In Germany, tampons were taxed as luxury goods at 19%, while items like books enjoyed a reduced tax rate of 7%. To protest this disparity, The Female Company collaborated with Scholz & Friends to create “The Tampon Book,” a 46-page publication containing 15 organic tampons. This clever packaging circumvented the higher tax and included stories and illustrations about menstruation, aiming to spark dialogue on period taboos and tax discrimination. The campaign garnered widespread attention, leading to a petition that amassed over 175,000 signatures. On November 7, 2019, the German parliament voted to reduce the tampon tax to 7%, marking a significant victory for the initiative.
