It’s finally here! Our NEW BPA-Free Plastic Applicator Organic Cotton Tampons collection. The launch of these new items was an ongoing debate here at our offices and ultimately we took our cue from you. Here’s a little bit more about why Maxim has decided to utilize BPA-Free Plastic in its latest addition of organic cotton tampons and what makes them so different.
Consumer Demand
While Maxim is well known for its industry leading Cardboard Applicator Tampons, the simple fact remains that most Tampon users in the USA prefer Plastic Applicators over Cardboard Applicator or Non-Applicator options.
Although eco-consciousness is one of Maxim’s founding principles, our core mission revolves around providing healthier product solutions, which is why the core of all Maxim’s Tampons are and will always be made from 100% ICEA Certified Organic Cotton with no harmful chemical additives, no synthetics and no fragrances. This is the most important factor to us because the applicator of a tampon only comes in contact with the body for a few a seconds, while the organic cotton core, can stay inside the body for hours.
If most U.S. consumers are using Plastic Applicator Tampons, Maxim believes there is a need to offer those consumers the choice to use safe, Organic Cotton, chlorine-free Tampons, even if it means manufacturing Plastic Applicators. It is of the utmost importance to us that consumers have the option to purchase safer Tampons, no matter what their Applicator preference may be.
Why BPA-Free Plastic?
When considering the above, we also made sure not to go with your typical plastic. We chose the healthiest of the bunch – BPA Free Plastic! Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an industrial chemical that has been used since the 1960s to make certain plastics and resins. Maxim ensured that its Plastic Applicators do not contain this chemical because dermal contact with BPA can cause skin irritation and skin sensitization. BPA can also act as an endocrine disruptor. It basically tricks the body in to thinking it’s a hormone and as a result messes with the production, secretion, and function of natural hormones. That’s the last thing we need when our hormones are already all over the place from being on our periods!
Pull & Lock Applicator Design
In addition to going above and beyond with our Plastic Applicator Tampons’ ingredients, we wanted to offer the same with how they function. They are designed with a unique Pull & Lock technology system which provides the carrying convenience of a compact sized Tampon with the easy to use and insert ability of a standard full length tampon applicator. All you have to do is “pull and lock” the applicator in to place when you’re ready to use it. The clicking sound of the applicator locking in to place ensures that the organic cotton tampon core won’t go to waste and will get positioned more accurately in to the preferred part of the body. As always, the applicator is also designed with a rounded tip and finger grip grooves to help with a more comfortable insertion process as well.
To Plastic or Not To Plastic…That is the Question
Over the past several years there have been many manufacturers utilizing plant-based plastic in lieu of regular plastic. The end-goal is to cease the use of plastic all together, until that time however, there are consistent efforts to develop and offer more eco-friendly plastics for everyday-use products (like Tampon Applicators).
The following is an excerpt from Columbia University’s Earth Institute blog which discusses efforts to develop more environmentally friendly plastics. As this excerpt explains, bioplastics/plant based plastics are not yet the best choice of plastics to use from an environmental standpoint:
“While bioplastics are generally considered to be more eco-friendly than traditional plastics, a 2010 study from the University of Pittsburgh found that wasn’t necessarily true when the materials’ life cycles were taken into consideration.
The study compared seven traditional plastics, four bioplastics and one made from both fossil fuel and renewable sources. The researchers determined that bioplastics production resulted in greater amounts of pollutants, due to the fertilizers and pesticides used in growing the crops and the chemical processing needed to turn organic material into plastic. The bioplastics also contributed more to ozone depletion than the traditional plastics, and required extensive land use. B-PET, the hybrid plastic, was found to have the highest potential for toxic effects on ecosystems and the most carcinogens, and scored the worst in the life cycle analysis because it combined the negative impacts of both agriculture and chemical processing.”
While Plastic Applicators may not be not ideal for our environment, the bottom line is organic cotton tampons are better for our health. As more eco-friendly plastic options become available,you can be sure Maxim will be at the forefront of developing more options for you. Until then, head on over here to check out our latest Organic Cotton BPA Free Plastic Applicator Tampons!
**Sources:
The Truth About Bioplastics