Ever since women slowly regained autonomy over our reproduction, an unintended byproduct was the uterine lining that would shed monthly, better known as period. Periods affect 1.8 billion people right now, and with the population increase this figure will only be higher. Initially, addressing hygiene led to disposable products replacing rags and barks, which happens to give a recurring revenue model for companies.
However, this solution presented new challenges for the environment and personal budgets. In the United States alone, dealing with menstrual blood generates a staggering 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons, equating to two USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carriers in weight of waste (200,000 tons). We didn’t just produce the trash - each menstruator would pay for them at the rate of $200 per year for 38 menstruating years. This led to the second milestone with menstrual cups, discs, and period underwear that are sustainable and cost-effective alternatives. Yet, these innovations have not garnered a significant market share due to various psychological and medical challenges.
It's time for us to spur the third wave of innovation, fundamentally departing from absorption or collection methods. The objective is to empower menstruators with a level of control over their periods equivalent to their control over bathroom visits—a dignity we all deserve. We aim to provide a small, long-lasting, suction-free, and release on demand solution compatible with premier contraception methods like intrauterine devices (IUDs). Menstruators accustomed to tampons can easily transition to sustainable products. Paired with the minimal upfront cost and elimination of ongoing restocking expenses, this product becomes easily distributable by food pantries, effectively combating period poverty that is still affecting 500 million people.