The Lunette Menstrual cup. Courtesy of Lunette
Did you know that the average woman will use approximately 11,000-period products in her lifetime? Many of these will be disposed and for those that are recycled, they can take up to 500 years if ever for such things as plastic applicators to be decomposed. Heli Kurjanen the Founder & CEO of Lunette is one of a few who are looking to change this. She shares everything you need to know about the menstrual cup and making your period more sustainable.
Why did you decide to launch Lunette?
I was having problems with a menstrual cup I tried before, and therefore I started to design the best fitting menstrual cup based on my own and friends’ experiences. Lunette Cup was launched in autumn 2005 and the design was completely different to anything available at that time.
How do menstrual cups work?
The Lunette Cup is made from soft medical grade silicone and it’s a bell-shaped cup that is inserted into the vagina. It collects the blood rather than absorbs and it’s emptied depending on the flow but it can be used for up to 12 hours.
Heli Kurjanen the Founder & CEO of Lunette. Courtesy of Lunette
The menstrual cup has been around for decades, why is it only becoming popular now?
Time is finally ready for reusable options like menstrual cups. We have been doing this since 2005 and year by year we have more enthusiastic users who are recommending our Lunette products to their friends and family. Also, all the talk concerning plastics and the zero-waste movement has opened people’s eyes. One Lunette Cup replaces around 1,000 disposable period products and for example, 90% of pads are plastic which takes hundreds of years to decompose.
What makes the Lunette cup unique?
All Lunette products are manufactured in Finland and we can be proud of the quality and safety of our products. Our cups are regulated by several health authorities in the world and we have received 100% clear test records from chemical safety tests. The design of the Lunette Cup is unique and it makes it easier to use and clean than many other options. We offer two different sizes which we recommend based on the flow and six different colors to choose from. Besides offering the best menstrual cup, we also break the taboos and educate young girls especially, to understand their bodies and periods better.
How is the Lunette cup sustainable?
One Lunette Cup replaces around 1,000 disposable period products and it makes it obvious green option for period care. One cup lasts for years and after the use, it can be burned with just a small amount of ash is left behind. Lunette Cup tackles several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and we also take the environment and sustainability into account whenever we make decisions.
Courtesy of Lunette
What advice would you give to women who are nervous about trying a menstrual cup?
Don’t worry! Lunette Cup is easy to use and we have an awesome customer service to help with any questions coming to mind. For many, there is a learning curve and the first few times might feel a bit weird. The Lunette Cup is soft and flexible and it is easy to insert, just fold it and insert. I’d recommend watching our YouTube videos or checking out the website; we have a lot of information there!
Any tips for using or cleaning the cup?
The cup should be emptied at least twice a day but the correct rhythm depends on the amount of flow. Most people empty the cup only in the mornings and in the evenings but if you need to empty the cup during the day, for example in a public restroom (a question we hear quite often!) it is easy to do with our Lunette Cupwipes which are individually packed cleaning wipes.
The Lunette Cup is AED157.50 available at Boots, Spinney’s and United Pharmacy stores in the region
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