****THIS PRESS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL 12^THJULY 2016**** 

New study reveals62% of women admit to flushing tampons down the toilet.

New invention promises to make periods easier to bear and more environmentally friendly

52% of the testers saidthey have carried ausedtampon in their handbag on at least one occasion!

• And almost a thirdof testers (29%)said they had experiencedor have heard of someone experiencing ‘nightmare scenarios'with tampon disposal too, such as the dreaded walk of shame past office colleagues with a bulging pocket.

• Millions of women are flushing billions of tampons down the loo every year. And, contrary to popular belief, they shouldn't be.

• Mumsnetters (342 females in total) took up the chance to trial Fab Little Bag: a unique disposal bag allowing the user to open with one hand and seal closed for confidence and discretion, opaque and biodegradable too.

• Fab Little Bag proved to be a fabulous converter: The survey found that out of the138Mumsnet testerswho "always flushed"tampons down the toilet before using Fab Little Bagonly 4continued to do so after the trial!

• 41% ofthe testerswere unaware these items shouldn't go down the loo.

• 37% said that they didn't know flushing tampons damages the environmentby causing sewer blockages leading to sewer flooding and pollution.

• With such a taboo subject, it's not so surprising that around8 out of 10Fab Little Bag Mumsnet testerssaid they found disposing of used tampons embarrassingwhen away from home where bins and other facilities were not available.

On nightmare anecdotes, Mumsnetters told us:

• "I used to roll them (used tampon) in toilet tissue and dispose of in the bin. This was always less than ideal as the tampons would eventually leak through the toilet tissue and become, frankly, gross!"

• "I was in America, and couldn't dispose of tampon. So wrapped in toilet paper and put in my pocket and forgot about it. I then flew home, and had to go through passport control and airport security. I was terrified of being searched and them finding a used tampon. Luckily I wasn't searched".

• "My period started on my first night staying with a new partner and he had no bathroom bin. I had a stash of used tampons in my handbag until the next day".

• "There was no bin at school, hid it in toilet roll on top of toilet as didn't want to leave cubicle holding it".

But now a brand new invention has a solution to this problem ‘in the bag'...

The hygienic, easy to use bags are the brainchild offemale entrepreneur Martha Silcottwho wanted to give women more options, less stress - and ultimately more confidence - around their period when it comes to disposing of sanitary products.

The test results showed a massive90% of the female testersfelt more confident and in controlabout using and disposing of tampons responsibly when using Fab Little Bag.

A huge87%of testerswould recommend Fab Little Bag to a family member or friend

Silcott has teamed up with one of the UK's largest water companies, Anglian Water, to make more women aware that there is an alternative to flushing, and that it doesn't have to be embarrassing either, and will benefit the environment at the same time. As a result of the Fab Little Bag product trial nearly three quarters (71%)said thattrying the producthad made them realise that flushing tampons and other sanitary items leads to sewer blockages and pollution.

Inventor and entrepreneur Martha Silcott says:

"Somepeople have great ideas in the bath or in the shower, but I had mine sitting on the toilet! I believe women deserve a hygienic, easy and discreet way to deal with disposal during their period. I created Fab Little Bag to help make women's lives more comfortable around the time of the month.  I hated doing the "Loo Roll Wrap" especially at other people's houses. I have, like the 52% of the women surveyed,carried a used tampon in my handbag for later disposaland was adamant there must be a better way."

Carrie Longton, Mumsnet co-founder, says:

"Sharing knowledge is one of the things that Mumsnet users do brilliantly, so it's great to be working with Fab Little Bag and Anglian Water to spread the word about the negative impact of flushing tampons and help women do something good for the environment."

A selection of comments from some of the surveyed Mumsnetter testers:

• "Nifty - I liked them. Really handy and convenient. Very clean to use"

• "Really easy to use, convenient, nice design"

• "It meant that I didn't have to go to a toilet at school with a bin. Not all of them have bins"

• "I will bin them from now on after years of thinking it was okay to flush. Ooops"

• "Easy to use and dispose of, small and easily hide-able

• "I thought they were great. Easy to use and a brilliant idea to an age-old problem! I always wrap in toilet paper, then bin them at home. But when at friends' or relatives' houses, I wrap in toilet paper and take them home...yuk!"

• "Most definitely would recommend. Fabulous wee product.

• "They made disposal a bit easier and more hygienic "

• "I used the bags both at home and once when visiting relatives. At home, we have a septic tank so definitely cannot flush tampons, and this made putting them in the bin a much more pleasant experience"

• "I thought tampons were biodegradable! And the bins were only for sanitary towels!So this product has taught me a huge lesson! I will never flush

• "I can't believe I didn't know this before. It makes sense but I've just always flushed them without thinking. I'll definitely explain it to my friends and to my daughter when she is of that age. To think I considered myself a greeny too, but may have inadvertently harmed the environment."

95% ofthe testerssaid they cared about the environment and are willing to do their bit.

Priscilla Taylor,one of Anglian Water's army of sewage operatives says:

"I know how messy and tricky tampons can be to dispose of hygienically, however I also see first-hand the damage caused by these items being flushed and the distress it causes people when sewage has backed up into their garden or home.  It can all be avoided if everyone binned their tampons, sanitary waste, wipes and other bathroom waste".

Anglian Water and environmental facts at a glance:

• Approximately 9.4 million tampon users (source Statista.com) in the UK using on average 20 tampons per period. So that's 9.4m x 20 x 12 (months in a year). That's 2.3billion tampons per year. Estimations through surveys and studies that approximately 60% of those are flushed!  That's 1.4billion flushed per year.  All of which have the potential to land up on beaches, in rivers, sewers etc.

• 80% of all sewer blockages are avoidable caused by wipes, tampons and applicators, sanitary pad and fats, oils and grease.

• The average call out charge is£85 to unblocka sewer blockage within your property boundary. Buying enough Fab Little Bags to last a whole year will cost just over £30 per woman, less than a cup of coffee a month, it makes sense!

Mumsnet survey stats at a glance:

• 342 total number of testers who responded to survey

• 84% of Mumsnetters find disposing of tampons in someone else's house embarrassing

• 52% have carried a used tampon in their handbag to dispose of later

• 30% have experienced(or had heard of someone who had experienced) a"nightmare scenario"

• 90% feel more confident and in control regarding disposal wherever they are using FLB

• 87% would recommend Fab Little Bag to a family member or friend

Mumsnet is the UK's largest network for parents, with over 9.4 million unique visitors per month clocking up over 91 million page views.It has 180 local sites and a network of over 8,000 bloggers. It regularly campaigns on issues including support for families of children with special educational needs, improvements in miscarriage care and freedom of speech on the internet.

-ENDS-

Stockist info:

Waitrose, Ocado, Wholefoods

Online:

Ethical Superstore

Natural Collection

Spirit of Nature

Amazon

TOTM (Time of the Month) 

www.fablittlebag.com

RRP £2.99 Bathroom Pack (contains 20 bags) andRRP £1.99 Handbag Pack (contains 5 in a sturdy re-fillable Handbag pack perfect when out and about) 

Martha Silcott Biography

• Aged 46 years is married 2 sons and lives in North London,

• Read Anthropology at Sussex University

• Worked in financial services since graduating in 1991

• Martha's passion for inventions has always been in the background, despite working in the City as she created the first prototype for Fab Little Bag in 1999

• The patent for Fab Little Bag was granted in 2013 and she left her well paid job to pursue her ambition of helping change women's lives for the better as she launched the company

Contact:

Martha Silcott (Founder) m:   +44 7740 054816e  martha@fablittlebag.com www.fablittlebag.com

Amanda Ruiz PR m: +44 7711 419595 e:hello@amandaruiz.co.uk

Emma Staples Anglian Water PR e:eStaples@anglianwater.co.uk    Tel: 07885 135 460

High resolution images available. Go here to downloadhttp://www.fablittlebag.com/press-and-media/

****THIS PRESS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL 12^THJULY 2016****