The Sanitary Napkin Industry's Collective "Collapse": Where is Consumer Safety and Trust?

The Sanitary Napkin Industry's Collective "Collapse": Where is Consumer Safety and Trust?Recently, several well-known sanitary napkin brands have been collectively condemned by consumers for issues such as reduced product length and quality problems, causing industry-wide shockwaves. This is not an isolated incident, but rather a concentrated eruption of long-standing problems prevalent in the sanitary napkin industry, exposing deep-seated contradictions such as a lack of industry integrity, insufficient regulation, and inadequate consumer protection

The Sanitary Napkin Industry's Collective "Collapse": Where is Consumer Safety and Trust?

Recently, several well-known sanitary napkin brands have been collectively condemned by consumers for issues such as reduced product length and quality problems, causing industry-wide shockwaves. This is not an isolated incident, but rather a concentrated eruption of long-standing problems prevalent in the sanitary napkin industry, exposing deep-seated contradictions such as a lack of industry integrity, insufficient regulation, and inadequate consumer protection. This article will delve into the underlying causes of this event and analyze its impact on the industry and consumers.

I. The Sanitary Napkin "Shrinkage" Incident Triggers a Trust Crisis

In early November, netizens exposed that the actual length of several well-known sanitary napkin brands was significantly shorter than the labeled length, involving brands such as ABC, Sofy, Kotex, Always, Whisper, and Seventh Generation. In response to consumer inquiries, brands claimed the length discrepancies were within the national standard allowance (4%), with some customer service representatives even stating that "1-2cm is a normal error; if you can't accept it, don't buy it." This perfunctory attitude angered consumers and triggered widespread condemnation.

Simultaneously, complaints about sanitary napkin quality issues have been numerous. Some products have been found to contain inferior inner absorbent materials, foreign objects, etc., leading to allergic reactions and other health problems in consumers.

As an essential item for women, the quality and safety of sanitary napkins directly impact women's health and safety. This incident severely damaged consumer trust in brands and raised questions about the entire sanitary napkin industry. Consumers began to reflect: why is it so difficult to buy a qualified sanitary napkin, something seemingly simple?

II. The High Price of Sanitary Napkins: A Breakdown of Costs

Netizens often lament "menstrual poverty," believing that sanitary napkins are overpriced and burdensome. So, where does the high price come from?

According to industry reports from Zhongtai Securities, the production process for sanitary napkins is relatively simple, with raw material costs accounting for approximately 80% of the total cost, with absorbent materials making up the largest portion (approximately 50%). Although the sanitary napkin industry boasts an average gross profit margin of 45%, high costs remain a significant factor contributing to its high price.

Specifically, the cost structure includes:

• High Raw Material Costs: Absorbent materials constitute the largest part of the cost, and their price fluctuations directly affect the final selling price of sanitary napkins.

• High Marketing Expenses: Intense market competition forces brands to increase advertising investment. The rise of e-commerce live streaming has further increased marketing expenses, averaging about 23% of sales revenue. These costs are ultimately passed on to consumers.

• High Storage and Transportation Costs: Sanitary napkins are bulky but lightweight ("bulky goods"), resulting in higher storage and transportation costs. Increased distribution channels further increase costs.

• R&D, Management, and Taxes: These expenses are also significant components of sanitary napkin costs.

Taking some well-known brands as examples, their parent companies' net profit margins are not high. Heng An International (parent company of Seventh Generation) has a net profit margin of 19%, while Jingxing Jianhu (parent company of ABC) and Unicharm (parent company of Sofy) have net profit margins of 8.3% and 10.7% respectively. This shows that despite the high gross profit margin of sanitary napkins, the actual profit after deducting various costs is not substantial.

III. Sanitary Napkin Shrinkage: The Business Logic Behind Minor Differences

A 3-5mm reduction in the length of a sanitary napkin may seem insignificant, but under economies of scale, the impact on a company's profits is enormous. Companies, knowing their products don't meet the standards, still choose to produce at the lower limit of national standards, maximizing cost reduction to pursue higher profits. This behavior not only harms consumer interests but also reveals a lack of integrity and social responsibility within the industry.

From the consumer's perspective, discovering product shrinkage leads to doubts about product quality, safety, and pricing strategies, triggering a trust crisis. From the manufacturer's perspective, these "minor differences" in cost savings lead to considerable profit growth in mass production.

IV. Lack of Industry Trust: Consumers Long for Security

Nearly all well-known brands in this incident had problems to varying degrees, indicating that sanitary napkin quality issues have become an industry-wide problem, lacking effective supervision and self-regulation mechanisms. Consumers, faced with the widespread "collapse," feel despair and have lost trust in the entire industry.

Women's physiological characteristics make their private parts more susceptible to infection, making the safety of sanitary napkins particularly crucial. Lacking trust in major brands, some consumers are turning to medical-grade sanitary napkins, despite their higher prices. However, this is not a long-term solution; consumers should not pay for the actions of unscrupulous businesses.

V. Medical-Grade Sanitary Napkins: The Debate Between High Price and Actual Efficacy

Medical-grade sanitary napkins, with their stringent sterility and hygiene standards, are far more expensive than ordinary sanitary napkins. However, their absorbency and comfort are not necessarily superior. Consumers are not intentionally seeking high prices but are choosing medical-grade sanitary napkins out of necessity for a sense of security, reflecting the severe lack of consumer trust in the industry.

Some consumers conduct "citizen evaluations" on social media platforms, such as shining lights on sanitary napkins to detect the presence of fluorescent agents. However, these methods lack scientific basis and can easily lead to misjudgment and panic. We need to rationally view online information and avoid being misled by pseudoscience.

VI. Future Industry Direction: Technological Innovation and Enhanced Regulation

This incident has also led consumers to demand higher technological content and diversification in sanitary napkins, with new products such as liquid sanitary napkins and tampons gaining popularity. This reflects consumers' higher pursuit of product quality, safety, and comfort.

In the future, competition in the sanitary napkin industry will increasingly focus on technological innovation, including improvements in absorbency, comfort, and safety. At the same time, stronger industry regulation is needed, with stricter standards and regulations, and severe punishment for violations to protect consumer rights.

VII. A Rational Appeal: Companies Need to Return to Craftsmanship, and Regulation Needs to Keep Pace

ABC founder Deng Jingheng's apology and promises, and the potential follow-up improvements from other brands, are merely damage control. Consumers are calling not only for post-incident remedies but also for genuine corporate attention to product quality and consumer rights, and a long-term commitment to craftsmanship.

The "collapse" of the sanitary napkin industry has exposed numerous problems and sounded an alarm for industry development. Only by returning to craftsmanship, strengthening product quality control, and strengthening regulatory oversight can consumer trust in the sanitary napkin industry be rebuilt and consumer rights protected. This is not only the responsibility of businesses themselves but also a responsibility to consumer health and safety, and to social fairness and justice. Only through concerted efforts can every woman use safe and reliable sanitary napkins with peace of mind.

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