Natracare is a British feminine hygiene brand that produces organic and plastic-free menstrual products, including tampons, sanitary pads and panty liners.
| Industry | Feminine hygiene |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founders | Susie Hewson |
| Headquarters | Bristol, England , United Kingdom |
| Products | Tampons sanitary pads |
| Website | natracare |
Natracare was founded in 1989 by Susie Hewson.[1][2] She decided to start the company after watching a television documentary about the environmental impact of dioxins. She arranged a £90,000 overdraft from NatWest. According to Hewson, established feminine hygiene companies tried to discredit research into the health risks of chemicals in menstrual products and engaged in a campaign of "harassment in the media and sending lawyers' letters".[3] In 1996, the company was the first to produce certified organic cotton tampons.[4] The company started producing wet wipes that may be safely flushed down the toilet in 2019.[5] Hewson was awarded an MBE in the 2023 Birthday Honours.[6]
Natracare is part of Bodywise (UK) Ltd, and is headquartered in Bristol. Natracare tampons are plastic-free, made with organic cotton, bioplastics and cardboard applicators that are biodegradable.[7] A 1994 study found that Natracare tampons produced no measurable amounts of the superantigen TSST-1, which causes toxic shock syndrome.[8]
Since 2019, Natracare has been a member of One Percent for the Planet.[6] Natracare was the first non-food product to receive a Korean LOHAS certification.[9] Natracare's makeup removal wipes have received COSMOS certification.[4] The company's wet wipes were the first product to qualify to use Water UK's "fine to flush" symbol.[5] Natracare won The Queen's Awards for Enterprise for export in 2018.[6]
As part of its Project #BeKind campaign, Natracare partnered with the United Kingdom charity Social Farms and Gardens in 2023 for composting trials of its products.[10] Natracare's advertising campaigns have included influencer marketing.[11]
References
edit- ^ Bobel, Chris (2010). New Blood: Third-Wave Feminism and the Politics of Menstruation. Rutgers University Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-0-8135-4953-8.
- ^ Reilly, Lee (July 1996). "The Trouble with Tampons". Vegetarian Times. p. 28.
- ^ Kelly, Liam (13 August 2023). "Get me to church — after my call with Waitrose". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022.
- ^ a b Sherberg, Ellen (20 March 2023). "In Her Own Words: Eco-warrior Susie Hewson fights for period products". Bizwomen. Archived from the original on 11 April 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ a b Smithers, Rebecca (26 February 2019). "First 'fine to flush' wet wipes approved in drive to tackle fatbergs". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Turner, Abigail (19 June 2023). "Bristol inventor of vegan sanitary products awarded MBE". Business Live. Archived from the original on 24 June 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ Lee, Elsa (28 July 2023). "Best Organic Tampons: Top 5 Sustainable Brands Most Recommended By Experts". Study Finds. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ Tierno, Philip M.; Hanna, Bruce A. (1994). "Propensity of Tampons and Barrier Contraceptives to Amplify Staphylococcus aureus Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin-I" (PDF). Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2 (3): 140–145. doi:10.1155/S1064744994000542. PMC 2364374. PMID 18475381. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ Shingrup, Smita (June 2013). "Ecolabels: A Green Sustainability Recital in Marketing - An Empirical Framework" (PDF). Voice of Research. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ Hillary, Annabel (8 August 2023). "North Wingfield Community Garden scheme chosen for Natracare's national composting trial". Yahoo News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
- ^ Pantony, Ali (12 January 2021). "This period campaign that powerfully shows a model wearing a maxi pad is going viral for good reason". Glamour UK. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.