Final Project

The Source - Essay

Period products are essential for any menstruating person. Finding a product and brand that you trust brings necessary cleanliness and most importantly, peace of mind to the user. In turn, aside from the personal care aspect of it, one’s relationship with the products they use (or lack thereof) during menstruation makes it a very personal choice. One brand may suit one person’s body very well, where another may be terrible for it. Since menstrual products are a special necessity for so many people, the available market is very diverse, offering many varieties of products to choose from. Pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and period-absorbing underwear are just a few of the commodities that menstruating people regularly seek out in order to manage their health. In our capitalistic society, the market is fully saturated with different brands and niches that one can try until they find what works for them. So why would you settle for anything less than perfect?

The specific components of a product are extremely important, especially when it pertains to your health and wellbeing. But aside from their individual safety, the sourcing of these components can decide whether or not they are worth purchasing for a potential customer. Within the realm of menstrual products, I will be focusing on tampons specifically and how they are sourced from start to finish.

The main components of a tampon are the body, the string, and an optional applicator. The body of the tampon is made out of an absorbent material, and once inserted, will grow in size depending on how much menstrual blood it catches. The string of the tampon is attached to the body and hangs externally. The user will pull on its string to remove it. The third and last part of a tampon is the applicator, which some manufacturers opt to not include in their final product. The purpose of the applicator is to provide a clean and simple way to insert the tampon into the vagina. Applicators usually consist of two parts themselves, with the main shell acting as a cover for the body of the tampon, which is connected to a plunger. In order to use the tampon, the applicator will be inserted into the opening of the vagina. Then, the user will push the plunger in to expel the body of the tampon from the main shell. Finally, the applicator can be fully removed, and the string of the tampon can be seen externally.

The menstrual product and sexual health company LOLA has gained lots of notoriety for their simplistic approach to an otherwise nuanced industry. They boast transparency with their customer base, and promote conscious spending and consumer culture. They do not test on animals, and their products have received numerous recognitions by the proper accreditation boards in order for them to advertise that their tampons are organic and ethically made.

It may seem surprising that not all tampons are created the same, but that is exactly the case. The industry is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration to ensure baseline safety for users, but aside from that, little information is given to the customer regarding what exactly is in them. In the United States, “tampons are categorized as medical devices by the Food and Drug Administration, meaning that manufacturers are not federally required to disclose the products' ingredients on the packaging,” (Sanchez). Even though the ingredients may not be explicitly listed on the box, the FDA explains on their website that “FDA-cleared tampons are made of cotton, rayon, or a blend of the two. The absorbent fibers… are made with a bleaching process that is free from elemental chlorine, which also prevents products from having dangerous levels of dioxin (a type of pollutant found in the environment),” (FDA). They further explain that tampons undergo extensive federal testing to ensure that “they are as safe and effective as (substantially equivalent to) legally marketed tampons,” (FDA). In addition, the FDA reviews manufacturer-submitted data regarding the results of their testing in categories like absorbency, strength, integrity, and whether or not they enhance the growth of bacteria in the vagina (FDA). Despite the federal regulation, New York state was the first state to require companies to disclose that information in 2019, specifically in the form of percentages on the boxes (Sanchez). LOLA lists the ingredients of their products on their website voluntarily, making them an outlier in the industry.

They sell three different types of tampons on their website, the first and most popular being their organic cotton plastic applicator tampon. The ingredients are listed as “100% organic cotton (tampon and string), BPA-free plastic (applicator),” (“Compact Plastic Applicator Tampons”). The second type of applicator tampon that they sell is a cardboard one. The ingredients are “100% organic cotton (tampon and string), cardboard (applicator),” (Cardboard Applicator Tampons”). And finally, the last is a non-applicator tampon with a string that comes individually wrapped in a bullet-shape. The ingredients for this product are simply “100% organic cotton (tampon and string),” (“Non-Applicator Tampons”).

The LOLA site features accreditations from organizations that speak to the products’ merit but also their origin. For example, LOLA tampons have been awarded ICEA Global Organic Textile Standard Status, which is “the most important standard for sustainable production of garments and textiles made from natural fibers,” (ICEA). Products can be certified organic by at least one of three measures: textile productions, manufacturing activity, or chemicals for the textile industry. LOLA does not specify which category their products fall under on their website, but it can be inferred that the textiles criteria is most applicable. Regardless, this honor speaks to the integrity and source of the tampons. Another logo that appears on their site is the symbol for the National Cotton Council of America. LOLA claims that their tampons are made out of 100% organic cotton, so affiliating themselves with the National Cotton Council of America indicates that they source the cotton in their products from this organization.

Although LOLA does not specifically list which grower they source their cotton from, it can be assumed that they are associated with the National Cotton Council. The NCC website itself features information about the growth, harvesting, and rendering of specialized cotton products, like textiles or cottonseed oil. The growers that are associated with the NCC are located within the “Cotton Belt”, a region across the southeast United States, but also other states as far west as California and as far east as Virginia. According to the organization, “Planting begins as early as Feb. 1 in South Texas and as late as June 1 in northern areas of the Cotton Belt,” (NCC). Harvesting then begins in the beginning of July, and lasts through the end of November in northern states. The process for harvesting cotton includes three specialized machines (cotton picking machines, cotton stripping machines, and a broadcaster) and human labor as well. Harvested cotton is stored in modules, which hold 13-15 bales, which themselves are left out in the field. This process is done at over 18,600 farms across the United States, covering 9.8 million acres of land, and producing 17 million bales of cotton from the years 2010-2012 (NCC). For reference, one bale of cotton weighs 500 pounds. Overall, this industry is estimated to have made “$27 billion in revenues to various industry segments. Cotton's total economic activity is estimated at some $100 billion,” making it an integral part of the United States’ economy as a whole (NCC).

The next two main ingredients in the different varieties of their tampons are cardboard and BPA-free plastic for the applicators. Since LOLA as a company places the most emphasis on the sustainability of their cotton products, little is known about the sourcing of their cardboard or plastic applicators. As a result, assumptions will have to be made off of what little information is given.

According to the LOLA site, the cardboard applicators are made with “virgin fiber,” (“What ingredients are LOLA tampons made with?”). This means that they are not made from recycled cardboard, so they are made fresh. LOLA likely partners with a cardboard manufacturer in order to accomplish this. Cardboard is paper, so it comes from trees from around the world. To ensure a smooth finish on the paper, it “needs to be made from softwood trees that typically have long fibres, such as Pine, Spruce and Fir trees,” (Brown). Then, “wood chips that are pulped are clean and suitable,” enough for further processing (Brown). This is the process that creates the basic cardboard paper, which can then be cut and further developed either at the plant or in Europe. Depending on where that manufacturer is located, the finished cardboard product would be shipped to the larger plant in Europe.

Similar to cardboard, LOLA outsources their plastic production for the tampon applicators. They claim to use BPA-free plastic, which is good for the body. According to the National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, BPA “is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins,” (NIEHS). Polycarbonate plastics themselves are often found in plastic packaging for foods and drinks, and epoxy resins can coat food cans and bottle tops in a lacquer form. BPA is a worrisome component of plastic because of its health risks and the public’s widespread exposure to it. In the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), the CDC “found detectable levels of BPA in 93% of 2517 urine samples from people six years and older,” (NIEHS). Exposure to BPA at this degree means that the large majority of the population may suffer from the health risks of it. A Mayo Clinic article explains that BPA has “possible health effects… on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants and children. It can also affect children's behavior. [There is] a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure,” (Bauer). Since BPA is produced from plastic, the whole process of making BPA-free plastic would occur in an industrial factory setting.

Plastics in general are initially sourced from natural sources like natural gas or oil that are refined into ethane and propane (“How Are Plastics Made?”). Depending on what manufacturer makes LOLA plastic, that oil can be sourced from anywhere around the world. Then, the ethane and propane are “cracked” through a process of high heating, which converts them into monomers like ethylene and propylene (“How Are Plastics Made?”). The monomers are then “combined with a catalyst to create a polymer ‘fluff,’ which looks like powdered laundry detergent,” (“How Are Plastics Made?”). The powder is then fed into an extruder, which heats and melts it, and feeds it into a pipe. The plastic then cools in its present shape of a long tube. For shipping, the plastic is cut into “small pellets” that can be then re-melted by secondary manufacturers into any appropriate plastic product (“How Are Plastics Made?”). In the process of making BPA-free plastic, removing BPA means that it must be replaced with another chemical that acts in the same way, like preventing corrosion in the inside of cans (“BPA: Is It Safe?”). Even though LOLA does not specify who their plastic manufacturer is, it is known that bisphenol S and bisphenol F are common replacements for BPA (Sparrow). These may carry their own controversial health risks, but more research needs to be done on the subject in order to draw a concrete conclusion on the matter.

LOLA has referenced partnering with manufacturers in order to produce their tampons and other products. Under the frequently asked question, “Where are LOLA products made?” the website hosts this response: “LOLA tampons and liners are made in Europe and packed specifically for you in the USA,” (“Where are LOLA period products made?”). Therefore, that alludes to the fact that all of the raw and partially-manufactured materials are shipped to a central manufacturing location in Europe, where the tampons are assembled. Knowing that LOLA uses American cotton, it can be reasoned that the cotton is shipped overseas via boat, one of the most time and cost-efficient methods of industrial travel. From there, the cotton is shipped locally to the manufacturing plant, most likely by truck. Depending on where the LOLA plastic and cardboard is sourced from, it is likely shipped by boat and then truck to the plant, as well. Then, the finished tampons are shipped back to the United States in a similar way for packing and order fulfillment.

Despite all of this shipping and manufacturing in order to create one product, they are fairly priced on the LOLA website. One box of plastic applicator tampons starts at about $9, which is remarkable considering all of the organizations that have to work together in harmony in order to make this product. It is a feat of the global supply chain and its ability to keep the world economy moving at an infamothable rate.

When New York passed legislation requiring companies to list ingredients on menstrual products, Governor Andrew Cuomo cited violated consumer protections for those who menstruate. He called this injustice “part of the pervasive culture of inequality in our society that has gone on for too long,” (Sanchez). With companies like LOLA at the forefront of the menstrual product sector of the economy, their ability to embrace transparency and ethical consumption will transform what it means for consumers to engage with the products around them. Even larger, it will take steps to end those aforementioned inequalities and create a culture of inclusivity and honesty with corporations.

Works Cited

“Bisphenol A (BPA).” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 5 Mar. 2020, www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/sya-bpa/index.cfm.

“BPA: Is It Safe?” This Is Plastics, This Is Plastics, 30 Dec. 2019, thisisplastics.com/safety/bpa-is-it-safe/.

Brent A. Bauer, M.D. “Tips to Reduce BPA Exposure.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 18 Dec. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/bpa/fq-20058331.

Brown, Tim. “How a Cardboard Box Is Made.” The Manufacturer, The Manufacturer, 18 Sept. 2014, www.themanufacturer.com/articles/how-a-cardboard-box-is-made/.

Commissioner, Office of the. “The Facts on Tampons-and How to Use Them Safely.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, 30 Sept. 2020, www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/facts-tampons-and-how-use-them-safely.

“How Are Plastics Made?” This Is Plastics, This Is Plastics, 6 Jan. 2020, thisisplastics.com/plastics-101/how-are-plastics-made/#:~:text=Plastics%20are%20mad%20from%20raw,refined%20into%20ethane%20and%20propane.&text=Ethane%20an%20propane%20are%20then,them%20into%20ethylene%20and%20propylene.&text=Tese%20materials%20are%20combined%20together%20to%20create%20different%20pymers.

ICEA Certifica. “Global Organic Textile Standard.” ICEA Certifica, ICEA Certifica, icea.bio/en/certifications/non-food/biological-and-sustainable-textile-products/global-organic-textile-standard/.

LOLA. “Cardboard Applicator Tampons.” LOLA, LOLA, www.mylola.com/collections/periods/products/cardboard-applicator-tampons.

LOLA. “Compact Plastic Applicator Tampons.” LOLA, LOLA, www.mylola.com/collections/periods/products/applicator-tampons.

LOLA. “Non-Applicator Tampons.” LOLA, LOLA, www.mylola.com/collections/periods/products/non-applicator-tampons.

LOLA. What Ingredients Are LOLA Tampons Made with?, LOLA, help.mylola.com/what-are-the-ingredients-in-lola-tampons-rygRIVauLM.

LOLA. Where Are LOLA Period Products Made?, LOLA, help.mylola.com/where-are-lola-products-made-rk6LNp_8G#:~:text=LOLA%20tampon%20and%20liners%20are,so%20they%20know%20their%20stuff.

National Cotton Council of America. “Frequently Asked Questions.” Frequently Asked Questions- National Cotton Council, National Cotton Council of America, www.cotton.org/edu/faq/index.cfm.

Sanchez, Chelsey. “New York Wants You to Know What's in Your Tampons.” Harper's BAZAAR, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Oct. 2019, www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/politics/a29462900/new-york-menstrual-product-ingredentslaw/#:~:text=Currently%2C%20tampons%20are%20categorized%20as,products'%0ingredients%20on%20the%20packaging.

Sparrow, Norbert. “BPA Alternatives Also Pose Health Risks, Study Finds.” Plasticstoday.com, Plastics Today, 30 July 2019, www.plasticstoday.com/medical/bpa-alternatives-also-pose-health-risks-study-finds.