Period pants brand calls out tax discrimination against sustainable menstrual products

Many sustainable period products have 20 per cent levy on them

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

A company that produces underwear to wear during menstruation has called on the government to reduce tax on sustainable menstrual products such as theirs.

WUKA shared an Instagram post to unveil its petition that urges the government to recognise period pants as a menstrual product so that they can be taxed in line with tampons and sanitary towels.

Despite the fact that the government recently announced that there’d be no period tax on tampons and pads from next year, they did not acknowledge reusable period pants as a menstrual product, despite the fact they are more sustainable.

“At WUKA we have been fighting a long battle with HMRC since the day we launch in the UK because when we were looking for VAT for a menstrual product, period pants was not even in the list,” the company’s Instagram post reads.⁠

“Currently, all disposable menstrual product is taxed at five per cent,” the post adds.

While this will be reduced to zero next year, WUKA period pants are currently taxed at 20 per cent and if not appealed will remain so next year.

“We think this is totally unfair,” WUKA’s post continues.

“How come customers who are trying to live a sustainable life have to pay more.⁠”

Currently, the petition calling on the government to recognise period pants as a menstrual product has garnered more than 4,000 signatures.

Once it reaches 10,000 signatures, the government will respond.