Primark is now selling reusable period knickers and it’s dividing opinion

The launch of a new and sustainable underwear range at Primark has sparked an online debate among shoppers this week.

The budget clothing retailer now sells a range of ‘period knickers’, washable and reusable underwear designed to act in the place of sanitary towels and tampons. 

Primark says the knickers, which come in a range of colours, are ‘the perfect replacement for single-use period products’ and are designed to be more eco-friendly, reducing or eradicating the need for non-recyclable items such a sanitary towels and tampons.

The underwear come in two different varieties: Light to medium flow and medium to heavy flow.

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The retailer said on the underwear line: “Our light to medium option will hold up to three regular tampons worth of liquid, around 18ml, while our medium to heavy option will hold up to four tampons worth of liquid, around 24ml.”

They added that once the pants have been worn, they should be rinsed in cold water before bing popped in the washing machine to be washed as normal.

However, the launch of the knickers have sparked a debate online – after a photo was shared onto the popular Facebook group, Extreme Couponing & Bargains UK, people were split down the middle as to whether they liked the idea of the reusable underwear. 

On one hand, people were all for them, with one social media user writing: “These are amazing and very good for the environment! They don’t leak and are very comfortable.” While another noted: “Brilliant for young girls with additional needs that maybe would struggle at school, if they aren’t for you then jog on!”

Adeena Marie / Extreme Couponing & Bargains UK

However, others weren’t too impressed, with many slamming the underwear range as ‘unhygienic’ and ‘dirty.’ One person commented: “Oh dear god no thanks I couldn’t think of anything worse than sitting in them for more than an hour as I change that frequently now. For girls just starting yes maybe but not a heavy adult.”

Another slightly baffled person wrote: “But, but?? I’m confused? U don’t need to wear a pad or tampon? Just rock around in some knickers?”

In recent years, efforts to replace single-use sanitary products have been doubled down across the board – according to the menstrual cup brand, Organic Cup, most sanitary pads contain polyethylene plastic which is an environmentally harmful pollutant.

Tampons contain chemicals such as dioxin, chlorine and rayon, which sit in landfills and ultimately get soaked up by the earth, eventually being released as pollution into groundwater and air.

Find your local Primark store here.