cover of episode Unqualified sanitary pads

Unqualified sanitary pads

2024/12/2
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Round Table China
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Fei Fei
L
Lai Ming
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牛红林
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牛红林：报道指出许多品牌卫生巾实际长度与标注长度不符，引发公众不满，卫生标准、生产环境和客户服务态度等问题也受到关注。2025年中国将推出新的国家卫生巾标准，旨在改善卫生巾的安全性和环保性。 Lai Ming：国家标准允许卫生巾长度比标准短4%，但许多厂商都选择缩短长度而不是增加长度。卫生巾不仅仅是消费品，它与女性的个人感受和情感密切相关，价格也是重要因素，中国女性每年在卫生巾上的花费很高，而卫生巾行业的利润率也很高，因此厂商应该提高产品质量。 Fei Fei：目前对卫生巾长度的测量结果可能存在偏差，因为样本量有限，测量工具也可能不够精确。近年来，关于卫生巾的讨论还包括卫生标准、pH值、生产环境和客户服务等方面。女性应该积极表达对卫生巾产品的感受和反馈，以便厂商改进产品。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why are there discrepancies between the labeled and actual lengths of sanitary pads?

Most sanitary pads are found to be shorter than their labeled length, with 67.5% of products from 45 brands differing in length. This discrepancy has triggered public dissatisfaction and raised questions about corporate cost-cutting practices.

What are the new national standards for sanitary pads in China?

Starting from July 1, 2025, China will implement new national standards for sanitary pads, focusing on safety and environmental impact. The draft is currently in the process of being finalized and will soon solicit public opinion.

How does the current national standard for sanitary pad length allow for discrepancies?

The current national standard allows for a 4% discrepancy in length, meaning that pads can be up to 4% shorter than labeled without violating the standard.

What are some of the key issues discussed regarding sanitary pads in recent years?

Issues include unqualified hygiene standards, poor production environments, bad customer service, and misleading advertising. Some consumers have reported finding worms or warm eggs in pads, raising concerns about hygiene.

Why is the topic of sanitary pads becoming more openly discussed in China?

The stigma surrounding menstrual products is fading, leading to more open discussions and scientific experiments. This shift is driven by a growing awareness of the importance of comfort and safety in these products.

What is the economic impact of sanitary pads on women in China?

Women in China spend over 500 yuan annually on sanitary pads, contributing to a market valued at 13 billion US dollars. Despite high gross profit margins reaching 45%, some products are priced up to 10 times their factory cost, raising questions about affordability and value.

How can consumers contribute to improving sanitary pad standards in China?

Consumers can review and provide feedback on the draft national standards once they are published on the national standard website. This participation can help ensure that the new standards address the needs and concerns of users.

Chapters
This chapter discusses the heated debate on Chinese social media regarding the quality and standards of sanitary pads. Several social media experiments revealed that many brands' products are shorter than advertised, raising concerns about corporate cost-cutting and inadequate market standards. This has led to widespread dissatisfaction among consumers.
  • Social media experiments revealed many sanitary pad brands' products are shorter than advertised.
  • Concerns raised about corporate cost-cutting and inadequate market standards.
  • Widespread dissatisfaction among consumers due to the issue.

Shownotes Transcript

Female hygiene products are not something we often talk about until something goes wrong. Imagine reading a news story about a brand you trust, only to find out they've been cutting corners on even the basics. Now, what happens when some of these female products aren't just falling short in size, but in quality and hygiene too? Is it a corporate cost-cutting move, or are there deeper issues in the market's standards for such personal products? On the show: Niu Honglin, Laiming & Fei Fei