The menstrual cycle is still a taboo today, especially in the workplace. Many women, in fact, would like to have free access to sanitary pads in public offices, universities and companies but this is often not talked about openly due to shame or discomfort. To meet this need, Initialthe provider of out-of-home hygiene solutions, launches Dignity. This is a service installation of dispensers for the supply of sanitary pads inside women’s bathrooms and periodic supply of the same.
Menstrual cycle: here are the free sanitary pad dispensers
Commercial establishments, offices, companies and institutions that choose to purchase this service make available to their users dispensers that allow free access to sanitary pads. Initial, in fact, takes care of the installation and cyclical replenishment of the buffers, calculating the quantities necessary for each individual structure.
Exist two types of dispensers: the single one, equipped only with external absorbents in 100% organic cotton, and the double one, which offers the possibility to choose between external ones and interior, with an absorbent core made of organic cotton fibres. All swabs are individually packaged, are breathable and hypoallergenic and have the ICEA Certification (Institute for Environmental Ethical Certification).
This service represents a form of cultural progress
This service was designed to guarantee female well-being even outside the home environment, which is obviously considered the most comfortable. The idea behind this initiative is to normalize the menstrual cycleallowing optimal management of emergencies also in the workplace (and beyond).
«We are certain that this new service represents a true form of cultural progress. 93% of the female population interviewed for our survey commissioned to mUp Research and carried out in November 2023 through 1607 interviews conducted on individuals aged between 16 and 60 think so”, comments Elena Ossanna of Rentokil Initial Italia. «83% of the male sample interviewed also believes the introduction of this service is perfect for breaking down the current cultural taboos linked to the menstrual cycle».
Menstrual cycle: free sanitary napkin dispensers also respond to economic needs
This precious initiative also responds to another need, this time of an economic nature: from the same survey commissioned by Initial it emerged, in fact, that 82% of women and 71% of men believe it is unfair that Tampon Taxi.e. the VAT rate applied to sanitary pads, both recently went from 5% to 10%. This measure weighs on the shopping basket especially of women residing in Southern Italy and the Islands (76%).
Not only. The monthly expense for the purchase of swabs is around 10 euros per person: a figure considered too high especially for very young girls (30%). Here, in light of these data, the Dignity service can offer a valid solution to lighten the pockets of Italian women.