Here’s your weekly recap—the most viewed news stories on our site for the week ended January 28, 2023.

Thinx, the period panty brand recently purchased by Kimberly-Clark, has settled a class action lawsuit that its products, which are marketed as a safer, more sustainable approach to menstrual hygiene — contain potentially harmful chemicals. Plaintiffs say third-party testing on the underwear revealed the presence of short chain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substanes (PFAS), human-made chemicals that are found in many consumer and industrial products, do not easily break down and have been linked to adverse health effects.

Thinx has denied these allegations saying that PFAS have never been part of its product design and that it will continue to take measures to ensure the chemicals are not added to its products. However, the lawsuit alleges that, despite the fact that PFAS and other environmental toxins are present in a wide range of consumer products, Thinx misled consumers, marketing itself as an “organic, sustainable and nontoxic” alternative to traditional one-use menstrual products, including pads and tampons. This comes at a time when a growing number of menstruating people are proactively seeking out safer, more environmentally friendly products.

Class members were notified of the settlement this week. As part of it, Thinx has committed to paying up to $5 million to provide reimbursement as well as making some changes to its marketing and production processes.

In other news, Abena AB and Finess Hygiene, both subsidiaries of Abena Holding, the parent company of the Abena Group, will merge into one company named Abena AB. The merger is a natural extension of the long-term collaboration between the two companies. In October 2022, Abena AB made a record-high investment of more than SEK 25 million in a new converting machine for washcloths at the Finess factory in Kisa, Sweden. The investment was made to make the factory more competitive for the future, while also enabling better ergonomic conditions for the production staff.

Here are our top 3 most viewed stories from the past week:

1. Thinx to Pay up to $5 million to Settle Class Action Suit

2. Abena, Finess Hygiene Announce Merger

3. Suominen Names Interim CFO