The movement to press the UK government to waive 20 percent VAT on reusable textile period brands is gaining momentum as Marks & Spencer which produces lingerie brand Wuka also pitched with estimates that it provides significant carbon emission savings.
The number of signatories to press for VAT withdrawal has now reached over 70 including Primark, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Mountain Warehouse, and reusable period product and body care business, Earthwise Girls. Five MPs and peers and the charities Wellbeing of Women and Bloody Good Period have also put their names to a public letter to Victoria Atkins, the financial secretary to the treasury, requesting VAT removal.
Reusable period pants consist of a soft outer knitted layer and an inlay often made from viscose fibers. The result is a sustainable and high-performance product that combines comfort and functionality. The underwear can be worn, washed, and worn again, which means they can save consumers money and help reduce plastic waste. Wuka estimates that one pair of period pants can save 200 single-use plastic disposables from going to landfill.
The current petition is Wuka’s third since 2021. The company says abolishing VAT will not only make period pants more accessible to people who desperately need them but also help us achieve our net-zero goals.
Wuka in fact in its carbon report published last year highlighted period pants have five times less carbon footprint compared to pads and tampons and that if 15 million people who menstruate in the UK switched to period pants, it save 4.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from entering the atmosphere. This is an issue that affects both people and the planet.
The ‘Say Pants to the Tax’ campaign is also running a supporting parliamentary petition with 26,000 signatures so far; at 100,000 signatures, the petition will be considered for debate in the UK’s parliament.
In 2021, the government removed the ‘tampon tax’ with products such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups no longer incurring VAT. But under current VAT rules, period pants are classified as garments and therefore subject to a tax rate of 20 percent. M&S has pledged to pass the entirety of the cost saving onto customers which means a three-pack of period knickers that currently retails at £20 will have a new lower price of £16.
The M&S report says nearly 25 percent of women cite cost as a barrier to using period pants. A spokesman of Primark UK supported the initiative and applauded M&S and Wuka for leading the charge.
Movement to waive 20 percent VAT on textile period brands is in full swing in UK
