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If the menstrual cup and period underwear fads haven’t swept you up, and you turn to tampons when Aunt Flo is in town, you may be interested in learning where to find the best organic tampons. Tampons spend hours a day inside our vaginas, which are highly porous membranes, so it’s worth a little time and energy to make sure the ones we’re using are made of safe, non-toxic ingredients.
We’ve got you covered! Read on to find out why it’s a great idea to make the switch to organic tampons.
What’s the Deal With Regular Tampons?
Regular tampons, like Tampax and Playtex, are made with non-organic cotton, as well as synthetic materials like rayon that’s usually bleached with chlorine. They’re often also synthetically fragranced and dyed. Plus, the string and applicator are usually plastic, which is bad for the environment.
The problem is that bleaching things with chlorine creates a dangerous byproduct: dioxin. Dioxin is not only carcinogenic (read: cancer-causing) but it is also a likely hormone disruptor. Two things we really don’t want all up in our lady business!
Enter: The organic tampon
Organic tampons are made of organic cotton that hasn’t been grown with pesticides. They’re not treated with chlorine or synthetic fragrances that aren’t good for us to have in our bodies.
Given their lack of these chemicals, they are also less likely to cause Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). A lot of women actually say their cramps are less intense with organic tampons than with regular ones.
Some organic tampons are also made without plastic, so you aren’t adding as much non-biodegradable waste to the environment when you dispose of them. Sometimes these companies do still use bio-plastic or plastic applicators, though, which is one thing you need to look out for if you’re trying to be more eco-friendly.
If you really want to reduce your tampon waste, you can opt for biodegradable cardboard applicators, applicator-free tampons, or reusable tampon applicators. They really do think of everything, don’t they?
Best Subscription Organic Tampons
Something we’re really loving about several of these organic tampon companies is their subscription services. It’s just so nice not to have to think about running to the store because it’s that time of the month again. You can have a box of tampons waiting on your door-step each month to keep you stocked up.
1. Lola
Price: $8.50- $9.50/box of 18 (subscription) or $11 for one box
If you subscribe to Lola , they will ship you three boxes every three months for $25.50. Shipping is free on orders $25 and up.
Lola’s non-applicator tampons are made with 100% cotton, including the string. They are made without synthetic fibers, chlorine bleach, dye, fragrance, and chemical additives.
They also make a BPA-free plastic applicator version and a cardboard applicator version of their tampons.
These tampons work very well in my experience. Each box comes in an assortment of regular, super, and super plus absorbency labels, depending on which kind of box you choose. The assortments can vary, so make sure to check before ordering!
2. Dame
Price: $15 for a box of 34 (subscription) or $17 for one
Dame has a similar subscription service as Lola, except their tampons come in boxes of 34. You choose what mix you want, which can come as regular, regular and super, regular and super plus, super and super plus, or all super plus.
Dame tampons are made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, free from toxins and plastic. GOTS certification is the gold standard of organic labels, so you know you’re getting high-quality organic cotton with these tampons.
3. My Box Shop
Price: $8.99- $9.99/box of 16. Free shipping on orders over $30.
This hilariously named tampon company offers a subscription service that ships every eight weeks, so you should plan on stocking up on a couple of boxes for each shipment if you go with a subscription.
Each box comes with either regular, super, or super plus absorbencies, unlikes the mixes of the Lola and Dame subscription boxes.
You can choose My Box Shop tampons with no applicator or with BPA-free plastic applicators. These GOTS certified organic tampons are chemical, toxin, and fragrance free.
4. Rael
Price: $14.39 for box of 32 (subscription) or $15.99 for 32
Rael tampons are made of certified organic cotton and claim eight-hour protection from leaks. You can get them with a BPA free plastic applicator or more eco-friendly cardboard applicators.
We really love that Rael’s cardboard applicators are fully biodegradable and can be thrown right in the compost bin when you’re done with them.
5. Cora
Cora offers customizable boxes delivered to your house every three months. You can choose what you need from light, regular, super, and super plus absorbencies.
Cora offers tampons with BPA-free plastic applicators or that are applicator free. Their tampons are made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton and are free of pesticides, dioxins, fragrance and chlorine. Note that their strings do contain a paraffin wax coating.
A nice extra with Cora is that they help provide pads & health education to girls in need around the world.
6. Oi organic tampons
Price: $7.49 for 13
Oi, which stands for the Organic Initiative, makes GOTS certified organic tampons with non-applicators and cardboard applicators that you can get delivered to you every month, every other months, or every three months.
Oi’s tampons are free from plastics, fragrances, chlorine/dioxins, dyes, and other chemicals. We like that their boxes, cardboard applicators, and paper wrappers are all biodegradable and recyclable.
These tampons come in regular and super absorbencies, so they have a few less options than some of the other brands we like.
Best Non-Subscription Organic Tampons
Here are our favorite certified organic cotton tampons that you can buy by the box, or you can even set up a recurring subscription through Amazon.
7. Emerita
Price: $10 for 16
Emerita is another organic cotton tampon company worth taking a look at. They offer their tampon boxes in three absorbencies.
Emerita’s tampons comes with a biodegradable cardboard applicator and are free of chlorine/dioxins, synthetic fragrances, and dyes.
8. Seventh Generation
Price: $8.99 for 18
You can find Seventh Generation tampons online, on Amazon, and in supermarkets (e.g. Whole Foods) and drug stores. They are made of GOTS certified cotton and use BPA-free, 99% plant-based applicators.
Seventh Generation uses 0% fragrances, dyes, deodorants, rayon, or chlorine bleaching in their tampons. They also donate 43 cents for every pack of tampons and pads they sell in the U.S. to nonprofits helping make period care more equitable.
9. Natracare
Price: $29 for pack of 4 (80 tampons)
Natracare makes their tampons out of 100% certified cotton — and no other materials. They come in a variety of absorbencies, from regular to super plus. These tampons are free of chlorine/dioxins, plastics, rayon, and dyes.
If using tampons without an applicator isn’t your thing, you can also get Natracare’s tampons with a biodegradable, compostable cardboard applicator.
Make Way for Cleaner Period Products
If you’re tired of tampons made with chlorine, dioxins, plastics, synthetic fragrances, and artificial dyes, organic tampons are bringing the green to to the crimson wave. You can rest easy knowing that your lady parts are only being exposed to clean, organic cotton, with no unwanted harmful toxins.
If you also want to stock up on pads, check out our top picks for the best organic pads made with soft, organic, breathable materials.
