LastPad employs femtech to launch reusable intimate care product, part of LastObject portfolio

30 Aug 2021 --- LastObject, a sustainable alternative to single-use items brand, is launching LastPad, a reusable feminine hygiene product, designed to reduce the industry’s environmental impact and create a more comfortable and healthy alternative.

“Getting rid of single-use items is a hugely environmentally sustainable choice. Nineteen billion single-use feminine hygiene products are thrown out each year in the US alone, and they take 500 years to decompose,” Isabel Aagaard, founder of LastObject, tells PersonalCareInsights.

“I wanted to create a hygienic pad that felt luxurious, was innovatively created with a well-thought-out design and that would make a difference for the environment.”

LastPad is available in three sizes (from pantyliners to overnight pads) and is made with three layers for protection and comfort. It includes an inner layer made of bamboo, which is 40 percent more absorbent than cotton. Each pad is made to last 240 uses.LastPad is a shift from single-use hygienic products to a reusable alternative.

The launch follows that of reusable Q-tips, LastSwab, released in 2019 and LastTissue, released earlier this year.

Avoiding leaks
LastPad has a triple-layer design. The breathable top layer is designed to leave the vagina irritation-free and eliminate odors.

A super absorbent bamboo middle layer soaks up heavy flows, and the water-resistant outer layer prevents untimely leaks, explains Aagaard.

“It also has an elastic strap that makes it easy to fold and it comes in a leakproof pouch to store it in,” explains Aagaard.

“We will be part of the shift from single-use hygienic products to reusable alternatives. There is a shift right now where we are thinking more about health and the environment. People are done with chemicals, imbalances and waste in our world and our body.”

Safety and ingredient traceability
The bamboo used in LastPad is sourced from China, and ingredients are traced to ensure that no harmful ingredients are in the fabrics, and this is further tested in labs, Aagaard notes.

“LastPad is safe. Many reusable pads currently available have 100 percent cotton fabric directly in contact with the body. This will leave a damp, moist, warm cotton fabric ideal for microbial growth right next to your vagina. LastPad has antimicrobial properties by silvadur which do not wash away in the laundry (we do not use nanoparticles nor silver coating).”

Additionally, the product was developed in cooperation with the largest underwear manufacturer globally that produces women’s underwear in Vietnam. LastObject also gives a five-year guarantee.

“We have been working on the design of LastPad since 2019. We attempted to get the right solutions to the issues with reusable pads and the right fit in form so that the product hugs your body. We have tested thousands of prototypes and had to put it on the shelf a couple of times because we needed this product to be effective.”LastPad includes an inner layer made of bamboo, which is 40 percent more absorbent than cotton.

Femtech innovations
In the same space, Belabumbum and Joyja Drop produced femtech, sustainable leak-proof underwear and an ultra-absorbent nursing pad collection.

The line is made specifically for mothers. Reports have found that one in three women experience fluid releases during pregnancy and after birth due to bladder pressure, irregular postpartum bleeding and breastfeeding.

The femtech innovations combine Belabumbum’s maternity knowledge with Joyja’s “leak-proof” technology to produce moisture-absorbing, odor-neutralizing, and reusable products.

In addition, the nursing pads in the new line hold up to eight times more liquid than washable nursing pads, according to the company.

Last week, P&G’s Always and Thrive Global unveiled a period tracker and wellness app that enables users to monitor their cycle and overall well-being.

Meanwhile, L’Oréal and Clue partnered up to deepen knowledge on the relationship between skin health and the menstrual cycle.

By Nicole Kerr