U by Kotex · Tampons
U by Kotex Click Compact Unscented Tampons
Lower concern, standard tampon materials carry minimal inherent PFAS risk, but brand makes no public safety commitment.
U by Kotex Click Compact tampons use conventional viscose/rayon and cotton materials with no known PFAS-prone treatments. The brand does not publicly disclose PFAS policy or testing.
Shop U by Kotex on Amazon →Material
viscose rayon core, cotton applicator, plastic/polypropylene compact
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 a viscose rayon core (the absorbent material), a cotton applicator, and a polypropylene plastic compact. Viscose rayon is a regenerated cellulose fiber derived from wood pulp through chemical processing; it is the most common tampon absorbent material across the industry and has no established toxicological concern for vaginal contact at standard use. The cotton applicator is a conventional natural fiber choice. The plastic compact is injection-molded polypropylene, which is chemically inert under normal handling and body temperature.
The brand's record and disclosure
U by Kotex (owned by Kotex, a Kimberly-Clark brand) does not publish detailed safety data sheets, material sourcing transparency, or third-party certifications for this product line. No significant recalls or safety controversies specific to U by Kotex tampons have been documented in public health records. The brand's silence on PFAS and chemical composition is typical for the tampon industry overall, which remains largely unregulated by FDA as a Class II device with minimal mandatory labeling.
How it compares in its category
This product uses standard, industry-typical materials (viscose rayon, cotton, polypropylene) that are chemically equivalent to offerings from Tampax, Kotex Original, and store-brand alternatives. Some competitors (Cora, Seventh Generation, Lola) offer organic cotton or rayon from sustainably certified sources and publish more detailed safety transparency; others are identical in construction but with marketing emphasis. Price and absorbency positioning are the main differentiators, not safety profile.
If you buy it
Change every 4 to 8 hours based on flow to minimize bacterial growth and TSS risk, as with all tampons. Store in a cool, dry place; polypropylene compacts are stable under normal indoor conditions and not affected by temperature fluctuations. Do not flush the compact; discard in trash. Unscented formulation eliminates fragrance allergen exposure, which is a practical safety advantage over scented variants.
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 sourcing and processing chemicals
Viscose production involves sodium hydroxide and carbon disulfide; residual chemical levels in finished rayon are tightly regulated in most countries but are not disclosed by U by Kotex. No toxicological evidence of harm from vaginal exposure to trace residues exists in published medical literature, but full chain-of-custody transparency is unavailable.
Polypropylene plastic leaching
Polypropylene is chemically stable and does not leach BPA, phthalates, or other plasticizers. No known safety concerns exist for contact with vaginal tissue under normal use conditions.
Chlorine bleaching byproducts (dioxins)
Most viscose rayon and cotton tampons are chlorine-bleached; U by Kotex does not specify whether elemental chlorine-free or oxygen-based bleaching is used. Dioxin residues in tampons are typically at or below detection limits in independent testing, but brand does not publish bleaching method or testing results.
Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) risk
All absorbent tampons, including viscose rayon products, carry an inherent but rare TSS risk when left in place too long or used at higher absorbency than needed. This is a product-class hazard, not specific to U by Kotex, but proper usage (changing every 4 to 8 hours) mitigates it.
Fragrance allergen exposure (scented variants only)
This Unscented variant eliminates fragrance allergen risk entirely. Scented tampons from any brand can trigger allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals, but this product avoids that hazard by design.
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.