Free period products to save Scotland £83.5m per year

Free period products to save Scottish women £83.5m per year

Research by RIFT Tax Refunds has estimated that Scotland’s move to provide free period products could save Scottish women £83.5m a year, with additional research showing how much more women already pay for basic toiletries.

The research shows that women are already at a severe disadvantage when it comes to the cost of some everyday items.

On average, toiletries cost women 24% more than they do their male counterparts, with women paying 6% more for a 4 pack of disposable razors, 9% more for deodorant and 34% more for a tub of moisturiser.

It’s not just female adults that are paying more for the same items, RIFT’s research also shows that children’s clothing also comes with a 3% premium attached for girls, with a five pack of underwear costing 6% more compared to boys.

Of course, one outgoing that men don’t pay for at all is period care products, which cost an average of £4.77 per cycle – that’s £62.02 per year.

However, last week Scotland became the first UK nation to announce it would provide free period care products for those that need them.

This move is estimated to impact 48% of Scotland’s female population, with the provision of free period care saving them a staggering £83.5m per year in period product purchases.

CEO of RIFT Tax Refunds, Bradley Post, commented:

“The Scottish Government’s decision to provide free period care products will come as a huge relief to many many women and will provide some relief to those struggling with the current cost of living crisis.

It’s simply unacceptable that women are already paying more on many day to day products and this isn’t limited to the household alone. For example, we work with a lot of women in the construction industry who are forced to pay more for the essential PPE required within the workplace compared to their male counterparts.

We urge the rest of the UK to take note of Scotland’s example and to help ease the financial pressure that many women are feeling across the nation by providing free period care products. It may seem like a small saving on an individual basis, but collectively, the impact could be huge.”