Quality and composition of Tampax tampons
It is essential to know the composition of tampons. The objective of this article is to answer all your questions about tampons, their manufacturing process, and their composition. If you have any more questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us and we will get back to you.
What are Tampax tampons made of?
We understand that you want to take good care of yourself. From the food you eat to the personal products you use, safety is a big factor for all women.
Here at Tampax, we absolutely agree with you. This is a major concern both for our users and also for our female engineers at Tampax, who are not only researchers but above all women.
We share product safety assessments with scientists, healthcare professionals, and health authorities to ensure our products can be used safely. In addition, our products are tested by OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, one of the most stringent certifications for harmful substances.
The manufacture of tampons is not overly complex: each component selected meets a unique need, and is always certified by independent experts to ensure its safety.
Check out the table below to learn which components and materials are included in our tampons and why..
| Component | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Rayon | Natural-based fibres (wood pulp) that help absorb and retain liquids |
| Cotton | Natural fibres that help absorb and retain liquids |
| Polypropylene | Synthetic fibres that help channel fluid back to the core |
| Polyethylene | Synthetic fibres that enable smooth removal |
| Polyester | Thread that sews tampon together |
Our purification process ensures Tampax tampons are made without elemental chlorine bleaching and do not add any perfume to the tampon.
Learn about the composition of our tampons by clicking on each product category
SMOOTH REMOVAL LAYER:
The smooth removal layer is made of synthetic fibers like polyethylene and polypropylene. These fibers are often used in technical sport clothes and help here with smooth removal.
ABSORBENT CORE:
The core is made of cotton and rayon. The cotton comes from sustainable suppliers. It’s a plant-based ingredient purified for usage. Rayon is a material derived from purified wood pulp and is processed into an absorbent cellulose fiber. Rayon is a common component, used in tea bags for example. Both are certified Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex.
THREAD:
The thread is made of synthetic fibers like polyester that sew the tampon together.
STRING:
The string is made of cotton and synthetic fibers like polypropylene. They help attach the string to the core of the tampon and help channel fluid back to the core.
APPLICATOR:
Tampax plastic applicators are made without BPA and designed to make insertion easy and smooth.
Do you want to know more about the specific composition of your Tampax tampon?
| Tampax Tampons | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| Tampax Cardboard (Regular/Super/Super Plus) | Rayon, polyester and cotton. |
| Tampax Compak (Light/Regular/Super/Super Plus) | Rayon, polyester and cotton. |
| Tampax Pearl (Regular/Super/Super Plus) | Rayon, cotton, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyester. |
| Tampax Pearl Compak (Regular/Super/Super Plus) | Rayon, cotton, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyester. |
| Tampax Cotton Protection (Regular/Super) | 100% organic cotton core, polypropylene braid, polyester thread. |
Have a look at this video to understand our approach to ingredient safety.
Tampax tampons are safe to use
Every woman wants the best for her body. That is why Tampax is here to reassure you that our tampons are completely safe to use.
Each component is evaluated before being used in our tampons: more than 1,000 quality tests are conducted on raw materials.
We share our safety assessments with scientists, healthcare professionals and authorities to ensure that our products can be used safely. We also work with independent organisations, who perform more than 10,000 tests per year on our tampons and their components. These experts confirm that our tampons and the substances used in their manufacture are safe to use.
In addition, our products are tested by OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, one of the most stringent certifications for harmful substances.
Risk-free hygienic protection
Many consumer associations and governmental institutes have tested the safety of feminine hygiene products in recent years. It should be noted that all of these tests (Que Choisir, DGCCRF in France but also in Switzerland) have verified the safety of these products. Likewise, ANSES carried out a quantitative assessment of skin health risks. “It concluded that there was no health risk in tampons, sanitary napkins and/or pantyliners – whether these chemicals were detected or quantified.” – ANSES, Safety of intimate protection products, June 2018.
It is true that these same studies have occasionally reported the presence of traces of potentially toxic substances. These are only present in infinitesimal quantities (less than a trillionth per gram), can be found anywhere, and are considered safe by experts. What is more, we want to assure you that we do not use any of these substances and never intend to do so. All of our components are selected and evaluated in a rigorous way, and they exceed the requirements of the French and European authorities.
We are deeply committed to understanding the broader societal issues involved in the presence of traces in our environment by participating in a panel of independent experts in France, led by the JIM (International Journal of Medicine).
12 questions about the components of our tampons and their functionality
Don't want to give up on your training or physical exercises during your period, but are afraid about possible leakage? Worry not - Tampax Pearl Compak Regular tampons come with a unique MotionFit technology that gently expands and fits your body's unique shape, while a LeakGuard braid prevents any leakage before it even happens. With Tampax Pearl tampons you can exercise to your heart's content!