Öko-Test has tested sanitary napkins and panty liners. The result: Conventional products are particularly convincing. We looked at why.
Sanitary napkins, panty liners and the like should reliably protect women and be comfortable to wear during their periods. For the current issue, Öko-Test has put 25 sanitary napkins and 25 panty liners to a practical test and sent them to the laboratory for a pollutant analysis. All test results are free of charge.
Products from eco-providers such as Eco by Naty, Mylily, Organyc, Padsy Bonjo, Natracare and Einhorn were also included. They often have a top made of organic cotton, others are made entirely of natural materials such as organic cotton and cellulose.
Öko-Test bandages and panty liners
So that bandages can absorb a lot of liquid, they consist of several layers: the top made of cellulose, synthetic fibers, polymers or cotton. A absorbent core made of cellulose with maxi bandages or one with superabsorbent: swellable spheres, more precisely plastic polymers, which can absorb many times their own weight in liquid.
The problem with superabsorbents: they are not biodegradable and can only be insufficiently recycled. Eco manufacturers do without such superabsorbents. They use organic cotton or cellulose as the absorbent layer.
The last layer of the bandage forms a waterproof underside. It ends with an adhesive strip.
Öko-Test examines for ingredients and suitability for everyday use
Two factors played a role in the study. On the one hand, these were critical substances that irritate the skin or can be problematic for health and the environment:
- Formaldehyde, which is used as a wet strength agent to keep cellulose fibers stable even in damp conditions
- Organohalogen compounds that can reach the deposits via the bleaching of the pulp
- Optical brighteners
On the other hand, it was everyday usability:
- Whether the products absorb enough liquid and keep it so that the skin stays dry
- Whether they protect the laundry, whether residues from the adhesive strip remain
- Whether they stick well in the panties, even with a lot of movement
You can find all results and details in Issue 03/2020 from Öko-Test as well free of charge at www.ökotest.de,
The result: eco-labels perform the worst
The Öko-Test verdict is disappointing, of all the eco-brands receive mostly bad reviews – the products cannot withstand the practical test. You have to know: Öko-Test only uses this for evaluation.
The results in detail:
- The “very good” rated panty liners reliably protect the underwear in addition to the tampon or the menstrual cup. These include conventional products such as Jessa panty liners from dm or Facelle So Free from Rossmann.
- The unicorn and facelle slip-flip slip pads left residues of the adhesive strips when removed.
- Many ultra sanitary napkins did very well in the test. Including Jessa ultra bandages from dm.
- All of the maxi bandages and five ultra bandages are rated “good”. These include the well-known Always bandages from the Procter & Gamble group and Oliva sanitary napkins from Aldi.
- The worst among the Ultras is the Natracare bandage. Although the eco-product consists of organic cotton and vegetable cellulose, is also plastic-free and chlorine-free, contains no synthetic substances or chemical additives and is also biodegradable and compostable.
Öko-Test does not devalue products with problematic substances
In the 2017 tampon and menstrual cup test, Öko-Test also explained what the problem with organic halogen compounds is: They should be able to trigger allergies. Öko-Test does not devalue products with these compounds in the current test.
The laboratory found these connections in all maxi bandages, the three “very good” ultra bandages and in four panty liners. e.g.
- Jessa Ultra-Bandage Active Shape, normal with wings from dm
- Always Cotton Protection Dailies panty liners normal
- Facelle 16 ultra-bandages, normal with wings from Rossmann
Utopia thinks: Conventional sanitary napkins and panty liners are an environmental problem. Large quantities of raw materials such as wood, cotton and petroleum are required for production. They also create a lot of garbage. Organic products also cause waste and use resources. Still, they’re a better choice. They consist partly or – even better – completely of sustainable materials such as organic cotton, which is more environmentally friendly than conventional cotton and also free of pesticides and genetic engineering.
Even better are monthly hygiene products that can be reused, such as menstrual cups, washable pads and panty liners. More here: Usually better: alternatives to o.b., Always & Co.and here: Menstrual cup: the garbage-free alternative to tampons and sanitary napkins
You can find all test results in Issue 03/2020 from Öko-Test as well free of charge at www.ökotest.de,
Read more on Techzle.com:
- Period underwear: how recommendable are period panties?
- 10 amazing things that exist without plastic
- Lavera, Alverde & Co .: These natural cosmetic brands offer better make-up