Free period products, including eco-friendly reusable brand Bloom & Nora, are now being made available to all state schools and colleges in England as the Department for Education launches its funded scheme.
The new scheme will give pupils easy and free access to period products at school or college. The aim is to help break down stigmas and ensure no young person’s education is disrupted by their period.
Schools and colleges across the country can now order a range of period products from supplier phs Direct; making period products readily available for all young people when they need them.
After receiving an activation email from phs on Monday 20 January, schools and colleges throughout England can order products from the purpose-built phs Direct portal.
Bloom & Nora and its sister company, TotsBots, a reusable ethical nappy brand, is based in Glasgow and employs 75 staff.
The company designs, manufactures and sells sustainably-sourced and environmentally-friendly nappies and reusable sanitary pads. Its award-winning product range is all made from recycled plastic bottles and sustainable bamboo towelling.
Both Bloom & Nora and TotsBots were recently acquired by Frugi, the leading UK organic childrenswear and lifestyle brand. With a growing consumer focus on sustainability and a rising interest in purchasing products that are environmentally friendly, all three brands sit at the forefront of this trend and are experiencing significant growth.
The recent acquisition by Frugi will enable the brands to further leverage this trend; capitalising on the ongoing shift in consumer behaviour towards more sustainable purchasing habits.
Commenting on the new scheme is Fiona Smyth, director at Bloom & Nora. “We are absolutely delighted to be supplying the scheme; not only helping to put an end to period poverty but also helping to raise awareness of the waste that disposable period products create. Giving young eco-warriors the option to try them for free is the perfect way forwards.
“One person can use up to 15,000 products in a lifetime, most of which end up in landfill. Considering that they will still be around 500 years from now, it’s really quite alarming. To make matters worse, the ones that don’t end up in landfill often end up on our beautiful shores.”
The scheme follows the government’s commitment last year to fully fund access to period products for learners at all state-funded primary schools, secondary schools and colleges.
It forms part of the Department’s ambition to improve the provision of products for young people; helping to support campaigns to break the stigma around periods.
Also commenting is David Taylor-Smith, CEO of phs Group. “We are proud to be working with the Department for Education as the supplier for such a worthy scheme. We have been busy preparing for the launch and have carefully chosen the best partners to provide eco-friendly period products to give all girls in education a choice.
“Period products are a necessity, not a luxury. We believe providing free products for young people will be a catalyst for change in creating period equality.
“We are ready for the first wave of demand and encourage schools and colleges to look out for their activation email and make their first order so they can start offering free products as soon as possible.”
For further information email periodproducts@phsdirect.co.uk or call 01827 255500.
