Designing a novel, flushable and biodegradable applicator for an innovative menstrual tampon

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ADL is a carbon neutral UK-based, female-led start-up, with the aim to bridge the gender gap in product innovation through sustainable, CBD-infused tampons. This project looks to solve the environmental impact of tampon applicators, reducing the amount of plastic waste from menstrual products that end up in the landfill, on our beaches, or polluting our oceans for years to come. Menstrual waste amounts to 200,000 tonnes per year, based on calculations from Absorbent Hygiene Product Manufacturers Association (AHPMA)'s 2018 figure of 4.3 billion menstrual products being used per year in the UK. Moreover, the design of the tampon applicator has not been changed much since its invention in 1929, so there is room for improvement. An internal study with ADL subscribers has showed that 92% would want a more compact and user-friendly applicator compared to the conventional long variants. By producing the world's first commercially available flushable menstrual tampon applicator, ADL Ltd aims to solve a range of economic and environmental challenges, through innovative product development, and business model innovation. The Company has already engaged in preliminary user testing and product prototyping to ensure that diverse stakeholders are involved in the different stages of the product design. Also, the Company has engaged research partners for the development of the flushable applicator material. The successful execution of this project will significantly reduce the amount of waste generated by period care products, create new employment opportunities and will advance UK R&D towards the implementation of green technologies and materials in industrial applications.