It was recently announced that supermarket giant Tesco had introduced a new scheme allowing shoppers to access free sanitary products in a bid to combat period poverty.
The supermarket received widespread praise after a customer spotted a sign in store explaining that customers can ask for 'a white envelope' should they need sanitary products, all while maintaining discretion and dignity.
A customer posted a snap of the poster in the toilets at their local store, the poster read: "To combat period poverty, Tesco want to ensure everyone has access to sanitary products. If you are in need, please go to the customer service desk and ask for a white envelope. No questions will be asked."
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A tweet from @Tesco appeared to confirm the offer was genuine and eligible in all stores, a customer @02pash tweeted Tesco to ask if the scheme is legitimate. They asked: "Is this true about asking for a "White envelope" For Sanitary products?"
Tesco replied to the tweet, saying: "Hi Naill, thanks for getting in touch. To answer your question, yes this is correct, all a customer needs to do is to ask at our customer services and there will be no questions asked, it's in a effort to tackle period poverty as they are given free of charge. TY - Ian."
Following the news of Tesco's new 'white envelope' initiative, I decided to put it to the test in hopes our readers would be encouraged to use it should they need to. I went to my local Tesco superstore to ask the customer service desk for a 'white envelope'. However, when I asked for one, I didn't get the response I was hoping for as a staff member replied: "Sorry we don't sell envelopes."
I then asked if she knew what I meant, to which she responded: "White envelopes? We don't sell them, maybe try the post office?" Saddened by her response, I proceeded to show her an article about the new initiative on my phone to which she replied: "Sorry I've never heard of it, do you want me to call for a manager?"
I stood waiting for around 15 minutes as the staff member in question called for the store manager over the tannoy three times, to no avail. Eventually, I told the staff member not to worry and I would try again another day to which she apologised and told me she thought they were in a meeting.
I left the store feeling embarrassed, but mostly sad that if a young girl, or a woman in need of any age for that matter, had read about the scheme either online or on a poster in store and built up the courage to ask for help, they could be met with such a disheartening response.
If I was a customer in need struggling with period poverty due to the cost of living crisis, the exchange I'd had would have made me feel not only extremely uncomfortable, but also it would have stopped me from ever trying to access the help again. I was really saddened and disappointed by what happened.
However, it has since come to light that the scheme was only trialed in a handful of stores, which explains the staff members confusion by my request. Leeds Live has since been told by Tesco the 'white envelope' scheme currently only applies to Scotland. The supermarket apologised for the mix up and explained that the scheme was a "small-scale trial" ran in a "handful of stores".
A Tesco spokesman said: "We’re really sorry for any confusion caused by the White Envelope initiative. This was a small-scale trial we ran in a handful of stores to help people in their local community. Now the trial has ended, we’ll use what we've learned to help us serve our customers better.
“We know the cost of period products is a real struggle for many and continue to work with our suppliers to make sure they are affordable for all." While this experiment didn't work out quite the way I had hoped, it is worth noting that the efforts to combat period poverty and the cost of living crisis by Tesco should be applauded.
The idea beind the 'white envelope' scheme was widely praised by customers all over the UK, so hopefully this will be something that will come in to place in all stores nationwide in the near future.
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