DUBLIN: The German supermarket chain Lidl has taken a step to provide free sanitary towels and tampons to the poor/homeless Irish women and girls.
The initiative is aimed to combat period poverty, and Lidl’s Irish operation is the world’s first major retailer to take such a step. The period products will be delivered on a quarterly basis.
In order to get the products free of charge, customers need to download the Lidl Plus app and apply for tokens. Those who have already registered will receive their first period poverty coupon from today (Monday).
In statement the company said that more than 20,000 registered Lidl Plus customers signed up to receive their first coupon from today. “This includes those who’ve signed up to buy for themselves or someone else, and is open to both men and women as Lidl are cognitive of the fact that the single parents or partners need to be able to purchase these products for the women in their life,” it said.
The company added that their first donation to the Simon community (a charity which helps homeless people) will be sent from their warehouses across the country in the coming days.
Lidl’s initiative will help those experiencing period poverty (inability to afford safe, hygienic sanitary products) and will serve as a model for other retailers around the world to follow. Earlier, Scotland had taken such a step, becoming the first country to ensure that period products were available free to anyone who needed them.
Research by Plan International in Ireland found that Irish women and girls spend an average of €121 per year on period products and pain relief.
The Government research published in February also found that nearly half of the Irish girls aged 12 to 19 find it difficult to pay for sanitary items. At the same time, one out of every ten survey respondents said they were forced to use a less suitable sanitary product due to the high monthly cost.
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