Absorbent hygiene products
Dutch consumers purchase large numbers of absorbent hygiene products – including nappies, sanitary towels, tampons, and nursing pads. If you purchase these products with the EU Ecolabel, you can be confident that you are doing your bit to contribute to sustainability.
Certified products
Absorbent hygiene products need to satisfy a large number of requirements in order to be eligible for the EU Ecolabel certificate:
- Requirements on the material and raw materials, such as fluff pulp, synthetic cellulose fibres (including viscose, modal, lyocell, cupro, and triacetate), cotton, and other natural cellulose seed fibres, plastics, and super-absorbent polymers
- Optical brighteners and colouring agents may not be added to the raw material
- Water saving, as well as the use of energy from renewable sources, is encouraged during the production process
- Social aspects
Requirements on cotton and aromatic substances
Where cotton is used in products, the EU Ecolabel requires that these are from 100% biological sources. Products that are intended for use by children may not contain aromatic substances. This also applies to tampons and nursing pads. Where aromatic substances are permitted in products, there are requirements on the allergenic properties of those substances. Aromatic substances may not contain nitro musks or polycyclic musks.
Where to buy?
In many Dutch supermarkets and drugstore chains, mostly labeled diapers are for sale. Sometimes from brand manufacturers, sometimes with their own brand, so-called private labels. In any case, look for the EU Ecolabel logo, then you know for sure that you are making a green choice.