Certain customers have free access to two products at all Aldi stores across the UK, "no questions asked". The items are essential for millions of people and form part of the supermarket's campaign to help "break the cycle".

Today, March 18, marks one year since Aldi introduced free period pads and tampons in store toilets nationwide. The supermarket says that for the past year, it has been on a mission to "tackle period poverty head-on", as it believes that access to period products is a "basic right, not a privilege".

Since March 2025, Aldi has been providing free pads and tampons in store and office toilets. The rollout across all customer toilets was completed by the end of May 2025, with roughly 70% of Aldi's 1,050 UK stores equipped with them.

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Reflecting on the past year and Aldi's campaign, a spokesperson said: "Period poverty is a reality for far too many. Research shows that 41% of Brits struggle to afford period products, with 30% forced to choose between buying them or other essential items like food or clothing.

"Without access to these products, some rely on substitutes like toilet paper, kitchen roll or old clothing, leaving them feeling embarrassed, stressed and excluded from everyday activities such as work, school and social events. By taking this step, we hope to support those who menstruate while encouraging others to join the effort to end period poverty for good."

It adds: "We’re proud to have partnered with menstrual equity charities Bloody Good Period and Freedom4Girls, donating one million period products to support the fight against period poverty."

According to a 2025 ActionAid poll, more than one in five women (21%) and people who menstruate in the UK struggle to afford period products - up from 12% in just one year. This amounts to an estimated 2.8 million people, putting around one million more people into period poverty than in 2024.

A spokesperson for ActionAid said: "As the cost of everyday items continues to soar, women and people who menstruate are being forced to make difficult decisions about which essentials they can buy". According to the poll, those affected by period poverty said they were prioritising other everyday basics over the period products they need:

• 60% had to prioritise food.


• 48% had to prioritise gas/electricity.


• 24% sacrificed period products for themselves so they could afford period products for their dependant.

People aged 18-24 were most likely to struggle to afford period products. More than a quarter (27%) of people surveyed in this age group said they were affected.

Aldi also claims that the average person spends £120 a year on period products. That's just for the basics, not including pain relief or clothing.