Author of the article: Jeff Labine
Publishing date: Jun 27, 2021 • 23 hours ago • 2 minute read • Anka Chan (left) and Nicole Sanchez with Ruth show their company s sustainable Ruth Pads at their office in Edmonton, on Thursday, June 24, 2021. Ruth menstrual pads are made from natural materials including kenaf fibre, wood pulp, and a corn-based waterproof backing layer. Photo by Ian Kucerak /Postmedia
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An Edmonton-based startup company is offering women an eco-friendly option when purchasing menstrual pads.
Ruth, named after former U.S. associate justice of the Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg, officially launched on Tuesday with a Kickstarter campaign. Within a few days, the fledgling business surpassed its campaign goal of $7,000. The pads are made of plant-based materials, mostly kenaf fibre, bamboo, cellulose and starch-based bioplastic.
Edmonton start-up business creates eco-friendly menstrual pads edmontonjournal.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from edmontonjournal.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The difficulty to access these communities makes product prices a lot higher than in Metro Vancouver. A small box of tampons in rural northern communities can cost between $18 to $20 compared to around $7 to $8 a box in bigger cities.
Originally founded in 2017 in Saskatchewan by Nicole White, a Metis woman, Moon Time Sisters aims to shorten the gap of period inequality and promote power and solidarity in northern Indigenous communities.
“Nicole started MTS after hearing stories of how young women in northern Saskatchewan would miss school because they did not have menstrual products available due to their high price,” explained Pistawka.