28 February 2023 , 12:56
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Tesco has been praised for its nationwide scheme which aims to help tackle period poverty and support those it affects.
Rumours have circulated online as the big four supermarket has signs placed in its stores about its "white envelope" scheme and many questioned whether it was company-wide or whether it was only in individual stores.
One Twitter user decided to get to the bottom of it and messaged Tesco asking for confirmation.
@02pash tweeted: "Is this true about asking for a 'white envelope' For Sanitary products?"
Tesco responded confirming the rumour.
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The supermarket said: "Hi Naill, thanks for getting in touch. To answer your question, yes this is correct, all a customer needs to do is to ask at our customer services and there will be no questions asked.
"It's in an effort to tackle period poverty as they are given free of charge. TY - Ian."
More responded to Tesco's tweet applauding the supermarket for the scheme.
Twitter user @TraceletteBrown said the scheme was a "well kept secret!"
They tweeted: "What an amazingly well kept secret!!! Not one female I've asked knew this, shame that really......"
@02pash shared the good news with the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Group Facebook group and again many did not know about the scheme and praised Tesco for having it.
One Facebook user commented: " "Well done Tesco" and another said it was "bloody brilliant"
Some commenters highlighted that other supermarkets were offering very similar schemes with Morrisons having their "Package for Sandy" which was launched in 2021.
The scheme, which began in Bolton but was later implemented nationwide, gives two single sanitary towels in a brown paper bag to those who ask the Morrisons' customer service desk for a "package for Sandy".
Tesco has also been participating in its "white envelope" scheme for a few years now.
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Twitter user @superdeadnicole posted about the scheme in 2021 and shared an image of a sign about the scheme from their local Tesco in Catterick Garrison.
The tweet said: "I saw this is my local @Tesco I didn’t realise they did this. Definitely a step in the right direction! #periodpoverty #tesco #periods."
The sign said: "At Tesco, we want to help period poverty and take away the stigma of teenage girls being embarrassed to ask for help when they can't afford to buy sanitary products."
The sign then advised those who need to help to go to the customer service desk and ask for a white envelope.
Tesco says the scheme has been put in place in every single Tesco store in the UK.
According to a 2022 Action Aid survey, around one in eight women in the UK struggle with period poverty and that figure is expected to be even higher now due to the cost of living crisis.