John Lewis Partnership reduces price of period pants

John Lewis and Waitrose have become the latest retailers to back an industry-wide campaign to reduce the price of period knickers by absorbing the 20% VAT charge for its customers to make period products more affordable.

While the tampon tax, which taxed sanitary towels and tampons, was abolished in 2021, period knickers – a reusable alternative to single-use sanitary products – are still subject to the charge.

In a bid to make these products more accessible, John Lewis Partnership will be lowering the price on more than 30 period knickers at John Lewis and Waitrose by 20% and absorbing the cost of the tax itself.

Waitrose had previously lowered the cost of other sanitary products in 2017, also absorbing the price of the 5% VAT charge for its customers, before the Government abolished the ‘Tampon Tax’ in January 2021.

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.”

Jo McKee, lingerie buyer for John Lewis, added: “We’re known for offering great-quality underwear at affordable prices to our customers. We feel it’s the right thing to abolish this tax on period underwear, to make these essential products as accessible as possible.”