• Plastic applicators are smooth and easy to insert, but create the most disposable plastic waste
• Cardboard applicators are biodegradable, but can feel rougher during insertion
• Applicator-free tampons take up less space and create the least waste, but require manual insertion
• Cora makes 100% organic cotton tampons in both compact applicator and applicator-free formats

The right tampon applicator type depends on three things: comfort during insertion, how much packaging waste you're okay with, and how easy it is to stash in a smaller bag. Here's how the main options compare:

• Plastic applicators: Smooth surface and rounded tip make insertion easiest; create the most plastic waste of the three
• Cardboard applicators: Less plastic waste; can feel rougher or less glide-y during insertion
• Applicator-free: No applicator tube at all, inserted with a clean finger; smallest to pack and least waste; takes a little practice if you're used to applicators

Many people use a mix of period products depending on the day or activity, and the same is true for applicator preference. The tampon itself is the same across all three formats. All three are regulated as Class II medical devices with standardized absorbencies, so the choice is really about how you want the insertion process to feel and what you'd rather toss in the trash after.

Cora makes 100% organic cotton tampons in two formats:

• Compact applicator tampons: Easy-grip plastic design, available in regular through super plus
• Applicator-free tampons: Sleek and pocket-sized, available in light through super plus

Both use the same design that gently expands widthwise for a fit-to-body shape, the same 100% organic cotton (tampon and string), no fragrance or dyes, and elemental chlorine-free processing. The applicator-free version takes up roughly half the space of a full-size applicator tampon in your bag. It creates significantly less plastic waste, so it's a strong pick if you're trying to lighten your load (in either sense).

• Plastic applicators are the smoothest; cardboard is more sustainable; applicator-free is the smallest and lowest-waste.
• The tampon itself doesn't change between formats, just the insertion method.
• Cora makes 100% organic cotton tampons in both compact applicator and applicator-free options.

Sources:

Menstrual Hygiene Products: Pads and Tampons Are the Go-To Choice | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Menstrual Tampons and Vaginal Pessaries: Regulation by the US FDA | NIH National Library of Medicine