Always Ultra Thin Long Super Pads
High-risk category; Always hasn't disclosed PFAS testing or commitment.
Waterproof backsheets and absorbent polymers may contain legacy PFAS coatings. Always hasn't published PFAS data or made commitment claims.
The better-graded swap
Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation Chlorine Free Maxi Pads
100/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Cellulose/rayon core with synthetic polymer backsheet and absorbent gels; waterproof layers likely water-repellent coating-treated
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Always Ultra Thin Long Super Pads is made of, ingredients and materials
Always Ultra Thin Long pads use a cellulose/rayon absorbent core, synthetic polymer backsheet, and superabsorbent polymer gels (typically sodium polyacrylate). The waterproof layer likely relies on water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) treatment, a category historically associated with PFAS fluorochemicals. Rayon and polyacrylate gels themselves are not inherently hazardous at the concentrations used, but the water-repellent coating treatment is the primary chemical concern in this product type.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Period pads require waterproof layers; fluorochemical water-repellent coating treatments are common in conventional brands. Always has not disclosed testing or PFAS-free commitment, making PFAS presence probable but not confirmed by public recall or test data.
Source, ATSDR ↗Fragrance allergen sensitivity (if scented variant)
Ultra Thin variants are available both scented and unscented. Fragrance compounds in personal care products applied to sensitive skin can trigger contact dermatitis or sensitization; individual susceptibility varies widely.
Adhesive or synthetic polymer sensitivity
The polymer backsheet and adhesive layer can cause localized irritation or allergic contact dermatitis in some users, particularly with prolonged wear or skin sensitivity. This is not specific to Always but applies to all synthetic-backed conventional pads.
What’s reassuring
Microplastic shedding from polymer layers
No public testing or recalls document microplastic release from Always pads during normal use. Polymer backsheets are bonded and do not degrade under menstrual conditions; risk is not established in available literature.
Dioxins or chlorine residues from bleaching
Modern period pad manufacturing typically uses elemental chlorine-free (ECF) or totally chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching. Always does not market chlorine-free as a differentiator, and no testing or recalls document dioxin contamination in their products.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Always (Procter and Gamble subsidiary) has not publicly disclosed PFAS testing results or committed to PFAS-free manufacturing for period pads. The brand has not pursued certifications like Cradle to Cradle or specific PFAS avoidance pledges common among competitors in the premium/organic segment. This silence on PFAS in a product category where fluorochemical water-repellents are industry standard represents a disclosure gap rather than confirmed absence of PFAS.
How it compares in its category
Always Ultra Thin sits in the mass-market conventional segment. Brands like Seventh Generation and Cora have published PFAS testing or committed to PFAS-free formulations; organic/chlorine-free alternatives (Rael, Aunt Flow) often avoid synthetic water-repellent coating layers entirely. Always does not occupy the transparency tier of those competitors, though it is similarly positioned to other mainstream brands (Kotex, Tampax) that also do not disclose PFAS data.
If you buy it
Use as directed; there are no usage-related heat or leaching risks specific to normal menstrual application. Individual sensitivity to adhesives, absorbent gels, or fragrance compounds (if scented variant) varies; discontinue if irritation occurs. No special storage or disposal precautions beyond standard menstrual product waste. If PFAS exposure is a priority concern, switching to a brand with published PFAS testing or certification may reduce uncertainty.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 42% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Always has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Always Ultra Thin Long Super Pads?
- 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.
More period pads grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.