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Tesco branch praised for helping tackle period poverty with 'white envelope' scheme

Customers struggling to afford sanitary products can receive supplies free from the supermarket. (Getty Images)
Customers struggling to afford sanitary products can receive supplies free from the supermarket. (Getty Images)

A branch of Tesco has been praised for supplying free sanitary products in an effort to tackle period poverty.

A post on Twitter revealed that the supermarket's Catterick Garrison branch in North Yorkshire is encouraging shoppers in need to come to their customer service desk and request a "white envelope".

A social media user shared an image of an in-store poster that explained that there will be "no questions asked", and women and girls will be handed back an envelope containing a couple of sanitary products.

It added that they wanted to "take away the stigma" – particularly among teenagers – for those who couldn't "afford" to purchase supplies.

Watch: One woman’s fight against period poverty

The woman, called Nicole, wrote on Twitter: "I saw this is my local Tesco. I didn’t realise they did this. Definitely a step in the right direction!"

Her post has received over 250 'likes' and dozens of shares, with many agreeing with her that it was progress.

One person wrote "now that's caring!" while another commented "wonderful idea", and a third shared "supermarkets should all do it".

In May, it was reported by Worcester News that the Tesco on Mill Wood Drive in the city was also participating in the scheme.

Read more: Period pants still being hit with VAT tax despite pads and tampons getting off the hook from 2021

And Morrisons recently launched a similar 'Ask for Sandy' campaign, where customers can ask for a package for "Sandy" or a "period product pack".

It comes after a charity warned that period poverty had become worse during lockdown.

According to Plan International, three in 10 girls in the UK struggled to access period products amid the pandemic. The organisation found that 54% of this group were then forced to use toilet paper as an alternative.

Watch: Everything you need to know about your period