging information template. They made eco-friendly period products and reusables available in stores in 2018.
Morrisons – We took action on them in March/April 2019, they dealt with supporter’s emails sent to them by closing and ignoring them. I have sent emails, letters in the post, called them and even showed up unannounced at their head offices in October 2019 with the petition in hand, however, I was not allowed in or given the chance to speak to anyone. I continue to request a meeting, but this goes unanswered.
Co-operative – I have been sending emails to them since the campaign started and have been receiving correspondence for some time. They made eco-friendly options and reusables available in some shops in 2019 and have accepted my request to meet them, date to be confirmed.
Superdrug – We took action on them in July 2019, they replied with a statement. I continued to request a meeting, they accepted and met me in October 2019, we have an ongoing open dialogue.
Boots – We met in July 2019 where they outlined the steps they are taking going forward, some of these were shared in an update. They have made a number of eco-friendly period products and reusables available in stores and we have an ongoing open dialogue.
Aldi – We met in January 2020, they were receptive and took a good first step by stopping the production of their own-brand plastic tampon applicators, which saves 14 tonnes of plastic annually. We have an ongoing open dialogue.
Lidl – I have been sending email correspondence to them for 2 years, however the supermarket has only ever responded with the usual packaging information template.
When I meet decision makers my main focus is of course the plastic, however, I do make other suggestions about ways they can make a difference, these include:
- Making eco-friendly tampons and pads available in-stores, as well as a full range of reusable options too like pants, cloth pads and cups. We need all choices represented, so that we know they exist and can make the right decision for ourselves about what we use.
- Period manufacturers don’t have to include ingredients of these products on packaging, this is something I urge them to do, because of transparency and we should know what’s in them.
- Putting the ‘Do-Not-Flush’ logo onto individual tampons and pads to further discourage flushing, this is because the wrappers on individual items is the true point of disposal, not the outer packaging. It also does need to be made easily visible on outer packaging too.
I have now met half of the campaign’s decision makers and I’m due to meet a further two, Lil-Lets and The Co-op. There is so much going on right now and there are really positive conversations happening in the background with those that I have met about the changes they are looking to make this year, which is very exciting! I can’t share those right now, but what I can tell you is that the action we are taking together is really making a difference!
Thank you again for being part of this, for signing and for taking action with me. I will continue to keep you updated with any news as and when it happens.
Ella :)
Twitter: @ella_daish Instagram: @elladaish Facebook: @elladaish1
#EndPeriodPlastic