Flora
The Prompt: Create a product, system, or brand following the UNSDG's and Lot21's decarbonization solutions.
About Flora: Flora tampons are a solution to help reduce plastic in period products. The tampons are 100% hemp and come with 1 titanium reusable applicator.
The Brand: Flora is a sustainable period product brand that is better for your body and the planet.
The tampons are fully biodegradable and the applicator can be reused throughout the users life, entirely eliminating plastic waste from the process. Hemp also sequesters carbon from the environment, making it a strong decarbonization tool.
Process: Part 1
This project was done over the course of 15 weeks. The first phase was research and material testing. After researching a variety of cotton alternatives, I decided to look at hemp, soy, and corn. I then compared the absorption rate to cotton. My second test was looking at different fiber blends. The final test was hemp and other blends in a mixture of water and glycerin.
Process: Part 2
After deciding on using hemp, I began developing my applicator. I started with sketching and materials research. I chose titanium, as it was the most sustainable option and had the most longevity. I also made models of my tampons using needle felting.
Materials
The Form
Life Cycle Analysis
The final step of this project was to do a life cycle analysis. I created system diagrams and used the Sustainable Minds software to create a comparison between Flora's reusable applicator and the standard single use plastic applicator. There was a 99% improvement in terms of environmental impact.
