A CAMPAIGNER is celebrating after a Solihull-based sanitary company announced reusable plastic products.
Ella Daish has been calling on Lil-Lets UK, whose headquarters is in Solihull, to go plastic free since she held a protest outside the offices in 2019.
Just over two years later the company has said from November it will not longer manufacture its plastic tampon applicators and will start to sell a reusable one.
The company say this will reduce period plastic waste by over 11tonnes each year.
Ella said: “It’s fantastic to see a major brand like Lil-Lets really leading the change in the period industry by not only removing plastic applicators from their products, but also stepping into the reusable market with their applicator.
“We need more companies to follow their lead in taking steps that are better for people and the planet.”
Since she handed over a box with more than 107,000 signatures supporting her petition #EndPeriodPlastic to make all menstrual towels and tampons including applicators, wrappers and packaging plastic free to Lil-Lets HQ she has been able to strike up a conversation with the brand.
Over the past year the environmental activist has met with the company several times and despite being told her call to remove plastic applicators was not on the table at first, she is thrilled the company have worked to make it happen.
She said: “Following our first meeting, Lil-Lets have taken so many positive steps as a manufacturer, the removal of their plastic applicators being a particular highlight for me.
“I never thought that this was going to happen because whenever we spoke about it, it wasn’t on the table, so you can imagine how thrilled I am by this move.
“As a major manufacturer, their transformation shows that brands can change if they are willing and open to, and we need more companies to follow their lead.”
Lil-Lets say cleaning applicator is as easy as washing hands but do recommend it is sterilised at the end of a period and stored in a cotton bag.
Lil-Lets senior brand manager, Abby Smith, said: ”Lil-Lets understands women and people with periods, and that using tampons with applicators is a personal choice.
“We listened when our customers had concerns about the environmental impact of our plastic applicator products, and, following 12 months of product design and testing, we are thrilled to be in a position to make a difference today.”
