Tune in to this episode of In With the New as Avril Tomlin-Hood welcomes Madeleine Shaw, co-founder of Aisle, to address sustainable and equitable menstrual care.
30 minutes | Feb. 7, 2023
Madeleine Shaw is the Co-founder and Director of Partnerships and Impact at Aisle (Formerly Lunapads), a certified B Corporation specializing in sustainable period care products. Lunapads was one of the first ventures in the world to commercialize natural menstrual care, now a thriving industry. With 28 years of experience as a social entrepreneur, she is the author of The Greater Good, a guide to starting your own social impact initiative. Madeleine is also the Founder and Chief Community Officer of Nestworks, a family-friendly, co-working space and community.
In recent years, there has been an increased demand for reusable period products. Yet many options are produced cheaply and inequitably and contain potentially harmful ingredients and materials. Furthermore, marginalized individuals lack adequate access to menstrual care products of any description. So how can you create sustainable, transparently tested products, and promote equal access to these items?
According to Madeleine Shaw, authentic sustainability requires organizations to pursue a strong dedication to social responsibility. Accordingly, Aisle has undergone a rigorous third-party assessment of every aspect of its social and environmental impact, resulting in the company being ranked the #1 B Corporation in North America for period care. Aisle upholds strict standards of sustainability measurement, social impact, labour conditions, and supply chain transparency. Madeleine has also championed initiatives for public institutions to include free access to safe and sustainable menstrual care products to address gender equity, poverty, and climate concerns.