Last week, we launched our AMAZING new product range, sustainable period products. They're better for your body, better for the Earth, better for womankind. And we're so excited! So, we caught up with &SISTERS, the creators of these fabulous organic and planet-friendly products.
So firstly, what's the story behind your company &SISTERS?
&SISTERS began after founder Claire decided she wanted to make a positive impact on the feminine care industry. After visiting countries such as Nepal, Myanmar & India, she realised how hard it was to find sanitary pads let alone tampons. Unable to afford menstrual products many girls and women across the globe often resorted to using leaves, bark, ash, mud and even animal dung. Of course, these not only caused serious infections but were often ineffective. Fast forward twenty years and whether through poverty, politics, stigmatism or lack of awareness, easy access to feminine care products is still not the norm in many parts of the world.
What a great initiative! Then, of course, there's the environmental impact too. How damaging are traditional period care products to the planet?
A ‘conventional’ period pad box contains around the same amount of plastic as 4-5 carrier bags. Aside from plastic applicators and plastic wraps, tampons and pads can also contain microplastics which aren’t always visible! (Sometimes they can also contain perfumes, dyes, chlorine, dioxins, cellulose, wood pulp and super absorbent polymers).
That's crazy! So exactly how much plastic could you save each month by swapping to &SISTERS menstrual products?
During its lifespan, our nüdie cup saves over 2,000 disposable period products going to landfill (or even worse being flushed down the toilet!)
Your liners and tampons are organic, could you tell us why this is important?
Non-organic cotton is known as the ‘dirty crop’. Our certified organic cotton uses 91% less water & 62% less energy than conventional cotton, significantly reducing our impact on the planet! (Conventional cotton products can also contain pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilisers)
That's great! Are there any health implications for why it's better to swap to these sustainable alternatives?
Our period products are 100% hypoallergenic and pH neutral as well as being free from synthetics, fibres and other nasties. Organic cotton is naturally breathable so is perfect for areas which are easily irritated or particularly sensitive.
Thank you so much. Do you have any tips to help people have a plastic-free period?
Our nüdie cup is the best way to be environmentally friendly - a woman uses up to 10,000 disposable period products in her lifetime and switching to reusable period care allows us to tread a little lighter on the planet.
Then finally we have one last question, you guys donate 10% of your profits to support women's health, education and economic empowerment across the globe. What made you decide to do this?
We believe that no woman should be held back by virtue of her gender, so we want to educate and empower 'Sisters' around the world, tackling period poverty and helping create a better future for women.
You can check out the full collection, including organic tampons, pads and menstrual cups here.