The Period Company · Period Underwear
The Period Company- The High Waisted Period (FlowStretch)-BLACK
Period underwear from natural fibers; limited PFAS risk but no disclosure.
The Period Company's high-waisted period underwear uses cotton and elastane blend without stated water-repellent treatment. No brand PFAS disclosures available; standard apparel PFAS concern is low absent added water-repellent coating finishes.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
cotton, elastane blend fabric
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What The Period Company- The High Waisted is made of, ingredients and materials
This product is a cotton and elastane (spandex) blend fabric. Cotton is a natural fiber with minimal inherent chemical hazards in wear, though conventionally grown cotton may carry pesticide residues from cultivation; elastane provides stretch and is a synthetic polyurethane polymer that does not leach significantly during normal use. The blend structure means the garment relies on the elastane for waterproofing and fit integrity rather than a surface coating, reducing coating-degradation and chemical-leach risks common in other absorbent period products.
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.
Synthetic elastane degradation and microfiber shedding
Elastane (spandex) fibers can shed microfibers during wear and washing, especially as the garment ages. While microfiber ingestion is not established as a primary health risk, accumulation in laundering systems is a known environmental concern; this is not unique to this product but inherent to any elastane-blend textile.
Pesticide residue
If this cotton is not certified organic, it may carry trace pesticide residues from cultivation. No public information on organic certification for this product is available; residue levels in finished textiles are typically very low and direct skin contact risk is considered minimal by textile safety standards.
Source, EPA ↗PFAS
Period underwear require water-resistant properties, typically achieved through coating or finish. The brand does not disclose which treatment is used (PFAS-free alternatives, silicone, wax, or other). Without disclosure, composition and leachability during wear or washing cannot be assessed; PFAS grade suggests limited PFAS but leaves other water-repellent chemistry unknown.
Source, ATSDR ↗Allergen potential from dyes or finishing agents
Individuals with contact dermatitis or sensitive skin may react to residual dyes or finishing chemicals; no specific allergic-reaction reports for this product are on record, and risk is not higher than typical commercial textiles without documented sensitivity triggers.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No specific reports of azo dyes, formaldehyde-releasing finishes, or heavy metals in The Period Company products exist in public records. Standard textile dyeing and finishing can introduce these; without third-party testing or certification data, residue presence cannot be ruled out but is not flagged as a known issue for this brand.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
The Period Company has not published material safety data, certifications (such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX, or similar textile standards), or supply-chain transparency reports in publicly available sources. No formal product recalls or health complaints against this brand are on record. The brand's PFAS stance is undisclosed, which limits ability to assess water-repellency treatment choices; however, the cotton-elastane composition alone does not inherently require PFAS application.
How it compares in its category
Period underwear made from cotton-elastane blends are common in the market and represent a middle ground between disposable pads and specialty-treated synthetic period products. Compared to 100% synthetic or heavily treated alternatives, this material mix avoids some chemical-finishing risks but offers less independent certification than premium brands. Most period underwear in this category rely on similar cotton-blend fabrics; differentiation lies in brand transparency and post-manufacturing treatment rather than base material choice.
If you buy it
Wash in cold or warm water (avoid hot) and air-dry to preserve elastane elasticity and prevent premature degradation. Do not bleach or use fabric softeners, which can interfere with absorbency and degrade elastane faster. Replace when elastic waistband or leg openings lose shape, or if fabric loses water-repellency (typically after 30-40 washes). Store in a cool, dry place; elastane degrades under prolonged heat or direct sunlight.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- The Period Company has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Period Underwear
Ruby Love
Rubylove First Period Kit +teen Period Underwear
- organic cotton, waterproof backing layer
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Coating degradation and microparticle shedding
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
Lunapads
3-Pack BOOST Brief
- organic cotton blend, water-resistant gusset
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Microplastic shedding from water-resistant barrier
Aisle
Super Hipster
- Organic cotton, wood pulp fiber
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Azo dyes and synthetic dyes
2 hazards checked on this product. See all of them.
More period underwear 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.