Kotex Natural · Tampons
U by Kotex Click Unscented Regular & Super Compact Tampons
Lower-concern option; no known PFAS inputs, but brand offers no transparency.
U by Kotex Click uses traditional materials (rayon, cotton, cardboard) with no documented Teflon-family coating coatings or water-repellent treatments typical of PFAS-risk products. The brand makes no PFAS claims and provides no third-party verification, leaving a confidence gap.
Shop Kotex Natural on Amazon →Material
viscose/rayon, cotton absorbent core, cardboard applicator
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
period care is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
U by Kotex Click uses viscose rayon for the absorbent material, cotton in the core, and a cardboard applicator. Viscose rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber made by chemically processing wood pulp; it is approved for internal use by FDA and does not inherently leach toxic substances into the body when used as designed. The cardboard applicator avoids plastic applicator concerns (BPA, phthalates) entirely. Cotton-rayon blends are standard in the menstrual industry and have no established reproductive or systemic toxicity profile in normal use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Kotex (owned by Kimberly-Clark) has not published detailed material sourcing or chemical safety certifications for this product line. The brand does not voluntarily disclose PFAS testing or exclusion statements, marking it as lower-transparency within personal care. No significant safety recalls or chemical contamination reports are on record for U by Kotex tampons. The product is FDA-regulated as a Class II medical device and meets basic composition and sterility standards, but third-party certification (e.g., organic, non-GMO) is absent.
How it compares in its category
This product sits in the mainstream middle: safer than plastic applicators (which can introduce microplastic or endocrine-active polymers) but less transparent than organic-certified or direct-source brands that publish material testing. Viscose rayon is chemically identical across manufacturers; the difference lies in production waste management and chemical residues from the pulping process, which Kotex does not publicly report. Most conventional tampon brands carry similar or higher opacity on ingredient disclosure.
If you buy it
Use tampons as directed (maximum 8 hours continuous wear) to reduce infection risk; this product carries no heat or storage instability concerns since it is not exposed to high temperature during normal use. Change tampons regularly to avoid toxic shock syndrome (a rare but serious bacterial risk with any absorbent internal product). Cardboard applicators are disposable; do not flush unless labeled flushable (check packaging). Store in a cool, dry place; no special precautions are needed for this material class.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Viscose rayon chemical residues from manufacturing
Viscose production uses sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide as solvents; modern closed-loop mills retain >99% of these chemicals. No established residues are detected in finished rayon fibers at regulatory testing thresholds. Kotex does not publish mill audits or chemical residue data, so confirmation is absent, but no contamination incidents are on record.
Cotton pesticide residues
U by Kotex does not specify organic cotton sourcing; conventional cotton may carry trace pesticide residues. Internal absorption of pesticides via tampon use is not established as a health risk in epidemiological data, and FDA does not mandate pesticide testing for tampons. Risk is theoretical rather than reported.
Cardboard applicator splinters or degradation
Cardboard can shed fibers if wet or compressed, though modern applicators are coated to prevent this. No injury reports specific to U by Kotex cardboard applicators are on record. Risk is minimal with proper handling.
Dyes or whitening agents in the tampon
U by Kotex Click is unscented and unbleached is not claimed; the product may contain optical brighteners or minimal dyes for visibility. No chemical composition data is publicly available. Standard tampon dyes are considered low-risk for internal use, and no adverse events are attributed to this product.
Bacterial contamination if applicator is non-sterile
Tampons must meet FDA sterility requirements; U by Kotex products are manufactured under these standards. No contamination recalls are on record. Risk is controlled by regulatory oversight, not by material choice.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Tampons
Seventh Generation
Organic Cotton Tampons Applicator
organic cotton (tampon & applicator core); cardboard applicator
Lower-concern buy, organic cotton & MADE SAFE cert reduce PFAS risk, though brand is silent on the topic.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Lola
Organic Cotton Tampons
organic cotton (no synthetic coatings)
Lower concern, uncoated organic cotton with transparent PFAS-free positioning and third-party certification.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
Cora
Organic Tampons with Applicator
organic cotton tampon with cardboard/plastic applicator
Lower-concern choice; organic base material and MADE SAFE cert suggest thoughtful sourcing, but no explicit PFAS commitment.
✓Verified PFAS-free by a third party
More tampons 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.