Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy for his Department to procure only plastic free period products for schools.

The department is committed to encouraging the use of sustainable products where possible. The Invitation to Tender for the Period Products scheme in England has set out that the provision must include environmentally friendly sanitary pads as a minimum requirement. In addition, bidders are encouraged to provide further sustainable products and consider the environment in packaging, delivery and other ways over and above the products themselves.

We are committed to keeping this subject under review and we will continue to seek opportunities to encourage the use of sustainable products as the scheme develops, for example through guidance to schools and 16-19 institutions. In addition we will actively monitor product take up through the course of the contract.