Boots has pledged to end “period poverty” by helping women who are struggling to access basic sanitary products.
The chain will trial an in-store donation point in one of its branches, where customers will be able to leave sanitary products for distribution to a local food bank.
The company will also be contributing sanitary products, such as tampons and sanitary towels, to the collection.
The announcement comes after the government pledged to scrap the so-called “tampon tax” once they’d established a change in EU law, which would declassify sanitary products as “luxury items”.
However, due to ongoing Brexit negotiations, the tax is yet to be ended and in the meantime, money from the 5% VAT charge is being spent on women’s charities.
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Boots’ announcement follows research from VoucherCodesPro.co.uk which suggested women spend as much as £18,450 on periods over the course of their lifetime, on items such as sanitary products and new underwear to deal with spillages.
Some reports have claimed women are being forced to use newspaper in place of sanitary towels because basic hygiene products are too expensive.
Boots’ first sanitary collection point will appear in a store in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. If the scheme proves to be a success, the company will consider establishing donation points in stores nationwide.
Una Kent, director of communications and corporate social responsibility for Boots UK, told the Guardian: “Boots UK has always understood that access to basic hygiene items is hugely important for personal health and wellbeing, indeed the first non-pharmacy product we sold over a hundred years ago was a soap and sponge.
“Supporting the essential hygiene needs of people is as vital today as it was then and it’s these items that are often most needed by food banks.”
Feminist campaigner Laura Coryton launched the #EndPeriodTax online petition, which gained more than 320,000 supporters.
She said it’s “amazing” that Boots is supporting the campaign against period poverty.
“I am really excited that this issue is being taken to the next level by the superstore,” she told The Huffington Post UK.
“However, more big businesses need to get involved. Now that Boots and P&G are on our side, we’re hoping to convince others to help homeless girls and women across the country by donating sanitary products to homeless shelters and charities.”
Oli Frost, Josie Shedden and Sara Bakhaty, who run The Homeless Period - a group campaigning to provide homeless women with better access to sanitary products - have also welcomed the new plan.
“The Boots initiative is brilliant because it makes donating so much easier for people to do. It’s something we’ve been asking for for a while,” they told HuffPost UK.
“If people continue to lobby brands and the government, we think things will only get better.”
11 Questions Women Have About Their Periods
Why Is My Period Heavy?(01 of11)
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According to Dr. Suzanne Wong of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Joseph's Health Centre in Toronto, and associate professor at the University of Toronto Department of Medicine, there a several reasons as to why you can get an extremely heavy period. "Periods can be heavy in women with a diagnosis of uterine fibroids or polyps or a thickened uterus called Adenomyosis," Wong tells The Huffington Post Canada. Heavy bleeding has also been associated with a genetic bleeding condition called "von willebrand’s disease" in adolescence. Both scenarios should be examined by your doctor. Perimenopausal hormone shifts can also cause heavy bleeding in women between the ages of 41 and 51. Wong notes that periods during perimenopause may also be irregular before they cease all together. (credit:Amy Guip via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Too Light?(02 of11)
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Unlike extremely heavy periods, which can signal other health issues, light periods aren't as much of a concern. "The normal amount of bleeding is variable and ranges from light to heavy depending on the woman," Wong explains. As long as your periods are regularly occurring (every 23 to 35 days) there should be no concern. "If the amount of flow changes to become lighter it may represent a slight hormonal shift that is probably of no significance," Wong says. (credit:Piotr Marcinski via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Late?(03 of11)
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If pregnancy is not a possibility, a late period can usually be explained by a hormonal change. Factors like changes in weight, emotional stress, eating disorders, high performance athletics or having polycystic ovarian disease can cause women to have a delayed or missed period. "If you miss one period, this means that you did not ovulate that month and there should be no concern if they return to a normal pattern," Wong notes. If you aren't already keeping track of your period, Wong recommends getting a calendar or an app to do so. That way, if your periods are late (occurring at intervals greater than 35 days) persistently over six months, you'll know and be able to show your doctor. (credit:Jupiterimages via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Early?(04 of11)
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Just like late periods, early periods usually have a hormonal cause including stress, polycystic ovarian disease or thyroid hormone abnormality, says Wong. And abnormal spotting or bleeding can also be mistaken for an earlier period — if you are concerned, check with your doctor. (credit:LuminaStock via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Brownish In Colour?(05 of11)
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Brown coloured blood is common during the final days of your period. According to Wong, this is a result of the blood that has been settled in the uterus being expelled. (credit:gpointstudio via Getty Images)
Why Did I Miss My Period?(06 of11)
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"Missing a solitary period is likely from a temporary hormonal imbalance, usually caused by stress," says Wong. But birth control methods like the pill, patch, ring and IUD can also cause very light or non-existent bleeding. If your periods become regular again after a missed period, then there should be no cause for alarm. However, if you regularly miss periods or have an irregular bleeding pattern, you could be experiencing hormonal issues caused by stress, abnormal thyroid levels, or polycystic disease. As a reminder, if your period is irregular you should consult your doctor. (credit:Marjan_Apostolovic via Getty Images)
Why Is My Period Lasting More Than Seven Days?(07 of11)
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Periods can last anywhere between two and seven days, but anything more than this is considered a prolonged period. "If you have periods lasting more than seven days on a regular basis, you should contact your doctor," says Wong. Prolonged periods are often associated with heavy periods, and can lead to iron deficiency anemia that will affect your overall health. (credit:gldburger via Getty Images)
Why Am I Getting My Period Twice, While On The Pill?(08 of11)
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According to Wong, this is actually a normal side effect of starting a new birth control pill, especially on that is low dose and is referred to as "break through bleeding." If this is happening in the middle of the cycle, then it is likely hormonal and of no concern. But if it persists more than three months, Wong recommends seeing a doctor to adjust your medication and rule out other causes such as uterine/cervical polyps, and infection. It is also advised to get an updated pap smear and cervical cancer screening in this scenario. (credit:SCIENCE SOURCE via Getty Images)
Why Did I Start Spotting Early?(09 of11)
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Spotting can be a side effect of being on a birth control pill, or using a copper IUD, Wong explains. Spotting can be due to infections (STDs) and, or more concern, a sign of cervical cancer. Harmless causes of vaginal spotting between periods can also include polyps on the cervix or a condition called "cervical ectropion," which are sensitive cells that protrude on the exposed surface of the cervix and are prone to infection and abrasions, Wong explains. Your doctor should be able to detect both of these conditions during a pap smear. (credit:Dorling Kindersley via Getty Images)
Why Am I Clotting?(10 of11)
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"Clotting can be a sign that your periods are very heavy," says Wong. (Check out the heavy periods section for more information). (credit:PhotoAlto/Odilon Dimier via Getty Images)
Why Am I Pooping A Lot More?(11 of11)
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During your period, the lining of your uterus produces a natural chemical called prostaglandins, Wong says. Prostaglandins causes small contractions of the uterus to help shed the lining during your period which can cause cramping. It also affects the intestines and can increase movement of the bowel, which results in more frequent bowel movements and sometimes, diarrhea. (credit:Vast Photography via Getty Images)