March 2010 Mooncup launches bold new ad campaign urging women to love their vaginas!

‘Loveyourvagina.com’ – not something you see everyday on the tube! Last month saw the launch of our bold new advertising campaign where beautifully illustrated posters of some of the pet names women call their vaginas were plastered over London Underground and pulled along by adbikes with the url loveyourvagina.com. The campaign has received a huge amount of publicity with the Guardian naming it the model for future green advertising. It’s been a thrilling month and the first time we’ve done a campaign on such a big scale.

We worked with creative agency St Luke’s to devise the campaign – Rebecca Lewis from St Luke’s explains how they arrived at such an unusual route and how our fans played an important part in the success of the campaign.

“We were presented with quite a few challenges when we started thinking about how to advertise Mooncup. First of all, the feminine hygiene market is a crowded market place to advertise in; it is dominated by two types of product – tampons and sanitary towels. As you’re probably well aware from talking to your friends and family, women’s behaviour can be ingrained when it comes to our sanitary protection - most women don’t want to think about, let alone change their protection. Furthermore, when they first see it, lots of women find the Mooncup a challenging product. When presented with it, people’s reactions can range from shock to disgust!

With all of this in mind, we decided we needed to take women on a journey - manage their introduction to Mooncup and lead them online where they would be able to fully understand and engage with the product. Breaking the final taboo of getting women to talk about their vagina would create buzz and talkability - after all, we want women to care for their vagina in the same way as any other part of their body such as their hair or skin.

We approached this by launching the campaign with unbranded posters simply featuring beautiful designs of names that women use to describe their vagina and a url - loveyourvagina.com.

When women visit loveyourvagina.com they see an explanation of what the product is and why they should think about the type of sanitary protection they are using as well as getting the chance to submit their own 'pet name' to the online poll.

Finally, we knew that Mooncup have lots of loyal advocates - if we took the first step in instigating the conversation online, we hoped that Mooncup fans would then step in to spread the word.

The microsite has received over 250,000 unique users and our poll has received over 32,000 votes with 11,330 different names submitted....definitely worth a look! The campaign has received coverage in The Guardian, Heat, The Sun, MTV, Radio 4, The Independent and Marie-Claire among others. Comedian Jimmy Carr tweeted about the campaign and Amy Winehouse spoke out to support the Mooncup, revealing she calls hers her ‘Va jew-jew’!

The breadth of reach of the campaign is best summed up by Trendhunter:
’How strong is the reach of the Mooncup campaign? My boyfriend came home shouting, “Love your vagina dot com! Love your vagina dot com!”

To take a look at the poll results, visit loveyourvagina.com

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5th February 2010, Brighton UK Screening of The Moon Inside You

In February we were lucky enough to screen ground-breaking documentary The Moon Inside You in Brighton, followed by a discussion with Alexandra Pope (coauthor of The Pill: are you sure it’s for you?) and Sjanie Hugo (The Fertile Body Method: a practitioner’s manual). Sorry to those of you we had to turn away at the door: the event quickly sold out! We’ll be updating our Facebook events page with screenings internationally, and certainly plan to put on another screening in Brighton someday soon!

Facing the menstrual etiquette with doses of humour, creativity and insight, The Moon Inside You is a fresh look at a taboo that defines the life of both women and men in a more profound way than society might be willing to admit.

Documentary film-maker Diana Fabianova’s grandmother died from cancer of the womb, and her mother was later diagnosed with the same disease. As if having inherited this pain, Diana went on to suffer menstrual pain and depression herself but was thankfully not prepared to accept this as ‘her lot’.

Along Diana’s personal journey to crack open ‘the curse’, the documentary meets with experts from different fields: medicine, sociology, anthropology, psychology and philosophy, as well as alternative ones such as dance and Taoist yoga. The sheer intelligence of Diana’s approach, alongside the film’s humour, creativity and warm inclusion of men within the conversation makes for a documentary that really hits the spot!

Clearly moved by The Moon Inside You , the discussion after the screening was a privilege to be part of, as individuals in the audience - in the experienced hands of Alexandra Pope- spontaneously shared tales from their own menstrual journeys, often speaking openly about their experience for the first time. There were stories of legacies of misgivings (or alternatively pride) handed from mother to daughter as well as women having been prescribed the pill from their first period in order to stay focussed academically...

Even having worked with Mooncup for 5 years – and having clearly shared a fair few privileged encounters with women around the subject of menstruation- it was hugely inspiring to be in such a charged space with women really ready to ‘lift the curse'. Thank you so much for those of you who were there...we look forward to the next time!

Kath Clements, Campaigns Manager Mooncup Ltd.

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May 2010 From snowy Germany to sunny (!) Somerset - here's where the Mooncup team have been so far, and where we're going in 2010

Our first trip of 2010 was in February, to snowy Nuremberg in Germany for Biofach/Vivaness: the world’s largest health product exhibition. Helen, Éowyn, Kath, Eileen and Cathy went along to meet some of our international distributors, tell people about the Mooncup and practice our German. ‘Reusable menstrual cup’ is Wiederwerwendbarer Menstruationsbecher’ auf Deutsch: bit of a tongue-twister but we had it down to a fine art by the end of the six days.

After a beautiful trip home on the Eurostar – four countries in one day! – we were back to work and getting ready for Vitality in March – London’s annual ‘girls day out’ at Earls Court. Mooncup Ltd has had a stand at this health, beauty and pampering show for six years: it’s always a laugh and as it runs for four days, the whole team tends to get involved. The loveyourvagina campaign was running throughout London at the same time and we gave out tons of free badges and postcards (recycled of course), which went down very well!

April saw the Sales Team back in London for Natural Products Europe - and back to our favourite hotel: the Beaver (where else?!). This show is all about catching up with our UK distributors, updating them on the latest news and finding out how they’re all getting on. We also always meet lots of interesting new people and this year was no exception.

Coming up next for us is the annual mud-and-fun fest that is Glastonbury festival, where the Mooncup stand has been a much loved feature since 2002. If you’re going - come and visit us at the Green Futures Field: we’d love to see you there.

Éowyn Towers, Mooncup Ltd.

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May 2010 Cathy's Health Tips #5- Vaginal Discharge: the facts!

Welcome back to Mooncup's top health tips-bought to you by Cathy Marchand -one of our professional Nurses with significant experience in the area of vaginal health!

The subject of vaginal discharge was selected by the Nurse Advisors because we regularly get asked questions about it, including "can the Mooncup be used to collect it?" (no-it's not recommended for this), and others that suggest that this daily discharge seems to cause concern for many women. The “conventional” sanitary protection industries seem pre-occupied about it too-so what’s this all about?

What is vaginal discharge?

Vaginal discharge is the wetness that collects outside the vagina every day, and it varies in colour, consistency and volume. It will appear in the gusset of your underwear or on your inner labia.

Why?

This is how the vagina cleans and regulates itself and is a sign of a healthy, normal vagina and reproductive system! The acidity of the discharge (Ph 3.5 to 4.5) puts most bacteria and viruses off entering and causing infections, such as candida (thrush). The mucous acts like a barrier too, by causing an obstruction to any potential pathogens. The vaginal discharge will not cause any illness when it collects outside the vagina like faeces (poo) or urine can do; it is harmless except to invading bacteria and germs. If women did not have the discharge, they would get more infections, find penetrative sex very painful and the vagina would start to smell offensive!

What is normal discharge?

• White thicker/slightly yellow discharge is usually at the beginning and end of every cycle
• In between periods it becomes clear and stretchy (at the time of ovulation)
• It is also clear and stretchy during sexual arousal
• The discharge continues when on your period, it’s just difficult to tell because of the bleeding
• It is normal and healthy to have a daily vaginal discharge during the reproductive years, and this is influenced by hormonal fluctuation, including pregnancy, menopause and use of the contraceptive pill
• Vaginal discharge contains salts, oils and water, all working to maintain the clever balance in this vital area of reproductive health
• Vaginal discharge is produced by the ovaries, cervix, Fallopian tubes and uterus too

How much is normal?

There has been no conclusive research but an estimated amount, depending on where you are in your cycle, has been put forward as 5ml (about a teaspoon) in 24 hours.

Smells?

Normal vaginal discharge is a natural odour that varies with the cycle. It is a mild and not unpleasant scent. It is normal that the smell changes slightly when a man has ejaculated into the vagina for up to a couple of days later.

How to manage vaginal discharge for optimal health

• Most doctors will tell you that it is better to wear cotton next to your skin rather than synthetic fibres and plastics, as found in pantyliners
• If the discharge is uncomfortably wet, it’s healthier to change to a fresh pair of cotton knickers than use a pantyliner
• Washing once a day with a non-irritating hypoallergenic soap is all you need to clean the area
• AND many health care professionals advise that using just water to clean the vaginal area is far better for maintaining the vaginal balance and keeping the vagina healthy
• Do not douche the vagina to try and eliminate the discharge, this has been shown to increase the chances of infection
• Fragrances in general (as found in soaps, pantyliners, personal intimate wipes,) are unhealthy for the delicate skin of the vagina, as they can contain preservatives and parabens
• If you experience an unusual discharge which has changed in colour, smell or consistency, then go and see a doctor, gynaecologist or nearest sexual health service provider
• Remember a little wetness and scent in the gusset of your knickers is a sign of a healthy, efficient vagina


Cathy Marchand, Nurse Advisor Mooncup Ltd.
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May 2010 It’s good to talk to your daughter about periods

The Mooncup advice nurses have recently been working really hard talking to school nurses from all over the UK and offering information and samples of the Mooncup. It’s been very exciting!

This is because we get so many emails asking us to publicise the Mooncup more widely to young girls, so that they are aware of ALL the options available to them in sanitary protection.

So now, many schools nurses across the country are talking about the Mooncup and taking one to the puberty discussions so if you have a daughter at school, do not be surprised if she mentions this.

We have had much positive feedback about this and have been inspired to write this article about daughters and periods. We hope it’s helpful...

When do I do ‘the talk’?

Your daughter is going to have her periods and become a woman whether she has your support or not, but this journey will be so much easier for both of you if you can openly discuss her body changes.

So, as soon as you feel you can start to discuss it, the time is right. Start to discuss snippets of information very early on, rather than a full blown biology class at the last minute! Any relevant questions asked as she grows up are best answered in as open and factual a way as possible. Be aware that girls are reaching puberty younger (newscientist.com), often as young as nine.

What do I say?

It may feel strange and embarrassing getting into the nitty gritty of menstruation with your beautiful young daughter, but do bear in mind that a sound knowledge of her menstrual cycle will make her informed, and potentially more confident about discussing future issues too, such as contraception, sex and even smear tests. You could plan a quiet, relaxed time to talk (when various family members and the dog won’t come crashing through the door asking when tea is ready), or just chat when it feels right for the both of you! The relationship you have with your daughter will affect how you approach this, but she will respond to your attitude, so if you feel uncomfortable and embarrassed she will probably reflect this. The more relaxed you are, the more she will be open to what you are saying, and the more likely she will be to confide in you in the future.

In UK primary schools, body changes are now discussed in Year Five as part of the national curriculum, and she may have gleaned lots of information (correct or not) from the television, internet, films and adverts - you may be surprised how much she already knows! The questions your daughter may ask will usually be an indicator of how much she needs to know at the time. It may be helpful to come back to it all once she has had some time to think things through initially.

Be clear about the facts, keep it positive and promote the idea that it's a sign that she is starting to develop into a woman.

Describing this in the style of Casualty or ER may be alarming for her, so as her mother you will understand how this information is best presented. Keep it realistic and personal too, perhaps sharing some of your own experiences will help her feel feminine about it all, rather than thinking it is all a bit yucky!

Honest and humorous

Keep it honest and straightforward: if you have a relaxed attitude towards the aches and pains and the embarrassing moments, then she will realise she is not alone when it's her turn. Do explain that menstruation is actually normal, and it can be really useful for her to know that there is a whole range of ‘normal’ too. You could explain that her and her friends’ length, flow and hormonal side-effects can all be different, and that this is OK!

If she has specific questions, answer them as best you can. If you feel embarrassed, or don’t actually know the answer, look it up together online (there are some good websites out there - see the links below) or get a book from the library. The key is to be open to talk about it - even if it is a little uncomfortable at first, it will probably get much easier.

She needs to know that yes, one day her period may start whilst queuing in the shops, and yes, she may be paranoid about marking her school uniform from leaks and feel she needs to ask her close friend to check her skirt.

You could also help explain how to chart her periods so she (and you) can try to predict when it may start each month. This means she can be prepared on those days, and keep some sanitary protection close by.

What about the rest of the house?

The male inhabitants of the house may have questions and need a few guided words too, perhaps some information about how their daughter/sister may be feeling and why, and discussing the changes that are going on in a male and female body around the time of puberty. If that feels like you are becoming a biology teacher, you could have an appropriate book on the kitchen table, which will be guaranteed to be opened at some point, and you could start the discussion there.

Practical motherly advice

Whenever your daughter starts her periods, she may well need some guidance.

Some useful and practical woman-to-woman solutions on how to dispose of used pads and wrappers discreetly, or a brief reminder on how frequently to attend to her sanitary protection will go a long way. A bin in her bedroom may be a necessary addition to save finding pads stuffed down the side of the bed when you next hoover round...and if your daughter’s chosen to use a menstrual cup, you could hand her some sterilizing solution, or even a saucepan all of her own!

During her period you could also encourage luxurious baths or showers to help her feel lovely, and maintain hygiene but do ensure the other family members get some time in the bathroom too!

Day to day

Perhaps give a gentle reminder on the mornings she has her period, to check she has all the sanitary protection she will need in her school bag too.

It may be worth working through with her how she will deal with P.E, swimming lessons and gymnastics, so she feels she is in control. Provide as a gift (or go out and choose together) - a makeup case or purse for her to carry around her sanitary towels/menstrual cup/tampons, and one for used ones too, if that is an issue.

All these things help, and continued little supportive actions and comments can go a long way to her knowing you are there. What more could a daughter want during one of the most significant changes her body will undertake in her lifetime?

• Start early, answer questions, keep it simple and honest
• Be relaxed and share your experiences
• Acknowledge and answer her aches, pains and questions
• Reassure her, and encourage coping strategies

Kate Lintott, Nurse Advisor Mooncup Ltd.

Useful links

NHS choices information and video about the start of menstruation
Easy health.org booklet ‘help I’ve started my periods’
Family Planning Association website and general sexual health information
Healthy Women website phases of menstruation

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1st December 2009 Are your periods a positive experience? Mooncup Ltd's very own Kath Clements discusses...

"As the Mooncup stall hits the festival circuit every summer, we have the privilege of talking to women from all over the country about one of the last taboos…periods.
In spite of huge progress in women’s rights, periods are still often associated with shame, secrecy and embarrassment: ‘the curse’.
With periods a monthly reality until menopause, surely it makes sense to reclaim menstruation and work towards a positive experience of periods..."

You can read the article in full and comment on the Positive Life website

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9th October 2009 Mooncup picks up two awards at the BAHBAs

Mooncup Ltd were delighted to have won not just one but TWO awards - the Entrepreneur of the Year and the Responsible Business Award- at the Brighton and Hove Business Awards 2009

Having been shortlisted for two categories, the Mooncup team attended an award ceremony at the Hilton Brighton Metropole on Friday 9th October, where winners from each of the 16 categories were to be announced.

Judges were looking for companies and organisations that really capture the spirit of Brighton & Hove. The Responsible Business Award evaluated the human, environmental and ethical benefits of Brighton businesses, while the Entrepreneur of the Year was set to celebrate the combination of vision, creativity, acumen, dedication and energy that makes for a successful entrepreneur.

Su Hardy, delighted Mooncup Director explains:

“The Mooncup is health conscious, environmentally savvy, and taboo-busting: I can’t think of a more fitting winner to represent Brighton!! We’re so proud to get this recognition. It just goes to show that people are ready to open up and make new choices. We’re here to tell every woman: there’s another way, and it’s a winner: Mooncup!!”

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8th September 2009 Brilliant online TV programme on the menstrual cup learning curve.

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August 2009 Jill Tunstall trials the Mooncup in the Guardian...

...and concludes that "the Mooncup's here to stay". Read the article in full here

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July 2009 Angela, from Rowley Projects, reports on the Mooncup project at Kolweny Kingsway High School Western Kenya.

"Rowley Projects began work in Nyandiwa in 2001 in response to the dire water situation. Among other projects we now have a secondary school for local children. The first final year in 2007 had 8 students who went on to university or college but given the Kenyan competitive education system the girls are disadvantaged in that they have to stay at home for one week in four due to lack of sanitary protection".

"After their initial embarrassment at discussing such issues, I identified three women with teenaged daughters who were willing to trial mooncups for six months. This trial was a resounding success so in May this year, 2009, I distributed Mooncups to all 24 girls in Forms 3 & 4 (equivalent to sixth form) and the three women members of staff who are now my second trial group. One 18 year old girl from the original group is an orphan now being cared for by extended family in the community who are helping her to complete her primary education. She will be in the High School from next January and agreed to be the ‘mentor/counsellor’ for any girls having problems with use of the mooncups as she is already well known to them all".

"New latrines have been built on the site with gutters, tanks and wash basins. In the event of poor rainfall, as at present, the tanks can be filled from the well. After officially opening the latrines- a cause of celebration!- I took the opportunity to explain to the boys why the girls seemed to be getting preferential treatment in the hope that better informed young men will have more respect for their female fellow students".

"The intention is to supply the Form 1 & 2 girls with mooncups in October and then introduce them to the top classes in the primary school and other women in the community. Mooncups are already revolutionising the lives of the girls and women in our community, giving them freedom from the monthly problems and equality of opportunity. Thankyou to all at Mooncup for your help with this project."

Angela Rowley, Rowley Projects

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July 2009 Mooncup's bag manufacturer wins the BITC Award of Excellence

Supreme Creations - who make the Mooncup bags - have been awarded the BITC 'Responsible Supply Chain' Award by HRH The Prince of Wales at Clarence House.



Winners of the top 'Business in The Community Supply Chain' award in this year's Awards for Excellence, Supreme Creations has been showing the big boys how it's done. The accolade recognises the company's pioneering product development and commitment to creating secure working conditions and sustainable communities for its 2,000-strong workforce.

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November 2008 Brighton Beach clean with Surfers Against Sewage

Surfers Against Sewage is an environmental campaign organisation who campaign for clean and recreational waters for all. Several of their excellent campaigns share a lot in common with Mooncup’s company aspirations. So when we heard they were organising a beach clean at Brighton we sent a crack team of volunteers to help out.

The day was great fun, over 50 people volunteered and more than 220kg of litter was removed from the beach! More information can be found on the Surfers Against Sewage website website and we urge you to check out their 'Think Before You Flush' campaign actions, victories and especially the latest campaign video.

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August 2008 Which? magazine recommends the Mooncup

The prestigious independent expert advice magazine Which? featured the Mooncup as the recommended green alternative to tampons.

In the article Personal Preference, expert Alison Eastwood compares the cost, performance and environmental impact of various brands of tampons: non-applicator, applicator and compact applicator. She then investigates greener alternatives.

Ever pondered the mysteries of absorbency testing? Apparently, in 1964, absorbency was tested by dripping ox blood onto tampons. Nowadays, of course, things have changed. Plastic bottles are rigged up, each fitted with a non-lubricated condom with a tampon inside. Room temperature pink saline solution is drip fed in and, once the tampon is saturated, the amount of solution absorbed is calculated, and changes in width, length and weight are measured.

Alison Eastwood goes on to enumerate the 11,000 tampons or towels used by one woman in her lifetime- around 22 per period- amounting to about 4.3 bn products in the UK alone each year. From the costing of tampons in the article, this works out as a spending of roughly £1070 in a menstruating lifetime...

Meanwhile, seven testers were given the Mooncup to trial for two periods. Not a saline solution in sight...Much simpler!

Out of the seven testers, four became -

"enthusiastic converts, won over by the cost...how well it works and the convenience of not having to carry tampons around or dispose of them".

Go to the Which? article for more details of the trial.

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May 2008 Menstrual cup washes - what is the point?!

We work closely with Mooncup users through our advice and support facilities, and place great value on the customer feedback we receive, ensuring that we offer the best possible service.

The most frequently asked question on the Advice line is about cleaning the Mooncup – what to use, how often to do it and can you put it in the dishwasher?! (No!). We decided to do a quick survey of Mooncup users to find out which method of cleaning it between periods they preferred, and found that most of you like to keep it simple...

• 73% Boiling in water
• 9% Microwave
• 9% Sterilising solution
• 9% Just washing with water

We were interested to know if our customers felt they would benefit from a special wash to clean their Mooncup - some other menstrual cup manufacturers have produced washes that they sell alongside their cups. We received a resounding and reassuring NO from 78% of our users.

Why reassuring?

Did you know that the feminine hygiene industry is less than 100 years old? It is an industry that endlessly creates new designs, new gimmicks and new reasons for buying unnecessary products. The Mooncup was created as an antidote to this and, as a company we firmly believe that reducing and re-using is the most environmentally responsible way to manage our business.

While we want to offer our customers the best possible service, we weren’t keen on the idea of producing another product that wasn’t necessary – but we thought we should ask what you thought about it! Following the survey, we can confidently say that our customers agree and that we can keep things simple and continue to stick to our philosophy of environmental responsibility and ethical principles.

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April 2008 Early Day Motion 1341 to Lobby MPs on reusable sanitary protection

Jo Swinson, MP, is calling for the Government to encourage use of reusable sanitary protection in an Early Day Motion.

Early day motions (EDMs) are formal motions submitted for debate in the House of Commons and are useful in drawing attention to specific events or campaigns and for demonstrating the extent of parliamentary support for a particular cause or point of view

The massive surge in awareness of real nappies over the past few years is, in part, thanks to similar Early Day Motions bringing the issues around disposable nappies to the attention of the Government. Jo Swinson's EDM is an important first step in putting reusable sanitary protection on the political agenda. You can help in this process by emailing your MP and asking them to sign the Motion.

To make sure that Mooncup is on the government's environmental agenda, please copy the letter below and email it to your MP. You can find your MP by entering your postcode on They Work For You.com. The more MPs we get to sign this, the closer we get to all British women knowing that they have a reusable sanitary product choice too.

Early Day Motion 1341 - Resuable Sanitary Products

That this House recognises the importance of reducing waste in tackling climate change; notes that the average woman will dispose of 11,000 sanitary products during her lifetime, adversely affecting the sewage system and contributing to landfill waste; congratulates Mooncup Ltd as a leading producer of a reusable and environmentally friendly sanitary product suitable for use by vegans and those with allergies; expresses concern that this product's availability is restricted to the internet and a limited number of retailers; believes that greater awareness and availability of such products would encourage women to choose this option where appropriate; calls on the Government to encourage use of reusable sanitary protection; and further calls on the pharmaceutical and health industries to stock and promote reusable sanitary protection.

Dear [insert name] MP

I am writing to ask you to sign Early Day Motion 1341, on reusable sanitary products, tabled by Jo Swinson MP

On average, a woman will dispose of 11,000 sanitary products during her lifetime. This waste will either contribute to landfill or have an adverse effect on the sewage system. One company seeking to find a greener solution to women’s sanitary needs is Mooncup Ltd, whose product, the Mooncup, is reusable and environmentally friendly.

The Early Day Motion calls for the Government to encourage use of reusable sanitary protection and urges the pharmaceutical and health industries to stock and promote reusable sanitary protection.

As your constituent, I am keenly aware of the need to find and promote green solutions to everyday challenges, and I believe Mooncup Ltd should be supported in its efforts to market a reusable sanitary product. Please add your name to the Early Day Motion

Yours Sincerely,

[your name]

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March 2008 Mooncup rated 'Best Buy' in Ethical Consumer review of all sanitary products

The Ethical Consumer launched its Best Buy Label in March, to support companies who have come out on top in the magazine’s research in promoting their ethical status. The aim of the 'Best Buy' mark is to make it easier for the UK’s growing number of ethically motivated shoppers to choose genuinely ethical products and services. The Best Buy Label is only awarded to those companies and products that have met more than twenty animal welfare, environmental and human rights criteria.
Some of the points that marked the Mooncup out as the ‘Best Buy’ included:

• The Mooncup is manufactured in the UK
• Mooncup is the world’s first medical grade silicone menstrual cup
• It is reusable, so only one is needed. With proper care one Mooncup will last for up to ten years
• Mooncup Ltd. is a certified Ethical Business - committed to people, animal and environmentally friendly practices
• The Mooncup packaging, leaflets and usage guide are made from 100% post consumer recycled materials and printed with vegetable inks. Every Mooncup comes with its own Fair Trade organic cotton storage pouch
• The Mooncup office is run on 100% renewable energy provided by a small, ethical UK supplier
• Wherever possible, Mooncup Ltd uses road freight to minimise air miles
• The Mooncup offers a free advice line run by a qualified Nurse to support women with any usage queries or problems
• Made from silicone, derived from sandstone – one of the world’s most abundant resources

Rob Harrison, editor of Ethical Consumer Magazine, an established and trusted name within the ethical business community since 1989, said:


“All too often companies are seen as being part of the environmental problem. We would like to applaud companies such as Mooncup who really are doing their best to be part of the solution.”

“By looking at the whole of a company’s operations as well as the ethics of a product, we believe that the Ethical Consumer Magazine Best Buy Label will be the definitive endorsement for people who want to put principles at the top of their shopping list.”



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February 2008 Viva la Mooncup!

Mooncup popularity in Italy has soared after the municipality of Maserada sul Piave - a town near Treviso in the north east of the country - launched a campaign encouraging resident women to use the Mooncup.

“It’s not the answer to all the emergency waste in Naples but, with this one initiative, environmental officer Giuseppe Quinto and mayor Floriana Casellato wish to promote ‘small acts of virtue’ amongst the citizens”, reported the Italian broadsheet La Reppublica .

The launch of the Mooncup campaign in early March coincided with International Women’s day and the escalation of the rubbish problems in the city of Naples, resulting in unprecedented media coverage throughout Italy.

Maserada sul Piave is no stranger to such forward thinking initiatives: last year it ran a campaign to promote the use of washable nappies, facilitating the provision of discounted nappy packs to residents with small children. In 2006 it was proclaimed recycling capital of Italy, recycling an astonishing 80% of its waste.

The Mooncup was presented at a special event organised by the Maserada town council to which all the women of the town were invited.

"It is estimated that disposable sanitary products take 500 years to break down in landfill” - explained Guiseppe Quinto – “disposable sanitary protection therefore represents an environmental cost as well as a financial cost to every woman."

In the same week Beppe Grillo, the contentious political commentator and comedian whose blog consistently ranks as one of the most visited in the world, spoke on the Italian national television channel RA12 about the waste problems in Naples, citing the menstrual cup as a superior alternative to disposable sanitary protection.

Grillo has long been an advocate of the Mooncup – holding it up on stage night after night in his 2007 Italian tour

You can read the La Reppublica article (in Italian!) here

None of this would have been possible without the hard work of the women at La Bottega Della Luna who distribute the Mooncup in Italy – so a big thank you to them!

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February 2008 Mooncup on BBC Woman’s Hour

Radio 4 Woman’s Hour contacted us asking for information for a discussion on the environmental impact of sanitary products entitled ‘wings, strings or cups?’ Aware that so many women love the show, we were excited at the prospect and asked if they wanted a speaker from Mooncup, but they declined and so we sent the information and looked forward to hearing what they had to say.

Gathered round the radio with coffee and croissants, we listened to the discussion between Tracy Stewart from the Absorbent Hygiene Product Manufacturers Association (AHPMA), Harriet Reuter Hapgood - a freelance journalist representing the environmentally friendly ‘alternatives’, and the presenter Jane Garvey.

The comments from AHPMA were unsurprising – the ever-increasing range of ‘feminine hygiene' products existed to give women “the best possible choice” and “embraced femininity”. Harriet argued that women are told to feel insecure about their bodies, and “the industry has gone beyond periods” quipping, “that’s what knickers are for”.

She went on to explain the Mooncup and, to our disappointment, it seemed that the information we’d sent had not been read, and that Harriet did not use a menstrual cup herself: in fact seeming more than a little uncomfortable about the idea!

Readers may remember having concerns about using the Mooncup in a public toilet, and how with experience this is really not as problematic as it may first seem. But Harriet described “cheerily tipping away your fluids into a sink and your colleagues are sort of looking at you in horror…” But why you would take your Mooncup out to the sink to empty it and not just tip the contents down the toilet?

Jane Garvey, trying to restore balance to the argument, challenged AHPMA on the environmental damage caused by disposables, to be told - “the companies that make these products by and large are leaders in environmental stewardship” – a dubious statement that went unchallenged, as did the one that followed – that high levels of packaging were there to stop people using the toilet as a bin.

Harriet, when asked to summarise the discussion, concluded that women do not “necessarily have a choice” in what sanitary protection they use – and that there was no “middle ground” between the “hippyish” Mooncup and the “very sanitised” disposables. But what about other alternatives such as washable pads? And haven’t we moved beyond environmentalism as a ‘hippy’ pastime?

Overall, we were disappointed and felt that reusable products were not given a fair or accurate representation on the discussion itself, but there was a great deal of activity and frank discussions on the Woman’s Hour message board, which you can read here

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Spring 2007 Measuring Menstrual Blood Loss: The New Mooncup

Menstrual disorders are the second most common cause of hospital referral for women.(1)

While blood, urine, stool and sputum samples are fundamental diagnostic tools, the measurement of menstrual blood loss has been a real obstacle for the medical profession until now.

Over the years, doctors have tried to measure blood loss using various techniques from complicated weight estimates to radio-isotope methods. Today, a case history is collated including amounts of sanitary protection used, blood clots/or flooding and how frequently these symptoms are experienced.

However, women’s perception of their blood loss is very subjective and often inaccurate. The majority of women still don't discuss menstruation and discard sanitary products with as little attention to their menstrual blood as possible. One study showed that 50%of women who complained of menorrhagia actually had normal blood loss (2).

“Perhaps this is why the treatment of menorrhagia is frequently so unsatisfactory and approximately 25000 apparently normal uteri are removed each year”(1)

The FDA approved Mooncup, with convenient millilitre markings, allows women to keep track of their menstrual flow and accurately report blood loss to their doctor. As Cathy Marchand, Mooncup Nurse Advisor states:

“The Mooncup holds significantly more fluid than conventional products - so many women with heavy periods already use it, and comment on how they feel positively aware of their real blood loss for the first time. The millilitre markings were the obvious next step in improving women’s menstrual experience”.

(1)E.Gangar and V.Allanach 2001 Gynaecologycal Nursing - a practical guide

(2) E.Malcolm-Symonds and I.Symons Essential obstectrics and Gynaecology 4th edition 2004

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December 2006 Mooncup receives FDA approval!

What is the FDA and why is it important to the Mooncup?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It sets standards and regulates a vast range of items, from food and dietary supplements to radiation-emitting devices, in the United States. It also regulates ‘medical devices’, which under U.S. law, includes the Mooncup.

FDA approval is complex and lengthy and means that all aspects of the Mooncup design, material and user guidelines have been scrutinised and approved by an advisory committee including gynaecological experts.

There is no equivalent standard in the UK or European Union but FDA approval is recognised globally. This means that, in addition to the testimonials of happy Mooncup-users around the world, organisations that want to recommend it (such as the NHS and NGOs working in developing countries) have extra reassurance, and Mooncup can move forward with even more strength and recognition!

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October 2006 Love your Mooncup?

In October, we launched the beautiful Mooncup pin badges to give away to enthusiastic Mooncup users.

These lovely polished pins measure just 1cm across and depict our 'dancing lady' in her two blues. If you use a Mooncup and would like to wear one please visit the Mooncup team at one of our festival stalls over the summer. We look forward to meeting you!

If you aren't able to collect your pin in person, please send us an email with your name and postal address and we'll pop your pin in the post to you. Click here to email your request

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