Morrisons to tackle period poverty by donating sanitary products to food banks and community groups

The Bradford-based supermarket is working with Bodyform to donate sanitary products to those who really need them.

From today, for every Morrisons or Bodyform sanitary protection product sold, another will be donated to a local food bank or community group.

The offer is available until March 10 and forms part of Morrisons drive to ensure no one is left behind as many struggle with the economic fallout of COVID-19.

A survey conducted by Plan International UK reports that one in ten girls have been unable to afford sanitary products; one in seven have had to ask to borrow sanitary wear from a friend due to affordability issues; and one in ten have had to improvise sanitary wear.

It is estimated that currently over 137,000 children across the UK have missed a day of school due to period poverty.

Sharael Mackay, Health Buying Manager at Morrisons, said: “Period poverty is a problem for many of the most vulnerable in our communities and sanitary products are essential. Working with Bodyform, our Buy One To Give One offer means that for every product our customers buy, we can ensure we’re helping those who really need it. Our customers have supported food banks throughout the pandemic, and we’re happy to be able to offer this additional support.”

In 2017, Morrisons announced plans to offset VAT costs on all of its female sanitary products, both in stores and online, alongside donations to Freedom4Girls, a charity specialising in providing schoolgirls with free sanitary products.

Morrisons also offers ‘Pick Up Pack’ parcels in stores that customers can purchase, containing items requested by local food banks. They are also the first UK supermarket to trial an online donation mechanism that goes straight into the pockets of local food banks. Customers can purchase £10 vouchers on the Morrisons Food Boxes website, which are then sent directly to one of 50 food banks nationwide.