Countdown and charitable organisation The Period Place has joined forces to start a national campaign aimed at elevating period debates. 

As part of the cycle-long appeal, 5 cents will be donated from the sale of every period product from U By Kotex, Libra, Carefree, Stayfree, Tampax, Oi Organic, Tom Organic, Bonds, Vagisil, Femfresh, Evamay, and Essentials. The same suppliers will also contribute by donating a single period product (e.g. tampon, pad, cup, knickers or liner) for every box sold.

Countdown will also provide a one-time monetary donation of $20,000 to the organisation. 

According to Danika Revell, co-founder of The Period Place, Kiwis young and old are still not having the necessary dialogues around periods, and as a result, some individuals are not getting what they need.

“Starting conversations around periods is high on my agenda, alongside facilitating products to those that face barriers accessing them. This appeal will achieve both,” she said. 

“Countdown has been progressive in removing the ‘bad blood’ around period chat. First by having the word ‘period’ in every Countdown in the country and now dedicating a month to the cause.”

In 2020, Countdown was one of the world’s leading pioneers in changing vocabulary from ‘ sanitary products’ and ‘personal hygiene’ to ‘period care’ in order to normalise the language surrounding periods.

The four-week campaign runs from August 29 to September 23 in all Countdown stores across the country.