Sustain · Tampons
August Organic Cotton Tampons
Lower concern; organic cotton tampons carry minimal PFAS risk, but brand offers no explicit testing or assurance.
August Organic Cotton Tampons use unbleached organic cotton as the primary absorbent material, which carries inherently lower PFAS contamination risk than synthetic or treated fabrics. Sustain does not publicly disclose PFAS testing or make PFAS-free claims.
Shop Sustain on Amazon →Material
organic cotton
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
August tampons are constructed from organic cotton, which means the fiber is grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. The core hazard concern in tampons is residual pesticide/herbicide contamination in conventional cotton, which organic certification reduces but does not eliminate entirely. Organic cotton still requires bleaching for whiteness and absorbency; the bleaching process itself (typically chlorine or oxygen-based) leaves trace residues, though food-grade and tampon-grade bleaching is subject to stricter limits than industrial processes.
The brand's record and disclosure
Sustain is a smaller sexual wellness brand focused on organic and natural products. They do not publicly disclose third-party pesticide or bleach residue testing data for their tampons, and their website makes no explicit claims about heavy metal or solvent testing. The brand has no known product recalls or regulatory violations on record. Their marketing emphasizes organic certification (typically GOTS or similar) but does not address other chemical safety categories, which is common in the tampon industry where disclosure is voluntary and minimal.
How it compares in its category
Most major tampon brands (Tampax, Kotex, o.b.) do not publicly test or disclose residue data either, making Sustain's silence standard rather than exceptional. Organic cotton tampons (Seventh Generation, Cora, Lola, and others) occupy a small premium segment that competes primarily on certification and marketing rather than transparency testing. Independent lab testing of tampons for pesticide residues has been limited; one small 2015 nonprofit study found conventional tampons contained trace pesticides but did not include major organic brands.
If you buy it
Tampons are inserted intravaginally, so any residual chemical exposure is direct and prolonged. Change tampons every 4-8 hours to prevent bacterial overgrowth (unrelated to manufacturing chemicals but a primary tampon safety rule). Store in a cool, dry place to prevent mold or moisture degradation. If you experience irritation, itching, or unusual odor, discontinue and consult a healthcare provider; this could indicate individual sensitivity or rarely, contamination or TSS risk.
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.”
Pesticide residues (conventional cotton legacy concern)
Organic certification reduces pesticide use in cultivation. No specific testing data published for August/Sustain tampons, but organic cotton sourcing makes residual pesticide risk lower than conventional alternatives. Bleach residue risk applies equally to all tampons.
Bleach/chlorine residues
All white tampons undergo bleaching; oxygen and chlorine-based bleaching are industry standard. Traces of hypochlorous acid or chlorine dioxide may remain but are typically below mucosal irritation thresholds in regulated products. Sustain does not disclose bleach method or post-bleach residue testing.
Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic) in cotton
Cotton can accumulate heavy metals from soil; organic farming reduces synthetic fertilizer input (which sometimes contains cadmium). No independent testing data found for Sustain tampons. Industry-wide testing is sparse and not mandated by FDA.
Dyes or fragrance additives
August tampons are described as unscented and undyed. No reported use of azo dyes or synthetic fragrance allergens. Sustain does not use chlorine-based brightening agents in marketing materials.
Bacterial or mold contamination during manufacture or storage
No recalls or contamination incidents on record for Sustain or August tampons. Manufacturing standards and sterility testing are regulated by FDA; individual products are not labeled with test certificates.
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.