CHEMICAL-FREE CARE FOR WOMEN
JENNY ROBERTS wants to uplift women and reduce their environmental impact, all with the help of a discreet little pack.
Her idea to sell washable sanitary products formed many years ago, with the aim of promoting self-care during menstruation and beyond. It’s now become a full-time gig for the former aged care worker who says caring for people comes naturally.
“I just wanted to uplift women at that time of the month,” she said.
Miss Roberts was formerly the Dubbo representative of Days for Girls International, an agency providing washable pads for women in third world countries.
“I stepped down from that last year,” she explains, adding that she spent a couple of years researching the idea before starting her own non-profit organisation Mae it Flow.
Her aim is “to provide products, knowledge and develop self-care practices to women of all ages, cultures and economic backgrounds; to support through their monthly cycle, nurturing themselves and the environment”.
Miss Roberts admits to being “old school” when it comes to her period products, and spoke to many other women before launching the enterprise.
Making the pads more environmentally friendly was a key factor as she explains that disposable items are 90 per cent plastic and take up to 100 years to break down.
“That was definitely a driving force,” she said.
“The (volume) of chemicals they contain can seep into your system and can cause cramps.”
Miss Roberts said natural products bring many more benefits than their manufactured alternative.
“I’m trying to take a non-toxic, non-chemical approach to self-care.
“People are becoming more conscious, there’s a societal shift. If it were natural products, it would reduce your cycle by 2-3 days. It’s great to reduce that chemical build-up.”
The washable sanitary products are made from organic cotton and are 100 per cent Australian made. Visit maeitflow.org for more information.
FUN FACTS:
• Women have their period for 3000 days
• They use 12-17,000 sanitary products in a lifetime
• That’s 120-150 kg of pads per woman