Natracare

Last updated
Natracare
Industry Feminine hygiene
Founded1989;36 years ago (1989)
FoundersSusie Hewson
Headquarters
Bristol, England
,
United Kingdom
Products Tampons
sanitary pads
Website natracare.com

Natracare is a British feminine hygiene brand that produces organic and plastic-free menstrual products, including tampons, sanitary pads and panty liners.

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

  1. ↑ Bobel, Chris (2010). New Blood: Third-Wave Feminism and the Politics of Menstruation. Rutgers University Press. p. 59. ISBN   978-0-8135-4953-8.
  2. ↑ Reilly, Lee (July 1996). "The Trouble with Tampons". Vegetarian Times. p. 28.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. 1 2 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.
  5. 1 2 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.
  6. 1 2 3 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.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ 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.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ 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.
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