Vaginas can easily become irritated by harsh chemicals and synthetic materials. Mood swings and cramping are enough to handle as is—who wants to add itching to the list? Instead of all the chemicals found in conventional tampons, give organic tampons a go (er, flow).
Now, tampons in general aren’t our favorite menstrual product in the world. In terms of safety and sustainability, menstrual cups and sustainable period underwear are our go to eco-friendly period products. But we also understand people can’t always—or simply don’t want to—use them.
If tampons are a necessity in your menstrual care kit, make sure they’re at least chemical-free tampons (and ideally plastic-free).
Fortunately, your (menstrual) cup overfloweth with options, which we’ll be using our breakthrough new Brand Rating System to sort through when next we refresh this article. This system includes 22 criteria, ranging from product safety and review-based performance to supply chain protection. To learn more about this new system, see here.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Some Super Organic Tampons To Get You Started
Cora organic cotton tampons, for starters. The trusted brand makes applicator and non-applicator 100% cotton options that won’t cramp your style.
Or join the tribe of users that have switched to Tampon Tribe’s organic cotton tampons. With cardboard applicators, they’re free of not only plastic, but perfumes, chlorine, and dioxins, making them perfect for sensitive skin.
Index: Non-Toxic & Chemical-Free Tampons
- Natracare Jump to brand
- Cora Jump to brand
- LOLA Jump to brand
- Tampon Tribe Jump to brand
- L. Jump to brand
- Rael Jump to brand
- Daye Jump to brand
Natracare
Natracare’s Organic Tampons
As the world’s first organic tampon creators, Natracare has had a lot of time to perfect the formula. Their tampons are made from GOTS-certified organic cotton that is processed in Turkey. As the tampon absorbs, it expands lengthwise for comfortable, regular to super+ coverage.
With easy-glide cardboard and BPA-free recycled plastic applicator options, their all natural tampons are totally biodegradable, just like their eco-friendly baby wipes.
About Natracare
The Ethical Company Organisation have repeatedly ranked Natracare at the top of their table for menstrual products. Unlike many menstrual care companies, their completely chlorine-free process does not contaminate natural resources and many of their products are compostable.
As members of 1% For The Planet, they support organizations combating plastic pollution, such as the Marine Conservation Society and The Plastic Pollution Coalition.
Cora
Cora’s Organic Tampons
We already know the organic period underwear from Cora can help you bleed easy, so we aren’t surprised that Cora organic cotton tampons are, too.
Free from pesticides, dioxins, fragrances, and chlorine, their 100% organic cotton tampon core and string is made from sustainable organic cotton that is both ICEA and GOTS-certified.
Cora stocks both plastic applicator and applicator-free options in a range of absorbency levels for their organic tampons, light to super absorbent. While we urge you to choose applicator-free, Cora organic tampons will soon feature plant-based plastic applicators instead of the current BPA-free plastic ones. They’re also replacing their plastic wrappers with paper.
About Cora
Community is one of their cor(a) values. For each purchase, Cora provides body literacy resources to people in need in India, Kenya, and the USA. 10% of total profits are put towards ending period poverty and 75% of those to BIPOC communities.
LOLA
LOLA’s Chemical-Free Tampons
Made with 100% organic cotton and a whole lot of lola-love, the gynecologist-approved tampons from LOLA feature clean ingredients and 360 leakproof technology. As the tampon absorbs, it expands in all directions for ultimate coverage of light to super+ flows.
All LOLA organic tampons are fragrance, toxin, and dye-free and come housed in BPA-free plastic or cardboard applicators.
If your definition of zero waste means truly no waste, check out their non-applicator tampons (and these zero waste hand soaps while you’re at it, because applicator free insertion can get a bit messy).
About LOLA
Their formal charity, LOLA Gives Back, supplies tampons to women in need with every Lola purchase. The program has donated over 6 million menstrual products so far to organizations like Days for Girls and The Pad Project.
Tampon Tribe
Tampon Tribe’s Non-Toxic Tampons
Tampon Tribe has a string (get it?) of all-natural tampons we can’t wait to tell you about. Their FDA-approved products are made from GOTS-certified organic cotton that follows the European Eco-Bio standard, meaning you won’t find viscose, chlorine, fragrances, dioxins, or glue in their vegan and hypoallergenic blend.
All organic tampons—super plus, super, or regular—feature a specialty weave design not to leave behind unwanted fibers.
With a biodegradable cardboard applicator (complete with rounded comfort tip) and a natural jute bag, these healthy tampons are the perfect addition to any zero waste bathroom.
About Tampon Tribe
This woman and LGBTQ-owned business supports fair labor practices and is plastic-neutral—but better! Because they don’t use plastic at all, instead of collecting a pound of ocean plastic waste for every pound used, they collect a pound for every pound NOT used.
Their Give One Get One program donates day packs of feminine hygiene products to women experiencing homelessness.
L.
L.’s Chemical-Free Tampons
When it comes to sustainability, L. organic tampons are a W in our book. They’r made from OEKO-TEX, OCS and Ecocert-certified organic cotton that’s free from chlorine, pesticides, rayon, fragrances, and dyes .
They do, however, contain some polyester to wick away moisture, as well a natural glycerin and paraffin wax coating for a smooth feeling. All ingredients are lab-tested for safety, but this means they’re not 100% organic cotton.
Absorbency levels range from 6 grams worth of light flow to a whopping 18 grams of flow.
With earthy branding and BPA-free plastic applicators, L. organic cotton tampons are Mother Nature approved.
About L.
L, isn’t just for “loving your body”. It’s also for “lending a hand”. The L. Solidarity Program awards grants to projects around the world working to increase long-lasting access to period care and health education while decreasing period stigma.
Rael
Rael’s Organic Tampons
Rael believes, “What we put into our bodies should be as clean as what comes out, and work as hard as we do.”
They have some of the best organic tampons for heavy flow folks, being made with leak-locker technology designed to expand widthwise for better, faster absorption of up to eight hours worth of menstrual fluid.
They come housed in a BPA-free plastic applicator or biodegradable cardboard applicator (we obviously recommend the latter) and individually wrapped in a sustainable paper wrapper.
About Rael
Rael was designed for real people, regardless of their income, ethnicity, or gender. They work hard to make effective menstrual products to help bridge the gap between period poverty and menstrual dignity. They work with an organization that collects bras, underwear, and menstrual hygiene products and delivers them to people in need.
Daye
Daye’s Organic Tampons
Daye’s non-toxic tampons have you covered day(e), and night.
Their mystical tampons are created from sustainably sourced organic cotton with a no-shed protective sleeve and optional CBD coating. The medical-grade CBD coating is created from closed-loop hemp that harnesses the magic of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that CBD oils are shown to have.
Each box contains both Nude (non-CBD) regular tampons and super tampons and CBD-coated super tampons housed in renewable sugarcane applicators and individually wrapped in the world’s only flushable wrappers. They even come with a chic aluminum case and organic cotton storage pouch.
About Daye
Daye is committed to making their products as environmentally friendly as possible. The Carbon-Neutral business partners with Pachama to offset their carbon footprint and combat deforestation.
As Student Beans partners, they offer a 20% discount to college students, meaning students have more money to put toward tuition and sustainable school supplies.
Why Choose Chemical-Free Tampons?
No, organic tampons don’t shorten your period, but there are plenty of other organic tampon benefits to convince you to switch.
Traditional non-organic tampons are made from a blend of rayon and cotton, both heavily absorbent (but not sustainable) materials Natural, conventional cotton used in traditional period products is grown using non-organic pesticides and has been dubbed the “dirtiest crop in the world”. Meanwhile, semi-synthetic rayon fabric is created using a number of chemical additives we don’t want anywhere near our privates. In the face of caustic soda, cramps don’t seem so bad…
These already chemical-laden ingredients are treated with even more chemicals during the manufacturing process, which usually involves adding chlorine bleach and fragrances. The toxic tampon is then housed in a plastic applicator that contains BPA, an endocrine disruptor linked to infertility.
Some chemicals that have been found in traditional tampons are dioxins, methylene chlorine, glyphosates, carbon disulfide, chloroform, styrene, and synthetic fragrances. Many of these are not just irritants, but are known carcinogens and reproductive toxins. Substances that are placed inside the vagina are absorbed by vaginal mucosa, and are able to pass almost directly to the bloodstream. Since tampons are worn for hours at a time, some of these chemicals get leached directly into the body.
The benefit of organic tampons made from chemical-free materials is that you simply aren’t exposing your body to these harmful chemicals.
Do they also reduce the risk of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) too?
Since TSS is caused by bacteria rather than chemicals, no. To reduce the chances of toxic shock syndrome, be sure to choose proper absorbency levels, change your tampons regularly, and wash your hands thoroughly.
How To Dispose Of Organic Tampons
If you’re like many, you might be wondering: can you flush organic tampons?
Let’s make one thing clear: tampons should never be flushed down the toilet, period. Even biodegradable tampons take time to break down, and most-wastewater systems simply aren’t capable of hosting them while they do.
Instead of chucking your tampons in the loo, you might be able to add them to your indoor compost bin. However, tampons are only compostable if 100% biodegradable and if the composting is done correctly in a high-heat system (ideally an industrial one) and creates compost that won’t go on your vegetable garden.
Otherwise, used tampons would go on the list of what not to compost. While nutrient dense, period blood can also contain pathogens and bacteria that can post a risk if not decomposed properly.
If you can’t safely compost your tampons, recycle what you can (i.e. wrappers) and chuck the rest in the waste bin.
