Workplaces across Japan are starting to provide sanitary pads to help women work with a greater sense of ease.

Household goods companies Kao and Unicharm have rolled out services to stock sanitary pads in workplace restrooms. Companies that introduced the services said they have seen positive reactions from employees.

According to a 2024 industry ministry estimate, the annual economic loss in Japan due to women¡¯s health issues stood at ?3.4 trillion ($21.6 billion). About ?570 billion of this was attributed to lower productivity caused by absence from work and reduced performance due to menstruation.

Addressing menstrual issues is becoming increasingly important for companies as the number of women in the workforce increases.

In 2022, Kao launched the ¡°Laurier in Workplace¡± service, in which it provides sanitary napkin storage boxes for free to corporate clients, which then buy napkins to fill them. Service users have noted the ease of setting up the boxes in offices and factories.

Combined with the ¡°Laurier in School¡± program, the service had been introduced at over 600 companies and schools as of December last year.

Kao began the service after a survey on menstrual issues among employees in their first to third years in the workforce showed that respondents most frequently struggled with not having pads when their periods suddenly start.

¡°We want to make it common for sanitary products to be kept available in case someone is in trouble,¡± said Ayumi Kato, brand manager at the company¡¯s sanitary products division.

Laurier in Workplace was initially adopted mainly by companies with a large share of female employees. Now it has also spread to industries with a high proportion of male workers.

According to general contractor Obayashi, which introduced the service in May 2024, a female employee working at construction sites said she can work with peace of mind as she no longer needs to return to the office even if her period suddenly begins.

Unicharm launched a similar service offering sanitary napkin dispensers for free to corporations and schools last October.

¡°(The service) helps increase psychological safety in the workplace, enhance recognition of companies as those addressing women¡¯s health issues and raise corporate value,¡± a Unicharm official said.

¡°We aim to realize a society in which sanitary products are available everywhere, making life easier for everyone,¡± the official added.