• Chlorine bleaching is the process of whitening cotton or wood pulp; older methods used elemental chlorine, which created dioxin byproducts.
• The industry shifted to elemental chlorine-free (ECF) processing in the late 1990s, largely eliminating the dioxin concern. Today, the bigger material question is what the tampon itself is made of and how the cotton was grown.
• Conventional cotton is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops in the world; organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
• Cora uses 100% organic cotton in its tampons and the topsheets of all pads and liners.

Chlorine bleaching in period products refers to the process of whitening the cotton or wood pulp used in tampons, pads, and liners. The older method used elemental chlorine gas, which produced dioxin and furan byproducts in the waste stream. That changed when environmental regulations in the late 1990s required mills to switch from elemental chlorine to chlorine dioxide, a transition known as elemental chlorine-free (ECF) processing. Today, all tampons sold in the U.S. meet this standard.

So if bleaching is a solved problem across the industry, what should you actually be looking at on the label? The answer is the cotton itself.

Most mainstream period products are made using conventional cotton, synthetic rayon, or a blend of both, and there are actually meaningful differences between those materials and organic cotton.

• Conventional cotton: As one of the most pesticide-heavy crops in the world, conventional cotton farming relies on synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Although finished period products are processed before use, many people tend to avoid conventionally grown materials in products that are worn close to the body.
• Synthetic rayon: Derived from wood pulp through a chemical-intensive manufacturing process, rayon is commonly used in mainstream tampons because it can increase absorbency. It is not a natural fiber.
• Organic cotton: Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers, and it’s held to third-party certification standards. It's a natural fiber, which many people find preferable for an intimate-use product.

Cora is built around one core material choice: 100% organic cotton in every tampon, pad topsheet, and liner. Our full lineup is also fragrance-free, dye-free, and elemental chlorine-free. Plus, we’re a Certified B Corp, meaning we’re independently held to standards for social and environmental performance beyond just the product label.

• Chlorine bleaching once used elemental chlorine, which created dioxin byproducts; ECF processing fixed that.
• The more meaningful material distinction today is organic cotton vs. conventional cotton or synthetics like rayon
• Conventional cotton is pesticide-intensive; organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers
• Cora uses 100% organic cotton across pad topsheets, tampons, and liners

Sources:

Environmental Regulations and the Pulp and Paper Industry | EPA

The Facts on Tampons and How to Use Them Safely | FDA