8 Best Organic Tampons of 2021

The ingredients you put in your body matter, and that includes every part of your body. Learn our top choices for organic tampons for healthier hygiene products.

You’ve cleaned up a lot of the products you use, from your laundry detergent to your grocery bags to the way you buy packaged food. You’re reading labels and considering sustainability, but there may be one important area you’re overlooking — your tampons.

Think of how many tampons you’ve likely used in your life and how many are in your future. Now think about the delicate area that comes in contact with them. It’s a product you should want the very best quality from, right? Unfortunately, many traditional tampons are filled with really toxic ingredients, like glyphosate, bleach, chlorine, rayon, pesticides, fragrances, and a myriad of synthetic materials. These aren’t the chemicals you want for your down-there care. They’re known hormone disruptors and can wreak havoc on your body. They disrupt vaginal pH and can cause painful inflammation for women with endometriosis. Plus, they’re a landfill nightmare.

Thankfully, organic tampons have risen in popularity over recent years. Organic tampons are made with 100% cotton, so they’re compostable, unlike those made with synthetic fibers. Many even come with biodegradable applicators. Their ingredient lists are more transparent, and a truly organic tampon won’t contain any of the synthetic materials you want to stay away from, including deceptive fragrances (always look for tampons without fragrance).

Top 8 Organic Tampons

If you’re interested in giving organic tampons a try, here are our top eight picks.

Public Goods: The Cleanest Ingredients

Public Goods is known for quality, clean personal care and household products. Their organic tampons are made of 100% organic cotton and contain no BPA, chlorine, rayon, or any of those irritating synthetics. They’re also compostable and super affordable, costing just $7 for a box of 18. Reviewers say they’re high-performance and quite comfortable, and they never cause nasty chemical burns.

Lola: The Best Subscription Option

If you want to go the subscription route, Lola is a brand to try. You can build your own subscription customized to your preferences, such as which absorbency you want, how many of each should come in your pack, and the frequency you want them to arrive. Lola’s organic tampons are made from 100% organic cotton, and their applicators are made from BPA-free plastic. Applicator-free options are also available. These tampons are also made without any synthetic fibers, chemical additives, or irritating fragrances or dyes.

L. Organic: The Cause Supporter

If you want organic tampons with a side of philanthropy, there’s L. Organic. Not only are these tampons made with certified organic cotton and free of rayon, pesticides, fragrances, chlorine, and dyes, but for every sale, the brand donates feminine hygiene products to girls in developing countries. Good for you and good for others.

Natracare: The Tried and True Choice

The Natracare brand has been in the organic tampon game for years. They’re a classic option for feminine products you can feel good about. Their tampons are 100% cotton-based, have no perfume or chlorine, and are biodegradable. They’re simple, straightforward, and have a long-time loyal following. They’re also known for being affordable if you want to buy in bulk.

Cora: The Comfort Queen

You may have noticed Cora pop up in the last few years. This brand has quickly found its way to store shelves and is known for its chic, sophisticated packaging. Like the others, their certified organic tampons are non-GMO, and free of pesticides, chlorine, fragrance, and toxins. And like L. Organic, they also donate feminine products and health education to girls in India, Kenya, and the US. Plus, many user reviews claim the compact plastic applicator makes this option the most comfortable they’ve used.

Seventh Generation: The Most Convenient

Seventh Generation tampons are an easy find. They’re available just about everywhere now, from the grocery store to the drugstore to even some gas stations. If you run out at a bad time, you can likely pick some up close to home. The brand uses certified organic cotton and an applicator that’s BPA-free and made with 95% plant-based materials. The tampons themselves have no fragrances, deodorants, or chlorine processing.

Oi: The Most Biodegradable

If being biodegradable is high on your list, Oi may be the option for you. Both their applicators and their packaging are fully biodegradable. Their tampons are certified organic and free of pesticides, chlorine, bleach, GMOs, and perfumes. Note that their applicators are cardboard, which is intimidating to some, but these cardboard applicators are unique in that they’re rounded, so it’s not quite the hassle you may be imagining.

Blume: The FDA-Approved One

Blume is a slightly newer brand, but it’s quickly becoming popular. These tampons are non-toxic, made with organic cotton, and claim to be super leakproof. The packaging is also completely recyclable and the applicator is designed for maximum comfort. A big selling point (one that’s actually hard to find when it comes to tampons) is that they’re FDA-approved.

Tampon FAQs

Clean ingredients are important, but you also need to know best practices for using them. Get answers to some commonly asked tampon questions below.

Do Tampons Expire?

Like most products, tampons do expire. You can find the expiration date for each brand on the packaging, but most tampons tend to last about five years, as long as they’re not exposed to moisture. If a tampon has expired, don’t use it, as the cotton used in organic tampons can become prone to bacteria past a certain date.

Can You Sleep With a Tampon In?

The short answer is yes. The time of day you use a tampon, be it day or night, doesn’t matter so much as the length of time you plan to use it. Keep in mind that tampons should be changed every four to eight hours, depending on absorbency needs. Eight hours is the maximum (longer can put you at risk for Toxic Shock Syndrome), so if you think you’ll sleep more than that, using a tampon for sleeping isn’t a good choice. Opt for a product that’s more friendly for overnight usage.

Can You Flush Tampons?

Nope. Never. Remember what tampons do — they absorb moisture. As soon as they hit the water, they’ll expand and be difficult to get through pipes. Organic or not, flushing tampons can lead to plumbing blockages and sewage backflow. You don’t want that.

Ingredients, absorbency, eco-benefits, comfort, affordability — all things to consider when looking for the right organic tampons for you. Public Goods has a variety of menstrual care products, from tampons to pads to liners, to help you find an option you can feel good about, both for you and the environment.