Karen McIntyre, editor12.15.22
Legislative efforts across the globe are increasing period care access in public restrooms. In 2020, Scotland became the first country to require that all public bathrooms be equipped with feminine care products, and this move has been replicated by at least five U.S. states and even more municipalities. Additionally, at least 20 states require free period care in schools. In January 2022, Ann Arbor, MI became the first U.S. city to mandate that feminine hygiene products be available in public restrooms, regardless of gender designation, a move already being replicated.
In the wake of these legislative efforts, companies doing business in the away from home period care market have ramped up efforts to create products that are suitable for free and public distribution.
“We are trying to make feminine hygiene products as ubiquitous as toilet paper. There is no reason it shouldn’t be,” says Penelope Finnie, CEO Of Egal Pads.
A recent entry into the away from home period care market, Egal's Pads’ Roll on a Pad product comprises 40 individually packaged sanitary pads that can be dispensed via a standard toilet paper roll in public bathrooms. The pads lack wings and other bells and whistles found in the consumer market but offer an emergency solution to menstruators. The product recently received INDA's Hygienix 2022 Innovation Award.
“We are not trying to replace what you buy at CVS,” says Finnie. “We are providing the spare tire. It’s there when you need it.”
Increased access to period care products is also being advanced by the efforts of the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), which launched an educational and advocacy campaign guided by the belief that menstrual care solutions should be as available in away-from-home restrooms as soap, toilet paper and paper towels. Citing a survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Free the Tampons Foundation that found 86% of women have started their period unexpectedly in public without the supplies they need, the association believes far too few facilities consider the impact of their patrons being left unprepared while away from home should someone’s period come unexpectedly.
“No one should be without easy access to necessary period products and disposal solutions when they are needed,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. “This campaign aims to build on bipartisan legislation that has been passed in more than a half-dozen states to make period products more readily available in places such as schools and prisons. We also will help educate and engage facility managers, cleaning industry leaders, and the general public about the benefits of increasing access to period products and disposal solutions.
ISSA’s efforts include multi-faceted advocacy and lobbying in support of public policies to increase access to period products, dispensers and disposal solutions in away-from-home venues. The increased access to menstrual care products, dispensers, and disposal solutions will significantly reduce period poverty, school absenteeism, and protect the health and well-being of cleaning workers and the public.
Hospeco has been involved in the Away from Home menstrual care market for about 40 years but saw growth significantly ramp up five years ago, around the time it began its“Period Partner” initiative, advocating strongly for free menstrual care products in all public restrooms. Efforts included the creation of a standalone website that acts as a source of information and advocacy materials including legislative progress.
Hospeco has included upgraded fem care dispensing machine as part of its hands-free restroom.
“The Period Partner program put us in closer proximity to this younger demographic and gave us an opportunity to hear about their wants and needs. They’re a generation that’s in-tune with the changes a groundswell of support can make,”says Bill Heman, executive vice president, Hospeco. “They’re not willing to accept the status quo and believe they have a responsibility to change the things they can change.”
Along with advocacy efforts, Hospeco has ramped up its product development in the category. In 2022, the company expanded its Gards brand of fem care products for vending use with the introduction of Enviro Gards Organic Maxi Pads Vend Pack. These products feature pesticide-free, 100% organic cotton topsheet; a compostable box; and an innovative, biodegradable and compostable bioplastic barrier film and wrapper. Enviro Gards Pads are chlorine-free, dioxin-free, and fragrance-free. Additionally, the company expanded on its no-touch toilet seat cover dispenser by introducing no-touch menstrual care product dispensers and no-touch personal are waste receptacles.
“Hands-free sinks, soap dispensers, and hand dryers have long been standard in public restrooms,” Heman adds. “We wanted to go further and completed the hands-free restroom.”
SOS, a Boston, MA-based developer of dispensing technology for public restrooms affirmed its commitment to improving period care access through a recent partnership with Rael, the 360 holistic feminine and beauty company focused on clean period care, intimate care and skincare. The two companies have pledged to give away 200,000 tampons and pads at all of SOS' 100+ machines throughout the next year in an effort to increase access to essential personal care products in high-traffic public locations. The partnership is backed by a six-figure investment from Rael and is the largest direct brand investment to date for SOS.
"Every woman has experienced a moment when she needed a tampon and one was nowhere to be found, a frustrating feeling only exacerbated when in a public space like a sporting arena or office building," says Susanna Twarog, co-founder and co-CEO of SOS, whose machines are in high traffic areas including Rockefeller Center and Fenway Park. "We believe that all people deserve access to period care products wherever, whenever, and our partnership with Rael helps us bring that mission to fruition as we make their organic, effective pads and tampons available for free in all of our machines."
According to Twarog, increased attention on product access have led to more corporation considering how to meet the needs of people in their spaces and this includes introducing or improving access to period products.
“From the C-suite at large organizations to architects and developers preparing new designs and builds, there is a huge amount of interest in serving the wellness needs of people in commercial spaces,” she adds.
In the wake of these legislative efforts, companies doing business in the away from home period care market have ramped up efforts to create products that are suitable for free and public distribution.
“We are trying to make feminine hygiene products as ubiquitous as toilet paper. There is no reason it shouldn’t be,” says Penelope Finnie, CEO Of Egal Pads.
A recent entry into the away from home period care market, Egal's Pads’ Roll on a Pad product comprises 40 individually packaged sanitary pads that can be dispensed via a standard toilet paper roll in public bathrooms. The pads lack wings and other bells and whistles found in the consumer market but offer an emergency solution to menstruators. The product recently received INDA's Hygienix 2022 Innovation Award.
“We are not trying to replace what you buy at CVS,” says Finnie. “We are providing the spare tire. It’s there when you need it.”
Increased access to period care products is also being advanced by the efforts of the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA), which launched an educational and advocacy campaign guided by the belief that menstrual care solutions should be as available in away-from-home restrooms as soap, toilet paper and paper towels. Citing a survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of the Free the Tampons Foundation that found 86% of women have started their period unexpectedly in public without the supplies they need, the association believes far too few facilities consider the impact of their patrons being left unprepared while away from home should someone’s period come unexpectedly.
“No one should be without easy access to necessary period products and disposal solutions when they are needed,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. “This campaign aims to build on bipartisan legislation that has been passed in more than a half-dozen states to make period products more readily available in places such as schools and prisons. We also will help educate and engage facility managers, cleaning industry leaders, and the general public about the benefits of increasing access to period products and disposal solutions.
ISSA’s efforts include multi-faceted advocacy and lobbying in support of public policies to increase access to period products, dispensers and disposal solutions in away-from-home venues. The increased access to menstrual care products, dispensers, and disposal solutions will significantly reduce period poverty, school absenteeism, and protect the health and well-being of cleaning workers and the public.
Hospeco has been involved in the Away from Home menstrual care market for about 40 years but saw growth significantly ramp up five years ago, around the time it began its“Period Partner” initiative, advocating strongly for free menstrual care products in all public restrooms. Efforts included the creation of a standalone website that acts as a source of information and advocacy materials including legislative progress.
Hospeco has included upgraded fem care dispensing machine as part of its hands-free restroom.
Along with advocacy efforts, Hospeco has ramped up its product development in the category. In 2022, the company expanded its Gards brand of fem care products for vending use with the introduction of Enviro Gards Organic Maxi Pads Vend Pack. These products feature pesticide-free, 100% organic cotton topsheet; a compostable box; and an innovative, biodegradable and compostable bioplastic barrier film and wrapper. Enviro Gards Pads are chlorine-free, dioxin-free, and fragrance-free. Additionally, the company expanded on its no-touch toilet seat cover dispenser by introducing no-touch menstrual care product dispensers and no-touch personal are waste receptacles.
“Hands-free sinks, soap dispensers, and hand dryers have long been standard in public restrooms,” Heman adds. “We wanted to go further and completed the hands-free restroom.”
SOS, a Boston, MA-based developer of dispensing technology for public restrooms affirmed its commitment to improving period care access through a recent partnership with Rael, the 360 holistic feminine and beauty company focused on clean period care, intimate care and skincare. The two companies have pledged to give away 200,000 tampons and pads at all of SOS' 100+ machines throughout the next year in an effort to increase access to essential personal care products in high-traffic public locations. The partnership is backed by a six-figure investment from Rael and is the largest direct brand investment to date for SOS.
"Every woman has experienced a moment when she needed a tampon and one was nowhere to be found, a frustrating feeling only exacerbated when in a public space like a sporting arena or office building," says Susanna Twarog, co-founder and co-CEO of SOS, whose machines are in high traffic areas including Rockefeller Center and Fenway Park. "We believe that all people deserve access to period care products wherever, whenever, and our partnership with Rael helps us bring that mission to fruition as we make their organic, effective pads and tampons available for free in all of our machines."
According to Twarog, increased attention on product access have led to more corporation considering how to meet the needs of people in their spaces and this includes introducing or improving access to period products.
“From the C-suite at large organizations to architects and developers preparing new designs and builds, there is a huge amount of interest in serving the wellness needs of people in commercial spaces,” she adds.
