John Lewis and Waitrose announce price reduction for period underwear

More than 30 different kinds of the product will drop in price at its stores from next week.

John Lewis has followed other retailers in introducing the discount (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Archive)

John Lewis and Waitrose have announced a 20% reduction in the price of their period underwear.

The department store is the latest retailer to join the industry’s Say Pants to the Tax campaign, which aims to absorb the VAT charge for customers in an effort to make period products more affordable.

It will be lowering the price on more than 30 different kinds of period underwear at its stores from next week.

It’s a no-brainer that period underwear should be classed as a period product. It’s the right thing to do and will help our customers save money on everyday essentials

Nicki Baggott, Waitrose

John Lewis said it was “the right thing to do” and would provide “a much-needed boost for customers looking for ways to save on essential sanitary products”.

Nicki Baggott, sanitary products buyer for Waitrose, said: “It’s a no-brainer that period underwear should be classed as a period product.

“It’s the right thing to do and will help our customers save money on everyday essentials.”

The Say Pants to the Tax campaign was launched by Marks & Spencer (M&S) and period underwear brand WUKA earlier this month.

Both supermarket giant Tesco and M&S have already announced they will be reducing the prices of their period underwear ranges.

A public letter with 70 signatories, including Sainsbury’s, Primark and Mountain Warehouse, has called on the Financial Secretary to the Treasury Victoria Atkins to reclassify period underwear as a period product.

A spokesperson from the Treasury said: “We are committed to making sanitary products affordable and available to all who need them. That is why we have delivered on our promise to scrap the tampon tax so that VAT is no longer charged on sanitary products, such as pads, tampons and reusable menstrual products such as menstrual cups.

“We have also rolled out free sanitary products in schools, colleges and hospitals to continue our fight to end period poverty once and for all.”