27,000 vouchers per month, BIPA sponsors educational workshops
Those who cannot afford period products resort to unhealthy and unhygienic alternatives such as toilet paper, fabric scraps or plastic bags. This is exactly where the ‘Red Box’ comes in. The number of cooperation partners issuing vouchers has grown steadily since the project was launched in autumn 2023. Social markets, youth facilities, women's health centres, social and women's counselling centres and numerous other institutions in the social and health sector distribute a total of 27,000 ‘Red Box’ vouchers every month.
There is still a lot of ignorance and myths surrounding menstruation – the topic is still socially stigmatised, as confirmed by a BIPA survey conducted last year: according to the survey, eight out of ten people in Austria are reluctant to talk about menstruation. As part of the project, BIPA is therefore funding educational workshops run by FEM Süd to educate girls and women about the menstrual cycle, the various products available and the social aspects of menstruation, as well as to break down taboos.
A project close to our hearts to combat period poverty
‘The Red Box is a project close to the heart of the City of Vienna. With its expansion, every girl and woman can use exactly the product that suits her. We ask women what they want and take them at their word. I am very pleased that we have found a very supportive partner in BIPA,’ says Deputy Mayor and City Councillor for Women's Issues Kathrin Gáal.
‘The Red Box supports the women of Vienna who need it most,’ says Health and Social Affairs Councillor Peter Hacker. ‘By expanding the initiative, we are ensuring that the Red Box and the issue in general remain visible. This is an important step towards removing the taboo.’
‘Period poverty is a real problem – even in Vienna. For us as a company, it goes without saying that we take responsibility here. By expanding to the entire BI COMFORT sanitary pad range, we want to ensure that everyone gets exactly the product that really suits them,’ says BIPA Managing Director Markus Geyer.
‘Education is particularly important to me when it comes to this topic, which is why the workshops on menstrual education are so close to my heart. Menstruation is something completely natural – but in many circles, people still whisper when the topic comes up. We want to change that. Openness begins with knowledge,’ says BIPA Managing Director Daniela Reumann.
Where can you get the voucher booklet?
Social markets (eligible persons)
Women's health centres FEM, FEM Süd and FEM-Med (clients)
First Love counselling centres of the Austrian Society for Family Planning (for young people up to the age of 18 who seek counselling)
Youth facilities (young people in care)
Homeless shelters (clients)
Facilities for refugees (clients)
Facilities for people with disabilities (clients)
Facilities for women affected by violence (clients)
Various social counselling facilities, e.g. Grätzl centres run by Wohnpartner, neighbourhood centres, women's counselling centres, social counselling centre of MA 40
How the ‘Red Box’ works:
Women and girls who need support receive a quarterly voucher booklet for one free ‘Red Box’ per month.
The vouchers can be used to collect any normal sanitary towels or tampons (16 pieces) from the BIPA brand BI COMFORT in all BIPA branches in Vienna.
The voucher booklet is valid for 3 months – take the booklet and a pack of sanitary towels or tampons to the checkout in any BIPA branch in Vienna.
All information and locations where voucher booklets are available: wien.gv.at/rote-box
The ‘Rote Box’ is a cooperation project between the City of Vienna and BIPA.
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