Female Company's mailed book ended the tampon tax

157,000 signatures received for petition
Tampon tax abolished
The female company brochure

Background

In Germany, tampons were considered “luxury goods” and taxed at 19%. Whereas, actual luxury products (flowers, truffles or oil paintings) were taxed at 7%. Organic tampon brand The Female Company set to sell tampons at 7%...and change the law.

Solution

The Female Company found a loophole. Books were also taxed at 7%. So, their tampons now came as a book…or rather inside a book. As well as tampons, the book included provocative stories and illustrations about menstruation. It was mailed to politicians – with a request to change the law - and sold in chemists and online.

Results

The book, and unfair tax, was covered by national and international media. It sold out in a week. The petition received 157,000 signatures. In November 2019, the German government abolished the tampon tax for good.