Be Girl PeriodPanty

Target SDGs

Market Suggested Retail Price

$12.00

Target Users (Target Impact Group)

Household

Distributors / Implementing Organizations

Be Girl employs the Buy-One-Give-One model and categorizes products into various ‘funds’ through an 'EmpowerBank'. Products are allocated to different funding sources, and then distributed accordingly. For example, the Be Safe Fund helps distribute Be Girl menstrual products to women during times of upheaval (such as political conflicts or natural disasters), while the Sustainable Fund provides products to vetted, non-profit organizations with an interest in improving female health and empowerment. Be Girl has determined that the Be Girl PeriodPanty^TM has a distribution advantage over traditional sanitary napkins. The shape of a panty helps reduce the stigma and increases the willingness to distribute (males prefer to sell panties over pads) and willingness to purchase (the family prioritize the purchase of a panty over a pad).^{Interview with representative}

Competitive Landscape

Direct competitors include AFRIpads Menstrual Kit, Real Relief Safepad, Eco Femme Subsidized Pads, Be Girl FlexiPads, Saathi Pads, MakaPads Sanitary Pads, and Lunapads.

Regions

Worldwide

Manufacturing/Building Method

The PeriodPanty^TM is manufactured in China.

Intellectural Property Type

Patent

User Provision Model

Panties can also be purchased directly from the Be Girl site or distributors. Donated panties will be distributed by a non-profit partner.

Distributions to Date Status

Be Girl has distributed 57,534 panties and pads.

Design Specifications

The PeriodPanty^TM is 93% polyester and 7% spandex, and can hold 50 mL of liquid. Design for convenience and adaptability, lightweight materials for comfort and performance, and environmentally conscious. The panties also must have a leakproof bottom, be adaptable for a girl's flow and resources, and long-lasting and easy to maintain.^{Interview with representative}

Technical Support

A demonstration video is included on the purchase page, and there is a FAQ page. Instructions for use are included in each pack.

Replacement Components

It works with any safe absorbent material, such as toilet paper (disposable) or repurposed clean cloth (reusable).^{Interview with representative}

Lifecycle

Estimated to last at least 2 years with proper care.^{Interview with representative}

Manufacturer Specified Performance Parameters

Built-in permeable mesh pouch with leakproof bottom. The Be Girl PeriodPanty^TM can be adapted to a girl's unique flow and to the resources available to her, holding 50 mL of liquid. The product can be washed with 70% less water than traditional cloth pads and can be hygienically dried indoors within an hour^{Interview with representative}.

Vetted Performance Status

Be Girl manufactures products only at suppliers that are appropriately International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certified (both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001). Be Girl also works with third-party quality control agents in China to ensure that Be Girl's high product standards are met. Be Girl panties and pads have been used by 57534 girls globally.

Safety

Absorbent material needs replacing after several hours and panties need to be properly cared for. Experts have indicated that the availability of clean absorbent material such as toilet paper or clean cloths is essential. If women use contaminated (reused) absorbent materials, the potential health benefit is diminished. Additionally, user compliance to cleaning instructions (i.e. sanitizing the panties properly between uses) could pose a challenge (e.g. lack of clean water, disinfectant soap etc.). Improper cleaning of the panties between uses or the use of unsuited absorbents could result in the pads carrying pathogens which could have detrimental health effects, effectively posing a similar risk as traditional reusable cloth napkins made from old saris etc.

Maintenance instructions from Be Girl:

The PeriodPanty^TM should be washed once a day to ensure good menstrual hygiene. To help the products last two years or more, we highly recommend gently hand-washing and hang-drying. To hand-wash:

1. Separate the towel from the panty or pad and soak separately for about 20 minutes.

2. Use soap to gently wash both pieces. Do not scrub too forcefully.

3. To remove water, gently squeeze in the palm of your hand. Do not wring out or twist.

4. Hang to dry in a ventilated area.

To machine wash, remove the towel from the pocket and launder in cold water using the machine’s delicates or hand wash setting. Once clean, hang out to dry in a ventilated area. Do not machine dry because it will ruin the materials.

Complementary Technical Systems

Be Girl offers towel inserts or reusable liners for the PeriodPanty^TM.

Academic Research and References

Compliance with regulations

Be Girl states, "Be Girl manufactures products only at suppliers that are appropriately International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certified (both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001)."

Evaluation methods

Be Girl works with third-party quality control agents in China to ensure that Be Girl’s product standards are met.

Other Information

Newsweek article about taboos in menstruation. Launched a SmartCycle menstrual tracker.