OH! Magazine - Australian Version June 2017 | Page 23

(Women’s Health)
THE IMPORTANCE OF
ORGANIC
Women are opting for organic food and skincare but forgetting about
one key product they use every month.
Liverpool St tampons are between 97.5
per cent biodegradable meaning they
will decompose over time. Conventional
tampons are made from synthetics that
do not completely break down.
ating organic produce and using
organic skincare is a priority to
more than a quarter of Australians,
however there is little awareness around
the importance of using organic tampons
each month.
E
A recent survey of 1,000 Australians,
conducted by organic tampon delivery
service Liverpool St, found that 34 per
cent of people believe that eating
organic produce is important while 29
per cent believe in using organic
produce. Founder of Liverpool St
Siobhan Komander says, ‘Although
many of us are opting for organic food
and skin products, we’re still reaching
for the same tampons we always find in
the supermarket aisles or at the chemist.
From my experience in building the
brand, it just doesn’t occur to people to
think about what’s inside their tampons.’
On average, women use between 8,000
and 11,000 tampons during their life
and manufacturers are not obliged to list
any ingredients on the packaging, as
they are with shampoos and skincare
products. ‘We simply don’t know what
goes into the tampons we’re using
because there is no obligation from
brands to tell us. How many women
assume they’re using cotton tampons
purely because they’re white?’ says
Siobhan.
Popular tampon brands admit their
products consist of rayon, polyester and
polyethylene which are all semi-
synthetic or synthetic. The raw material
polyethylene comes from is in fact crude
Siobhan herself was diagnosed with
diabetes when she was aged 36, which
led her to embrace a total overhaul of
her life. She changed her diet, her
exercise routine and her approach to
healthy living.
oil. By heating up naphtha which is
extracted from the oil, ethylene is
released which is transformed into
polyethylene in a factory. It is used in
packaging, pipes, fuel tanks, garbage
bags and, disturbingly, in tampons.
‘While our mouths and stomachs are full
of good enzymes which are in place to
break down toxins and flush them out,
our skin is extremely absorbent. The
skin inside and around our vaginas is
unbelievably delicate and can absorb
chemicals found in synthetic tampons.
Would you choose to insert phthalates,
petroleum-based chemicals, parabens
and aluminium salts in your vagina on a
monthly basis?’ says Siobhan.
An organic tampon is made from 100
per cent raw cotton, meaning it is
hypoallergenic and compatible with the
body’s pH levels. Organic tampons are
also perfume and viscous free and there
is no chlorine or dioxin used in the
bleaching process. The earth also
benefits from the use of organic
tampons.
Then in 2015, her diabetes was
spiralling out of control and her stress
levels were sky high, which led to a
series of issues. ‘This forced me to take
a good, hard look at every product in my
life. The more you read and learn, the
more concerning it becomes. I switched
shampoos, body wash and skincare,’
says Siobhan. ‘I realised I needed to
make the switch for my tampons too –
after all, they’re not just going on my
body but inside it. When I was searching
for organic tampons online I found the
process a challenge.’
This sparked an idea for a business – a
natural and organic tampon delivery
service that worked on a subscription
model.
Liverpool St delivers organic tampons
made from 100 per cent cotton to
women around Australia, including in
rural areas, on a monthly basis. Liverpool
St tampons are certified organic by ICEA
under The Global Organic Textile
Standard. To find out more visit
www.liverpool.st
OH! MAGAZINE ( JUNE 2017 )
23