Do Always period pads have PFAS?
Always period pads average 25 out of 100 on PFAS Authority's PFAS and toxin screen across the 17 Always period pads graded as of October 2026, below the 38 out of 100 median for the 16 other period pads brands graded alongside it.
Always period pads average Poor on our four-band scale. None of them clear our buy threshold. That is above 16% of the period pads brands we grade.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
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- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
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- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
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- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
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What Always says and does about PFAS
We found no PFAS statement from Always. Its owner Procter & Gamble was the target of a 2024 As You Sow shareholder proposal saying P&G had not issued a position on PFAS in personal care products, and that proposal was withdrawn after an agreement. A California lawsuit filed in 2026 by seven women alleges Always and other brands contained PFAS, and its outcome was not found.
- Legal caseA California lawsuit by seven women names Always and Always Discreet among six brands and alleges PFAS, endocrine disruptors, carcinogens and heavy metals; these are allegations and we found no outcome. Yahoo News (Annemarije de Boer) ↗
- Legal caseThe same report lists Procter & Gamble among the defendants. Yahoo News (Annemarije de Boer) ↗
- Government sourceAs You Sow's 2024 shareholder proposal to P&G stated that P&G had not issued its position on PFAS in personal care products; this is the filer's statement. As You Sow ↗
- Government sourceThe As You Sow PFAS proposal to P&G was withdrawn after an agreement was reached. As You Sow ↗
Sources checked September 29, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.
Which Always period pads contain PFAS? Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
- Absorbent core with unspecified waterproof backing layer
- PFAS. Waterproof backing composition is undisclosed; fluorochemical water repellents are common in period-pad…
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- cellulose/SAP absorbent core with waterproof plastic backing
- Plastic backing composition and leaching. The waterproof plastic layer's full chemical identity is not…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- cellulose/synthetic polymer core with waterproofing layer
- PFAS. The synthetic waterproof layer used in Always Ultra Thin is a typical application point for PFAS in…
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- cellulose, SAP, polyethylene; fluid-barrier coating unspecified
- Waterproof coating composition (unconfirmed). The fluid-barrier treatment on the pad surface is not publicly…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- nonwoven cellulose/polyester blend with waterproof backing coating (unspecified)
- Microplastic shedding from waterproof backing. Unspecified plastic coating may degrade under friction…
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- cellulose, SAP core, polypropylene backing with waterproof/fluid-barrier layer
- PFAS. The fluid-barrier layer is not identified publicly. Waterproof coatings in menstrual products are a…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- cellulose, polyester, adhesive with waterproof coating (unspecified)
- Waterproof coating composition (unspecified). The coating's chemistry is not disclosed by Always. If…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- cellulose, absorbent core, plastic backing with unspecified waterproof coating
- Waterproof coating composition (unspecified). The plastic backing's waterproof coating is not disclosed by…
5 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- Cellulose/rayon core with synthetic polymer backsheet and absorbent gels; waterproof layers likely…
- PFAS. Period pads require waterproof layers; fluorochemical water-repellent coating treatments are common in…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- synthetic polymer core with water-resistant topsheet (composition unspecified)
- PFAS. Water-resistant synthetic pads almost certainly use fluorinated compounds (PFAS) on the topsheet.…
5 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- Nonwoven absorbent core with polymer layers; waterproof backing composition not disclosed
- PFAS. Waterproof layers in period pads often use perfluorinated compounds (e.g., Teflon-type coating or…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- cellulose/synthetic fiber blend with waterproof coating (unspecified)
- Waterproof coating chemistry (unspecified). The coating material is not disclosed by Always. Standard…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- nonwoven polymer blend with waterproof backing layer
- PFAS. Waterproof backing layers in disposable pads commonly use fluorochemical coatings to achieve water…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- Cellulose/synthetic layers with undisclosed water-resistant treatment
- PFAS, PFAS contamination has been documented in menstrual pads by independent testing (MIT study, 2021…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- nonwoven layers, likely polyethylene or polypropylene with unspecified water-resistant coating
- PFAS. The brand does not name or test the waterproofing agent. PFAS is commonly used in menstrual-pad…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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- Non-woven synthetic layers with waterproof backing, coating unspecified
- PFAS. Waterproof treatment chemistry is not disclosed; PFAS is industry standard in menstrual-product…
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- cellulose and synthetic polymers with waterproof coating
- Waterproof coating composition (unspecified). Always does not disclose the chemistry of the waterproof…
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonBetter period pads from other brands
Graded higher than the Always average of 25.
- organic cotton, wood pulp
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Fragrance allergen content
- cellulose, cotton blend, absorbent core
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bleach residues and processing chemicals in cellulose
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Cotton, wood pulp absorbent core, plastic backing
- Pesticide residue
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
The same question, asked of the other period pads brands
Best average grade first. Always averages 25.
See every Always product we grade on the Always brand page, or the full period pads ranking.