Erika Vanessa Celli
Universidad Externado de Colombia
Gustavo A Yepes López
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Offering products for sustainable menstruation, in addition to seeking waste reduction, seeks to protect the health of women, by using suitable and safe materials for that area of the woman's body.
"I imagine a world where we all are guardians of Mother Earth, taking care of rivers, forests, land and I believe that women have a great responsibility with this."- Sua Renata Garcia, CEO
Xiua Ecologia femenina was born as a complement of the menstrual cup, which are products that attempt to change the way in which menstruation was previously managed with fabrics. Taking advantage of technological innovations in fabrics and design, creating reusable menstruation products: Female cloth towels and Menstrual Underwear, which are comfortable, very thin, very safe and with original designs.
"Since I met the menstrual cup, I felt that there was a need for more alternatives, sustainable and comfortable for women. That's why I started with cloth towels, which are an excellent complement to the menstrual cup"- Sua Renata Garcia, CEO
The core of the business is to offer products for sustainable menstruation, in addition to seeking waste reduction, seeks to protect the health of women, by using suitable and safe materials for that area of the woman's body.
It is a generic product that can reach all the women who need it. This can be a great solution and a great substitute.
"The motivation was the personal need to do something significant to reduce the impact on nature."- Sua Renata Garcia, CEO
"I believe that the issue of moving from thinking to materialization is a power that, in achieving it, generates the greatest satisfaction. Recently I was part of the management and production of the 3rd International Forum for the Rights of Mother Earth, it is an event that was organized over a year, doing environmental and citizen activism towards the culture for the Rights of Mother Earth."
Sua Renata Garcia was the main producer of this event, it lasted 4 days where more than 15 exponents from different countries met to discuss the issue and generate real actions for the protection of nature. More than 1000 people during the 4 days where there, which ended with a Festival of Mother Earth.
More than 20 artists participated, throughout the day, where there was a circle of words. This whole event happened at the Virgilio Barco Library, which is a wonderful place to create and share. They met everyone from indigenous grandparents, to politicians and experts in the field, creating a multidisciplinary dialogue environment.
Many women around the world do not have access to sanitary towels, and some of them have chosen only plastic ones. That is the reason why it caused 60kl of waste per year.
"We have all the technological possibilities to take care of the environment"- Sea Renata Garcia, CEO
For that reason, female cloth towels have a usage time of about 3 years and after this they take up to 1 year to degrade.
In addition to being a great support to Mother Earth, Xiua Ecologia Femenina supports women heads of household for the creation of these towels, provides new employment options and distributes their products around the country.
At the moment it is looking to open new markets in Mexico and South America.
For the year 2019 there is an estimated 49.5% of women in the world, this is a very large market and with all the opportunities to explore. Every year, women dispose of 60 kilograms of sanitary waste, that is 100,000 tons of annual waste. With sanitary cloth towels, in Colombia with this innovation they have been reduced around 2 tons of this waste.
It is a business that, in addition to being profitable, impacts the environment directly and supporting sustainable communities.
For the benefit of society and the environment, this innovation mainly supports four aspects:
1. Support vulnerable communities that do not have the resources and access to disposable towels.
2. Reduction to the impact on the environment
3. It has an impact on women's health since the chemicals in disposable sanitary towels have chemicals generating a side effect on women's health
4. Reduction in spending and management of menstruation, this is an investment that over time reduces costs.
5. The cost of one sanitary towel is $5 dollars with a lifespan use of 3 years. The cost of the plastic ones is $2 dollars per each month.
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Sua Renata Garcia, CEO
Xiua Ecologia Femenina is a reusable menstrual clothing. Products that attempt to change the way in which menstruation was previously managed with fabrics.
"The inspiration was focused on the personal need to do something significant to reduce the impact on nature."- Sua Renata Garcia, CEO
After 3 years of offering menstrual clothing, hundreds of women have reduced about 2 tons of disposables.
Offering products for sustainable menstruation, in addition to seeking waste reduction, seeks to protect the health of women, by using suitable and safe materials for that area of the woman's body.