Choosing the right tampons is crucial for your health and well-being. With so many options available, it's essential to know what to look for to ensure you're using safe and reliable products. In this guide, we'll highlight the importance of checking the ingredients and certifications of tampons and explain the differences between OCS, GOTS, and ICEA certifications.
Importance of Ingredients
When selecting tampons, the first thing to consider is the ingredients. Many conventional tampons contain synthetic materials, pesticides, and chemicals that can be harmful to your body. Here are a few key points to keep in mind:
- Avoid Synthetic Materials: Look for tampons made from 100% organic cotton rather than synthetic fibers like rayon or blends. Synthetic materials can increase the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS) and other health issues.
- Chemical-Free: Ensure the tampons are free from chlorine, fragrances, dyes, and other harmful chemicals. These additives can cause irritation and disrupt your body’s natural balance.
- Transparent Ingredients: Choose brands that provide a full list of ingredients and are transparent about their manufacturing processes. This transparency helps build trust and ensures you're making a safe choice.
Understanding Certifications
Certifications are a reliable way to verify the safety and quality of tampons. Here’s a breakdown of the three major certifications to look for:
OCS (Organic Content Standard):
- Focus: Ensures the presence and amount of organic material in a product.
- Verification: Tracks the flow of raw materials from source to final product.
- Organic Content Requirements: To receive OCS certification, a product must contain a minimum of 5% organic material. Products containing 95-100% organic material can receive the OCS 100 certification, while those with 5-95% organic content can receive the OCS Blended certification. (Textile Exchange) (Textile Exchange) (ReSOURCE) (GCL) (Eurofins ESG).
- Best For: Basic assurance that the product contains organic ingredients.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard):
- Focus: Comprehensive certification covering both ecological and social criteria.
- Verification: Requires products to meet stringent environmental and social standards throughout the entire textile supply chain.
- Organic Content Requirements: For a product to be GOTS certified, it must contain a minimum of 70% organic fibers. Additionally, the entire supply chain, including processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, trading, and distribution, must meet GOTS standards. No blending with conventional fibers is allowed (Textile Exchange) (Textile Exchange) (Bioagricert)..
- Best For: High assurance of organic content along with ethical production practices.
ICEA (Environmental and Ethical Certification Institute):
- Focus: Certification emphasizing environmental and ethical standards in production.
- Verification: Ensures products meet high environmental and ethical standards. ICEA certification involves rigorous testing and adherence to strict guidelines to guarantee that products are safe, sustainably produced, and socially responsible (ICEA Bio) (ICEA Bio).
- Best For: Products that prioritize environmental sustainability and ethical manufacturing practices.
Making an Informed Choice
By paying attention to ingredients and certifications, you can make a more informed choice about the tampons you use. Tampon Tribe is proud to offer products that are 100% organic and certified by GOTS and ICEA, ensuring they are safe, ethical, and environmentally friendly.
For more detailed information, download our comprehensive PDF guide, How to Choose Safe Tampons. This guide will provide you with everything you need to know to make the best choice for your health and well-being.
Thank you for prioritizing your health with Tampon Tribe. Together, we can make a difference in menstrual health and sustainability.