The Honest Company · Tampons
The Honey Pot Company Organic Cotton Duo-Pack, BPA-Free Applicator Tampons
Lower PFAS concern; organic cotton core is inherently low-risk, but applicator material lacks transparency.
The Honey Pot Company's tampons use organic cotton as the absorbent core, which carries no known PFAS risk. The BPA-free plastic applicator raises moderate uncertainty, "BPA-free" does not confirm PFAS absence, and the brand offers no public disclosure about PFAS or fluorochemical treatments.
Shop The Honest Company on Amazon →Material
Organic cotton, BPA-free plastic 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
The core is certified organic cotton, which means it was grown without synthetic pesticides, fungicides, or herbicides that are commonly used in conventional cotton production. The plastic applicator is marketed as BPA-free, eliminating that specific endocrine disruptor, but the full polymer composition (likely polypropylene or similar) is not publicly detailed. Organic cotton carries lower chemical residue risk than conventional cotton, where pesticide and bleaching byproducts can occasionally be detected in finished products. The applicator's material remains a minor contact point during insertion and removal, so even if it contains trace additives, dermal exposure is brief and limited.
The brand's record and disclosure
The Honest Company has built its brand reputation on transparency and natural/organic positioning, publishing ingredient lists and sustainability reports more openly than many competitors. The company holds GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certification for its cotton products, a third-party verification that covers pesticide, heavy metal, and dye restrictions. No product safety recalls or regulatory warnings have been issued for this tampon line as of available public records. However, the company remains silent on PFAS contamination screening, which is increasingly standard disclosure for period products, leaving a notable transparency gap despite the brand's general openness.
How it compares in its category
Most conventional tampons use bleached cotton that may contain trace dioxins and furans from the bleaching process; organic varieties eliminate that exposure pathway. The BPA-free plastic applicator is now standard across most U.S. brands after BPA phased out in the 2010s, so this product is not differentiated on that front. Compared to all-plastic applicators, a cardboard applicator would reduce plastic contact entirely, though Honest Company's plastic applicator is still a lower-risk design given its short vaginal contact time. This product sits in the mid-to-premium safety tier: better than mass-market conventional tampons, comparable to other organic-certified brands, but not superior to brands that publish PFAS test results.
If you buy it
Store in a cool, dry place away from moisture to prevent mold or bacterial colonization in the packaging, which can occur if the box is exposed to humidity. Insert and remove as directed; there is no heating or boiling step involved, so chemical leaching during use is not a relevant concern. Replace the product at the end of your cycle; extended wear increases infection risk independent of material composition. If you are concerned about PFAS, contact The Honest Company directly to request PFAS testing results on the applicator; consumer demand has driven several competitors to begin voluntary screening.
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 in cotton
Organic certification via GOTS explicitly restricts pesticide use during cultivation. No residue testing results are publicly available, but the certification standard covers this risk class, making reported contamination unlikely.
Dioxins and furans from bleaching
Even organic cotton is typically bleached to meet color and absorbency standards. The specific bleaching method (chlorine vs. hydrogen peroxide vs. ozone) is not disclosed; if chlorine-based, trace dioxin formation is a known byproduct of that chemistry, though finished product levels are generally below regulatory concern.
Formaldehyde-releasing resins or antimicrobial finishes
Organic cotton products are typically free of synthetic antimicrobial coatings and formaldehyde-based finishes; GOTS certification prohibits most such chemical treatments. No reports of such finishes on this product line are on record.
Heavy metal contamination (lead, cadmium, arsenic in dyes)
Organic cotton avoids many synthetic azo dyes associated with heavy metal catalysts. GOTS limits heavy metal uptake in dyestuffs. No testing or reports of contamination in this product are publicly available, and organic textile standards reduce this risk significantly.
Polymer additives leaching from plastic applicator
The BPA-free plastic applicator material is not fully disclosed; it likely contains other plasticizers, stabilizers, or flow agents. Vaginal tissue contact is brief, but cumulative exposure from repeated monthly use is not quantified in available literature. The risk is lower than from oral or digestive contact with the same plastic, but remains uncharacterized without applicator composition data.
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.