Consumer Agency: Sanitary Pads Without Polymer Absorbents Also Show Good Absorption Performance

Products Using Breathable Waterproof Layers
Internal Humidity Relatively Low

Sanitary pads that do not use polymer absorbents, a chemical substance, were also found to have good absorption performance.

On the 13th, the Korea Consumer Agency announced that it confirmed this after investigating the performance of 10 disposable sanitary pad products without polymer absorbents that are highly preferred by consumers. Polymer absorbents are chemicals that absorb water dozens of times their own weight and are mainly used in diapers or desiccants. However, recently, as consumer concerns about chemicals have increased, products that do not use polymer absorbents are also being widely sold.

According to the Consumer Agency's investigation, sanitary pads without polymer absorbents showed similar absorption times and backflow amounts of menstrual blood compared to products using them. The polymer absorbent-free sanitary pads investigated by the Consumer Agency included 10 products: Healthy Sunsu Myeon (Clean Country), Natural Cotton Riorganic (Natural Korea), Bon Nature (J2LFA), Secret Day For Nature (Jungwon Co., Ltd.), Sofy Organic 100% Cotton Cover (LG Unicharm Co., Ltd.), Good Feeling Organic Cotton Cover Natural Core Ultra Slim (Yuhan-Kimberly), Tempo Natural Cotton Pad (Dong-A Pharmaceutical), Natracare Ultra Pad (SEC Korea Co., Ltd.), La Nature Signature Ultra Slim (Yuhan-Kimberly), and Lael Sensitive (Lael Korea).

Among them, the fastest absorption time under both 3mL and 5mL test conditions was the Tempo Natural Cotton Pad. The backflow amounts were relatively low for Sofy Organic 100% Cotton Cover, Natracare Ultra Pad, and Lael Sensitive. Three products using breathable waterproof layers?Natural Cotton Riorganic, Tempo Natural Cotton Pad, and Lael Sensitive?were also measured to have relatively low internal humidity when worn.

In a satisfaction survey conducted by the Consumer Agency from April to May with 100 women who directly used the sanitary pads, Secret Day For Nature received the highest rating for texture. Healthy Sunsu Myeon received the highest rating for ease of attachment to underwear, and overall satisfaction was highest for Sofy Organic 100% Cotton Cover.

All tested products were certified to use organic cotton grown in soil where chemical fertilizers or pesticides have not been used for more than three years on the parts that come into contact with the skin. In particular, five products (Bon Nature, Secret Day For Nature, Natracare Ultra Pad, La Nature Signature Ultra Slim, Lael Sensitive) used organic cotton on the wing parts as well, and Lael Sensitive used organic cotton for the cover, wings, and absorbent core.

The price per unit was lowest for Healthy Sunsu Myeon at 168 KRW and highest for Lael Sensitive at 580 KRW. None of the 10 products detected harmful substances such as VOCs (10 types). Information comparing disposable sanitary pads can be found on the 'Consumer24' website.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.