Background

Mooncup: The Story So Far...

Spring 2000 - Su Hardy discovers a menstrual cup on her travels

On her return from backpacking with her one-year old daughter around Australia, Su Hardy imports a latex menstrual cup. Sales soon show that women in Britain are ready for an eco-friendly, money-saving sanitary product. However, latex allergies are reported and following research, Su comes up with medical grade silicone as a hypoallergenic alternative

Spring 2002 - the Mooncup is created

Su’s one–woman crusade quickly grows into a small, ethical business as Brighton-based Mooncup Ltd. responds to ever-growing numbers of women worldwide demanding the Mooncup

Autumn 2004 - Boots, the UK’s leading health and beauty retailer, request the Mooncup

In addition to worldwide sales through www.mooncup.co.uk and independent health food shops, the Mooncup is made available in Boots stores throughout the UK, after the pharmacy giant requests it in response to customer demand

Spring 2005 - Mooncup information materials translated into 12 languages

As the Mooncup becomes available in more and more countries around the world, Mooncup Ltd. responds by introducing its Usage Guide, leaflets and posters in eleven languages

Winter 2005 - Mooncup Ltd. at the forefront of research and education about menstrual health

Nurse Advisor Cathy Marchand brings 25 years of nursing experience to Mooncup Ltd. Cathy provides advice to Mooncup users via the email and telephone advice line, and works with School, Travel and Practice Nurses to raise awareness of menstrual health issues

Winter 2006 – Mooncup goes to Nepal

Harvard researchers approach Mooncup Ltd requesting support. They are interested in evaluating whether the introduction of a modern sanitary product would enable Nepalese schoolgirls to stay in school and increase their academic achievement. The enthusiasm of the initial ten Nepalese health professionals taking part in the trial has led to 500 younger volunteers asking to try the Mooncup - keen to still attend school during their period

Winter 2006 Mooncup gains FDA approval

The Mooncup is certified by the Food and Drug Administration in the USA

Spring 2007 - Measurement markings are introduced to the Mooncup

To help women and their health professionals keep track of menstrual flow, millilitre measurement markings are introduced to the Mooncup

Autumn 2007 - ‘Grassroots’ begins its Tanzanian project with support from Mooncup Ltd.

Spring 2008- Mooncup exhibits at Biofach 2008, Nurenberg Germany

Mooncup Ltd has a great reception at the world’s biggest Natural Products Show

Spring 2008- Mooncup support women’s rowing challenge to cross the Atlantic

They succeed after 74 days in extreme conditions with the Mooncup as sanitary protection!

Extreme rower, Margaret Bowling, raves about the Mooncup on her return:

“ It was a complete life saver. We had a few times where we were confined to the cabin due to severe conditions - not the time to be nipping outside to change your tampon every few hours - and in those instances it was particularly fantastic. Storing tampons on a soggy boat was also an issue that I'm glad I didn't have to deal with. So it was a perfect solution and is now a permanent fixture in my bathroom kit when at home and on expeditions.”

Spring 2008 - Upsurge in Mooncup popularity in Italy

Escalating rubbish in Naples makes waste a national talking point in Italy. Italian mayor Floriana Casellato encourages resident women to use the Mooncup and notorious political commentator and comedian Beppe Grillo passionately cites Mooncup as a solution on national television

Spring 2008 - Mooncup launches first London Underground advertising campaign

Autumn 2008 - Jo Swinson MP pushes Mooncup onto government agenda

Jo Swinson MP commends Mooncup Ltd and calls for the government to encourage reusable sanitary protection use in an Early Day Motion

Autumn 2008- Mooncup sponsor Coventry & Warwick RIGA Women’s First Volleyball team

Winter 2008/2009 - new range of multilingual packaging launched

Demand for the Mooncup in Europe leads to launch of multilingual packaging to compliment multilingual point of sale materials and usage instructions. Packaging is now available in Dutch, English, French and German or Danish, Italian, Spanish and Swedish

The awards keep rolling in...

...Recommended as an alternative to tampons by Which? Magazine August 2008 ... ‘Best Buy’ status, Ethical Consumer Magazine June 2007 ... rated top sanitary product in The Good Shopping Guide 2007 (New Edition 6)... Winner - Women in Ethical Business voted for by Eve Magazine readers - Women in Ethical Business Awards May 2007 ... short-listed for Women in Ethical Business Awards March 2006 ... The Green Apple Awards Environmental Product runner-up, the Green Organisation, November 2005 ... certified an Ethical Company, the Ethical Company Organisation December 2004 ... Best Environmentally Friendly Product, the Vegan Society November 2004 ... approved by the Vegetarian Society May 2004 ... Best New Product, Natural Trade Show March 2003