Why are companies switching away from cardboard tampon applicators in the workplace?

The market moved away from cardboard applicators years ago. Today, 88% of tampon sales are non-cardboard applicators. Many workplaces that stocked cardboard options have been left with unusable inventory — in some cases representing $20,000 or more in wasted product. Employees simply won't use them.

What period care products should facilities stock in office restrooms?

Facilities should stock organic tampons with plant-based applicators, which align with current consumer preferences and market trends. Stocking the wrong product — like cardboard applicators — can result in significant waste and financial loss.

What is the Works with WELL program and how does it relate to period care dispensers?

Works with WELL is a program by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) that recognizes products aligning with WELL building standards. UNICORN is the first period product dispenser approved for Works with WELL alignment, covering Feature W08.1 (Hygiene Support) and Feature C13.1 (Accessibility and Universal Design).

How can facilities managers balance amenity upgrades with tighter budgets?

With amenity space in offices growing from 11% to 17% since 2021 and 84% of facilities leaders citing budget constraints as their top concern, the key is choosing the right product from the start. Investing in a proven, certified dispensing solution avoids costly mistakes like restocking or disposing of unused inventory.

What makes UNICORN period care dispensers different from other office restroom solutions?

UNICORN offers stainless steel in-stall dispensers stocked exclusively with organic tampons and plant-based applicators. They are the first period product dispenser to receive Works with WELL alignment from the International WELL Building Institute, supporting both hygiene and accessibility standards.

The Stall Standard | Issue 2 | Period Care Dispensers That Work: Budget, Product & WELL

Unicorn
May 6
2 min read

Welcome back to The Stall Standard | Period Care Dispensers That Work: Budget, Product & WELL

This month we're thinking about a word that comes up in many facilities conversations we're having: budget. Specifically, what happens when the pressure to do more with less runs headfirst into the pressure to get the workplace experience right. Plus, some exciting news we've been sitting on. Here's what we're seeing.

MORE AMENITIES. LESS BUDGET. NO ROOM TO MISS.

Amenity space in offices has grown from 11% to 17% since 2021. At the same time, 84% of facilities leaders say budget constraints are their #1 concern. Buildings are expected to deliver more with less. When you invest, it has to be the right product from the start.

Sources: Ronspot 2026 Workplace Report / JLL Global FM Report 2025

THE $20K TAMPON LESSON: Why Product Choice Matters in Period Care Dispensing

We recently got a call from a distributor partner:“We have a customer that needs your help. They’re sitting on $20K of tampons they’re going to donate.”

A $20K investment, gone. The reason? Cardboard applicators. And it shouldn’t surprise anyone. The market moved away from cardboard years ago. Today, 88% of tampon sales are non-cardboard applicators, and Amazon’s top sellers tell the same story. Most dispensing solutions just haven’t caught up.

That’s why UNICORN only stocks organic tampons with plant-based applicators. Because providing period care shouldn't be a $20K lesson. It should be the right product, in the right place, from the start.

WORKS WITH WELL

UNICORN in every stall is proud to be the first-ever period product dispenser approved for alignment with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI)'s Works with WELL program:

Feature W08.1: Hygiene Support (direct)
Feature C13.1: Accessibility and Universal Design (support)

Learn more about IWBI's Works with WELL program here.