Egal, a US-based femtech startup, has raised $1 million in angel funding to launch its flagship product, Pads on a Roll, a discreet menstrual product that can be dispensed in the privacy of every public bathroom stall as easily as toilet paper. The product is designed to provide women and girls with easy and convenient access to menstrual hygiene products and adequate facilities needed to manage their menstrual hygiene.
The Problem with Period Poverty
As per the World Bank, nearly 500 million women and girls globally experience period poverty or lack access to menstrual products and adequate facilities needed to manage their menstrual hygiene. Period poverty can have a severe impact on a woman’s education, health, and economic well-being. It can lead to missing school, work, and other important activities, as well as causing anxiety and embarrassment.
Recent national and global demand for free period products in public bathrooms has led to the implementation of such programs in several states across the US. Over 20 states have mandated or made funds available for period products to be free in public schools. However, these products are often provided in vending machines located out by the sink, which are not easily accessible or reliable.
Egal’s Mission for Gender Equality
Egal’s mission is to provide equal treatment for periods in the restroom, as the name suggests. They believe that providing period products in the restroom is about gender equality. Egal aims to make menstrual products as accessible as toilet paper, which is readily available in every bathroom stall.
“Our goal with Egal pads is to be there where we are needed to help manage periods with confidence so users can be productive and successful moving forward,” said Penelope Finnie, CEO of Egal.
Pads on a Roll: The Solution
Egal’s flagship product, Pads on a Roll, is manufactured in roll form, with 40 pads on each roll. The product can be mounted on existing toilet paper dispensers or in Egal’s custom-designed dispensers, which are located inside each stall next to the toilet paper.
The product is designed for privacy, ease of use, and convenience in public bathroom stalls to handle unpredictable periods. It requires little investment and is less expensive to operate when compared to vending machines placed near sinks.
Pilot Programs and Installations
Egal is currently conducting pilot programs at the University of New Hampshire, the University of Vermont, and Williams College. In addition, Egal Pads are being installed in Cambridge Public Schools and the Mother Caroline Academy and Education Center in Massachusetts, as well as select schools in Rhode Island. Outside the United States, Egal has installations at a private school in the United Kingdom and two schools in Rwanda.
Conclusion
Egal’s mission to provide equal treatment for periods in the restroom is a step towards gender equality and addressing period poverty. Pads on a Roll is a discreet and convenient menstrual product that can be easily accessible to every woman and girl who needs it. With the increasing demand for free period products in public bathrooms, Egal’s solution can provide a reliable and sustainable solution to menstrual hygiene management.
References:
- Tech Funding News. (2022, February 14). Femtech startup Egal bags $1M to launch Pads on a Roll, a bathroom in-stall solution for periods. Retrieved from https://techfundingnews.com/femtech-startup-egal-bags-1m-to-launch-pads-on-a-roll-a-bathroom-in-stall-solution-for-periods/
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