Emily Brown
Shoppers have praised Tesco for introducing a 'white envelope' scheme to help struggling customers with 'no questions asked'.
With an increased cost of living making it more difficult than ever for people to make ends meet, shoppers across the UK are being forced to live without certain products.
Both families and individuals are trying to cut costs by reducing energy usage and skipping out on the snacks, while many people who experience periods are being forced to prioritise other items over period products.
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A charity commissioned by the charity Actionaid last year found many people are opting to buy household essentials instead of period products, with around 12 percent of women in the UK affected by period poverty.
The charity describes period poverty as a 'global issue affecting those who don’t have access to the safe, hygienic menstrual products they need, and/or who are unable to manage their periods with dignity, sometimes due to community stigma and sanction'.
In a bid to help tackle this period poverty, Tesco stores across the country have introduced a 'white envelope' scheme which allows customers to get sanitary products for free in store.
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Shoppers don't need to explain themselves, and instead just need two words to get the products by asking customer service staff for a 'white envelope'.
The products will be given for free with 'no questions asked', and Tesco has introduced signs in its women's toilets to encourage customers to make use of the scheme.
One such sign reads: "To combat period poverty, Tesco want to ensure everyone has access to sanitary products. If you are in need, please go to the customer service desk and ask for a white envelope. No questions will be asked.”
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Shoppers have praised the scheme, which is similar to a system introduced in Morrisons in April 2021 which encourages customers to ask for a 'package for Sandy' in order to be given free sanitary products.
Twitter users have urged other supermarkets to follow suit, with Labour MP Luke Pollard writing: "Period Poverty is real. Well done to @Morrisons and @Tesco for introducing these discreet and essential schemes."
The introduction of the white envelope scheme at Tesco comes after period poverty spiked at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with charity Bloody Good Period revealing that it has been been supplying six times as many menstrual products to people in need than it had been before the coronavirus outbreak.