What was your “why” for launching a sustainable period business? Has it stayed the same throughout the process?
When starting Tsuno, my “why” was influenced by a number of factors - on the very first personal level it came from a desire to create an opportunity for myself career-wise and lead a lifestyle associated with being my own boss, but doing so in a way that felt aligned with my values. I was drawn to period care from my studies in design, and a passion for sustainable products that arose from the knowledge my education gave me, an identified gap in the market and a huge sense of optimism that I could do something positive in the world. I think throughout the last 8 years I am still motivated by the same things, I’m still an optimist at heart but now I do understand my own limits and interests with a bit more wisdom. I love what I have created for myself, my community and the charities I support.
Were there any other moments that stand out to you as pivotal in starting Tsuno?
The most pivotal moment for me and my Tsuno journey was a trip to Europe I took. I had been studying furniture design at university, making and designing furniture is something I really enjoy, and I believed I was on the path to pursuing this as a career. A chair I designed at university had been selected to take part in a group show at the Milan Furniture Fair. During the fair I got quite overwhelmed by the industry, and I guess the reality of what pursuing a career in that field would look like. It was a huge come down moment for me actually, and I felt really lost for a while following that trip. On the same trip I was visiting my friend in Finland and I got my period one day. I called out to her to see if she had any pads or tampons spare, and she responded “Oh no, I don’t use those!” I was so confused, and then later informed about and shown a menstrual cup for the first time. This was a product that hadn’t yet reached the mainstream like it has now and I was so excited and inspired by it. It opened my eyes to the period product industry, the product options and the materials used. Unfortunately for me, I had some trouble getting the cup to work as it was intended. Instead of just giving up, it was the catalyst for me to try to design something that would work. Whilst doing this, that’s where the idea for Tsuno came from, and even though I am still slowly working on that new product in the background, the pads and tampons seemed to me to be a great product to launch the business with.
In your work, you seem to intersect frequently with NGOs (One Girl, Share the Dignity, Essentials for Women SA and Asylum Seeker Resource Center) - why is that so important to you?
Giving is important to me because firstly on a personal level it makes me feel good. We all want to feel good, right? The reason in particular that working with the not for profits listed is important to Tsuno is because of the work they do specifically. In the case of the local charities supporting people in Australia who are seeking asylum or experiencing hygiene poverty, they need period products, and I have a warehouse full of these products, so it’s really rather easy to give to them, why wouldn’t I? In the case of One Girl, I firmly believe in their mission to make education for girls accessible. I have been so lucky to receive a fantastic education throughout my life, it has opened so many doors for me and I really feel passionate about making that available to others. It’s an injustice to give it to some, and deny it to others simply because of where they are born or what gender they are.
In your founding story, you mention crowdfunding to secure your first shipment of pads, as banks wouldn't take you seriously. What have you learned since then as you've grown a successful business?
The learning never really ends. I’ve learnt about manufacturing, logistics, marketing, advertising, fundraising, accounting, sales and the list goes on. I don’t think I will ever stop learning, but to be honest I still am a bit afraid of banks!
Community is obviously really important to you - from the women helping to launch Tsuno via crowdfunding to the women who benefit from your work - how have those relationships changed and grown over the years?
You know, I am still very hands on in the business even after eight years. Sometimes I need to pack our online orders and I see a name I recognise from the very first crowdfunding campaign, still here getting a regular order sent. It makes me feel so supported. Sometimes with an online business, you often just see lots of names, you don’t really get to put faces and personalities to the names, but I do feel like I have lots and lots of friends all over the world. Many of the people who have been instrumental in helping me grow the business, for example, my wonderful distributors or my manufacturers, it has been so nice to have regular contact with them and to see each other’s businesses grow over time (here’s looking at Hind from Leap Loves Green ;).
You donate 50% of net profits to charities - by any standard, that’s a huge contribution. Why is that so important to you?
When starting the business, it wasn’t just because I wanted to sell sustainable period products, it was because I wanted a channel to fundraise for charity AND provide sustainable period products, so, I keep some for the business to grow, and I give some away, half seemed like the right amount at the time, and it still does!
You launched the business in 2014 - eight years on, what does Tsuno mean to you today?
Tsuno for me today means a wonderful mix of community strength, influence, success, failure, re-alignment of goals, independence, positivity, burn out, new ideas, repetitive strain injury (hehe), impact, wonderful partnerships and breaking down period stigma.
What’s in the future for Tsuno, and for you?
I hope to see sustainable (not aggressive) growth for my business. Last year I resumed designing a reusable product, which is very new and kind of a wacky idea at this stage. I would really like to see it succeed and become a working product that provides another product option to people who menstruate! There’s a lot of work to do on it, but I am optimistic!
What’s your big goal for Tsuno?
I had initially thought I wanted world domination, and millions and millions of dollars donated to charity. This of course would be wonderful to achieve, but I have had the realisation over the years that if I try to do that on my own it will be at the expense of other things that are important to me, so for now, my goal for Tsuno is to continue to be a business that is reliable, positive, manageable and most importantly fun. I would like to see my new product idea (mentioned above) come to fruition and be a product that people find useful and helpful for managing their periods.
Tsuno x Leap Loves Green, a few words from Hind
We wanted to start our interview series with Roz of Tsuno, because partnering with her to bring sustainable period products to Kuwait and beyond was a huge leap forward for me when I was developing the idea for my own business. Roz has been an inspirational force to partner with, and together we’ve done some AWESOME things over the past years. Like launching Tsuno to a whole range of new customers, getting Tsuno distributed through new channels (hello vending machines!) and our biggest accomplishment yet - a Tsuno collection featuring artwork by Arab female artists!
]]>نعي تمامًا أن خيارات شراء المنتجات المستدامة والمُتخذة في معايير صناعتها الأخلاق محدودة وصعبة، ولاسيما في الشرق الأوسط، حيث أغلب المعلومات المتاحة باللغة العربية نابعة من المبادرات والاجتهادات الشعبية. ولكن الأمر مختلف معنا، فقد جئنا لنُغيّر هذا المفهوم وجعل العملية برمتها أقل تعقيدًا وصعوبة كي تستمتعي بحياتك وتبدين أكثر جاذبية بينما تعيشين حياة أفضل استدامة!
]]>مستعدة لأخذ الخطوة؟ نحن معكِ للمساعدة
نعي تمامًا أن خيارات شراء المنتجات المستدامة والمُتخذة في معايير صناعتها الأخلاق محدودة وصعبة، ولاسيما في الشرق الأوسط، حيث أغلب المعلومات المتاحة باللغة العربية نابعة من المبادرات والاجتهادات الشعبية. ولكن الأمر مختلف معنا، فقد جئنا لنُغيّر هذا المفهوم وجعل العملية برمتها أقل تعقيدًا وصعوبة كي تستمتعي بحياتك وتبدين أكثر جاذبية بينما تعيشين حياة أفضل استدامة!
دورتك الشهرية آمنة بيئيًا
نستهل رحلتنا بجعل الاختيارات المتاحة للتعامل مع الدورة الشهرية أكثر اهتمامًا بالبيئة، ولكن لماذا؟ لأننا نؤمن بأن التأثير الهائل يبدأ بإجراء تغيّرات صغيرة وواعية في حياتنا اليومية وهي الطريقة الأكثر استدامة لعيّش حياة بها المزيد من الاهتمام والرعاية والوعي بالبيئة، آملين في أن البدء بشيء حميمي وله معنى وقيمة عند كل فتاة كالعناية أثناء الدورة الشهرية، سيجعلك قادرة على إحداث تأثير كبير على نفسك وبالتالي على الكوكب من حولك فيما بعد.
تصوّر جديد للفوط الصحية! نعم… فوط في نعومة الحرير ستغيّر حياتك
إذا كانت هذه بداية رحلتك في العناية بالدورة الشهرية بالطريقة المستدامة، فأول ما نوصي به هو شراء فوط TSUNO الصحية! فوط TSUNO الصحية طبيعية 100% مصنوعة من الخيزران الطبيعي بالكامل المضاد للبكتيريا، مع طبق علوية من ألياف الذرة لتنعمي بالملمس الحريري الناعم. وتعتمد TSUNO على الخيزران كوّنه أحد أكثر الألياف استدامة، غير مستخدمة مبيّض الكلور أو الديوكسين في عملية التصنيع، ليكون بين يديكِ في النهاية فوط صحية نافعة لكِ وللكوكب من حولك! كما أننا نُقدم خيارات متنوعة من فوط TSUNO الصحية سواء في الشكل العادي أو كبطانة الملابس الداخلية. ولجعل دورتك الشهرية تمر بكل سلاسة وبدون أي إزعاج بأي شكل، نُقدمها لكِ بعروض وباقات مميزة ستكفيكِ لكل شهر وتساعدك على التوفير!
فوط صحية متجددة الاستعمال من المصنع مباشرةً إلى حقيبتك
إذا كنتِ تطمحين للحد من شراء الفوط الصحية ذات الاستخدام الواحد، فالحل مع She’s Eve! فوطة صحية مصنوعة يدويًا في إيطاليا من قصاصات الأقمشة المتبقية من أرقى بيوت الأزياء، بمزيج من الخيزران والبوليستر القابل لإعادة الاستخدام مع إضفاء طبقة علوية قطنية تمنحِك شعورًا بالدلال والملمس الحريري، لتشعري بالراحة وفي الوقت ذاته تعقدين صداقة مع كوكبك. أما تنظيف الفوط الصحية فلا شيء أسهل من ذلك، فقط ستحتاجين إلى شطفها أولًا بالماء والصابون إلى أن يصبح الماء المتدفق صافيًا، ثم اغسليها يدويًا أو في الغسالة ولكن مع مراعاة ألا تتخطى درجة حرارة الماء 40º. بعد التنظيف، افرديها قليلًا كي تضمني أن تحافظ على شكلها ثم اتركيها لتجفّ. نوصيكِ بالاستثمار في هذه الفوط القطنية بشراء أحجام وقدرات امتصاص مختلفة لتتناسب معكِ طوال أيام الدورة الشهرية (تمامًا وكأنك تشترين الفوط ذات الاستعمال الواحد بحسب شدة التدفق). هذه الفوط الصحية، مع العناية المناسبة، يمكن أن تدوم معكِ حتّى أربع سنوات.
هل تفضّلين التامبون؟ لا تقلقي، لدينا طلبك
نشعر بالحماسة الشديدة لتقديم السدادات القطنية (التامبون) من TSUNO لمتابعاتنا اللواتي يُفضلن استخدامها مع (أو بدلًا من!) الفوط الصحية، فهي تتميز بأنها مصنوعة 100% من القطن المعتمد من معايير الأنسجة العضوية العالمية (GOTS)، وخالية من أية كيماويات كمبيّض الكلور أو الديوكسين. سدادات TSUNO القطنية متوّفرة في عبوات أنيقة مُعاد تدويرها ومصممة لتحافظ على خصوصيتك وتعطيك بعض المرح في نفس الوقت. كما نوفّر تشكيلة من السدادات القطنية بقدرات امتصاص مختلفة لتناسب شدة التدفق، لتكوني صديقة للبيئة حتى في كل يوم من أيام دورتك الشهرية.
خُذي الخطوة! ونحن معك
الخطوة الأولى للتغيير هي الأصعب دومًا، ولاسيما التغيير في رحلتك لتكوني صديقة للبيئة. ولكن ثقي بنا، فقد مررنا بذلك وواجهنا نفس الشعور أيضًا! نشاركك هذه العينات (السهلة نوعًا ما) آملين أن تتمكني من التحوّل إلى استخدامها بكل ثقة كبديل عن منتجات الدورة الشهرية المعتادة. اُشعري بالراحة والأمان أثناء دورتكِ الشهرية بأقل قدر من الضرر البيئي. وهنا نسألكِ: هل تستخدمين أي منتجات للدورة الشهرية آمنة على البيئة ولم يرد ذكرها؟ تواصلي معنا برسالة مباشرة أو على الواتساب وأخبرينا عنها!
]]>The productivity space is dominated by men.
The problem with this? When offering productivity advice, men don’t take into account how differently menstruating people operate because of their monthly hormonal cycles.
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The problem with this? When offering productivity advice, men don’t take into account how differently menstruating people operate because of their monthly hormonal cycles. Since men’s bodies operate by a 24-hour hormonal cycle, this advice often falls short as it’s geared towards daily routines rather than systems we can apply that accommodate hormonal shifts across a menstrual cycle. And thanks to period shame and gender bias in medical research, there’s very little awareness of how we can use these shifts to our advantage, instead of suffering in silence.
Most people assume the menstrual cycle only consists of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and a period. It is only in the past few years and with the availability of period tracking apps like Flo and Clue that there has been growing awareness of the menstrual cycle and its four phases—Menstruation, Follicular, Ovulatory, and Luteal. This is still not common knowledge though. When I learned about it at 29, it shook me and things started making sense: why I enjoyed being around people some days and wanted to be alone on others; why I’d sometimes feel I could take over the world and at other times feel completely insignificant; and most importantly, why I was often so exhausted even when getting enough sleep.
Resisting ‘toxic’ productivity
Because of hustle culture and pressures of the workplace, menstruating people often feel compelled to push themselves through menstruation at the risk of exhaustion (in a 2017 survey of 43,000 girls and women, 71% said they experienced tiredness or exhaustion during their periods).
There is even an increasing aversion to the word ‘productivity’, with how it’s interpreted as the need to be productive or on the go no matter what, coupled with the guilt associated with rest.
But what if there was a way to work with our bodies rather than against them? What if we could reclaim productivity and practice it mindfully, on our terms?
The menstrual cycle starts with Day 1 of your period and is on average 28 days long, but can differ. Its length determines the length of the four phases. Each phase is marked by shifts in energy, mood and motivation dictated by fluctuations in the hormones estrogen and progesterone. You may for instance put off doing certain activities during your period because of the toll it may take on your body. But did you know there are a plethora of tweaks you can make to your routine to better tap into your productivity throughout your cycle, all while listening to and functioning in tune to your body?
Enter Cycle Syncing: A revolutionary approach
Cycle syncing is the approach of syncing your movement, work commitments, and socializing activities according to what phase of your menstrual cycle you’re in and thrive while you’re at it.
Let’s take a look at what happens in the four phases, and the ideal activities to align with each to enhance productivity.
Note: These are just suggestions. It may not be possible for you to make all these changes depending on the nature of your work, or the commitments you or the people you work with may have or simply because the patterns themselves can change. Some of them may not even apply to your lifestyle. Start small and do what works for you.
Menstrual Phase (3-7 days long)
Or your period, when the uterine lining formed in the previous cycle is shed. Estrogen and progesterone are both low.
This phase is marked by low energy and waning motivation. It’s the perfect time to rest and reset, not resent your body for doing exactly what it’s supposed to! Journal to reflect upon how your month has passed, what you’d like to change, what areas in your life need attention, what no longer serves you that you may need to let go of. You may experience clarity; identify goals you want to work towards and create a plan for how you’re going to achieve them as you and your body prepare for a new cycle.
Take some time off to relax or reduce your workload, if possible. If not, go easy on yourself, stay in, meditate, get some more sleep (your body needs it!). You might want to avoid teamwork, long meetings, and social gatherings to preserve your energy.
In terms of movement, don’t feel compelled to push your body’s limits. Walks, yin yoga, and gentle stretches are the way to go. Towards the end of your period, you may feel like you want to try a more intense level of activity. Listen to your body.
Follicular Phase (7-10 days long)
Estrogen climbs as the ovary prepares to release an egg. The uterus rebuilds its lining.
Energy rises, as does your motivation. Time to unleash your creativity, experiment with ideas, have brainstorming sessions, develop strategies, tackle challenges, learn new things, and launch new projects.
You may feel more outgoing now, so it’s a great time to block your calendar for events and/or outings with friends. If you feel more open to new experiences, create opportunities to try something new! Make sure you go easy though—don’t commit to too much too soon to avoid getting overwhelmed.
Movement-wise, channel that rising energy into strength and resistance training, or anything that requires more intensity than usual.
Ovulatory Phase (3-4 days long)
The egg is released and awaits fertilization. Estrogen peaks.
Energy is now at its peak! Time for executing plans, collaborating, having tough conversations, negotiating, presenting, or facilitating workshops.
Your face also glows, you feel more attractive, you’re bursting with confidence. This is the ideal time for photoshoots and recording videos for social media (if that’s part of what you do). You’re likely to be your most social self and want to meet new people, attend events, or network.
You may enjoy high impact workouts, running, group classes like Zumba/other dance classes, spinning etc.
Luteal Phase (10-14 days long)
The body preps for a pregnancy. If the egg isn’t fertilized, the uterine lining will begin breaking down since it’s no longer needed. Progesterone rises as it’s produced, and then drops along with estrogen.
Energy starts decreasing. It’s time to slow down. Focus and concentration however, heighten. Ease into more solitary deep work, wrap up projects, review details, organize, declutter, complete tasks on your to-do list. As your social capacity reduces, take time out for yourself and be selective about who you spend time with.
The luteal phase is also characterized by mood swings or intense symptoms of PMS. As you start looking inward, you might feel more self-critical. Remember to be kind to yourself and practice self-care. Accept that this is merely a transition your body undergoes to fulfill an important function. Allow the emotions to flow through you—sit through them, don’t suppress them. This phase can also bring out physical, mental, emotional or other challenges and concerns that are being ignored and require your attention. Think of it as an opportunity for honesty, growth, and healing when addressing them.
You may be able to continue with more intense forms of movement in the first few days of this phase. As your energy starts falling, transition to less intense movement, like walking (especially in nature), yoga, pilates, or bike rides.
Taking it one step at a time
There’s more that happens physiologically in each phase. Depending on what you're going through, some days may feel more intense than others. Pay attention to what's happening in your life. All bodies are different and so changes may differ too. Check in with yourself and observe what you’re experiencing when it comes to your moods, motivation, and energy. This can be a lot to take in so you may not notice patterns immediately, and that’s okay. Take things slow and pace yourself. Ask yourself: What areas resonate with me most when considering work, movement, and socializing? What changes can I make to my schedule to better support myself?
We don’t have to ‘push through’ and tire ourselves out every cycle. By building more self-awareness and normalizing conversations around our menstrual cycles, we can empower ourselves and more menstruating people to better understand our bodies, work with them, and make lifestyle changes that are best for us.
Menstrual meets Mindful Productivity Challenge:
My friend Diahala and I are running a one-cycle challenge for people who menstruate, which is open until February 15, 2022. We’re tracking our moods, energy, and motivation while observing our workflow throughout our menstrual cycles, learning more about our bodies and ourselves in the process. Want to join us and tap into your own mindful productivity? Click here to sign up!
Getting your period can be tough, no matter where you are in the world. But when you factor in regional or cultural stigmas around periods (and around the female body) it can go from tough to almost impossible. We reached out to our amazing Leap Loves Green IG family to ask them what their unique experiences were so that we could share them with you.
THAT FIRST PERIOD the good, the bad, the ugly
Negative emotions were the primary reaction to our respondents’ first periods. 50% of them felt scared at the time and aside from fear, they felt sad or confused. Only 20% of our respondents had a positive reaction such as happiness or excitement. The answers we received mirror a similar survey by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA), where the majority of women across the Arab world said their first feelings were embarrassment, shame, fear or anxiety.
EDUCATING GIRLS ABOUT PERIODS leaves a lot to be desired
The majority of answers from women in our community demonstrated that they knew some stuff about menstruation, but not enough about them when they got their first period. About a quarter of respondents felt they had enough access to information, and an equal amount felt they were totally unprepared for their first period. Related to this question, some respondents felt the lack of information was due to their own mother’s upbringing, which may have been more conservative, and that influenced how comfortable they were talking to their daughters about periods.
IT’S GOOD TO HAVE women you can trust
From our survey mothers are the first people women told about their periods - almost 80% of our respondents agreed. Other female family members, like aunts and sisters, were also key people that our community turned to, while a few respondents told their nanny as she was the first person they saw that day. Perhaps unsurprisingly, only two respondents out of 250 told a male relative first.
While there may be increased societal pressure to keep periods a secret from male relatives and counterparts, it seems that women struggle universally with talking openly about their periods. A 2016 global investigation by period and pregnancy app Clue (which got over 90,000 responses) revealed that there are over 5,000 euphemisms for getting your period - indicating that across the world periods arouse feelings of shame, guilt and embarrassment and women can’t talk about them freely anywhere. In a journal article about euphemisms in the Arab world, a short-hand used was “I can’t pray” when talking about having your period.
REACTIONS can shape how you feel about your period for a lifetime
Our respondents’ shared varied reactions to the news of their first period, their confidant may have been supportive, humorous, excited, relieved, nervous or ashamed.
We hope by sharing some of these encounters with you, you can rest assured that you are not alone in this collective experience, and if you become the person another woman tells about her first period, you’ll have some more tools ...
PERIOD EXPERIENCES are as unique as your period is
When asked to recount a memorable experience from their periods, most women recounted bleeding through their pads or clothing in a range of circumstances including having their period on a plane, at school and at a restaurant. The reactions were varied; our respondents talked with gratitude about having teachers, siblings and mothers who were supportive, and they talked about being ashamed, feeling alone and ill-prepared for what was happening.
THE FUTURE OF PERIODS is down to us
As a woman owned business that helps women have bloody good periods, and look good doing it, the female experience of their body and periods is fascinating for us. We’re all about democratizing information around the female body, so that the next time a girl gets her period for the first time, the experience is as harmonious as possible. If you’re looking for information in Arabic about the female body, health and sexualty check out our friends at Niswa. ]]>Cindy Lauper’s catchy pop tune may have got it all wrong because according to market research company Mintel, 71% of women try to live more ethically (sustainably), while only 59% of men do. Women also take on more responsibility of trying to encourage friends and family to make sustainable lifestyle choices.
The language surrounding sustainability can also serve to deepen the gender gap, with terms such as “Mother Earth” and “man-made problems” common in everyday language. The concept of Mother Earth actually spans back to Ancient Rome!
This difference in the female and male approaches to sustainability is known as the “eco gender gap”, where women are more aware of environmental issues, concerned with their impacts, and proactive in living sustainably than their male counterparts*. If you look at global headlines today, some of the most high profile environmental advocates are female - including environmental activist Greta Thunburg, Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and popular eco-influencers like Tara McKenna and Lauren Singer.
HOW THE ECO-GENDER GAP impacts your day-to-day
The eco-gender gap is pervasive and can show up in a multitude of ways across your everyday life, in your household for example you might be the one who’s vegan (less carbon footprint), or who’s already made sustainable product swaps like clothing or beauty products.
Sustainable products and activities are often targeted at female-identifying consumers (think beauty products, eco-getaways, that low-cal vegan buddha bowl), and the lack of male representation in sustainable narratives could perpetuate lack of male involvement in activities.
BRIDGING THE ECO-GENDER GAP getting the guys involved
Let’s face it, meaningful action for saving the planet needs to involve everyone, regardless of gender, race, religious background, you name it. We’re literally all in it together. While we don’t think women should bear the burden of educating men (they can research and take action all on their own too!), we do know that if you’re passionate about sustainability you’re probably interested in advocating for change to the people who matter most to you.
So how do you start bridging the gap?
Normalize conversations about sustainable practices with male counterparts. Talk about what holds them back, ask them to think about if they find some practices undermine their masculinity (i.e. carrying a reusable bag)? Explore their ideas on what middle ground can be met to make being sustainable feel more inclusive to them?
Encourage the men in your life to join you on your sustainability journey - ask them to find resources for you to both share, or eco-activities that he’d enjoy doing solo or with you.
Hold local and international brands accountable for developing gender-neutral advertising and develop more inclusive sustainable products.
MIND THE GAP it’s going to take some work
We know it can be overwhelming when you’re making changes to help the environment, and feeling like you’re the only responsible one in the room can be a real drag. We feel ya girl.
By opening up the conversation with your male family and friends, and encouraging them to be accountable and proactive, we can start to overcome the eco-gender gap and work together to make sustainable choices for the planet.
* That isn’t to say all males are less interested in sustainability, but that historically through to today, the bulk of the responsibility has fallen on women.
Whether you’ve just started your journey towards sustainable living, or you’ve been incorporating it into your lifestyle for years, it can be a tough process. We’re not gonna lie, pretty much everyone in the community feels disheartened, confused or straight-up shamed sometimes. We’re here to help, and give you the comfort you deserve as you make these small but mighty changes!
OVERWHELM and GUILT and how to work through it
When we’re looking at our daily lives - from our activities and routines to the food we eat, and the clothes we wear, it’s easy to find opportunities to make more sustainable choices. Sometimes though, that can turn into feelings of guilt or shame at all the “wrong” decisions we’ve made in the past.
Our suggestion to work through those feelings is to start small and change as many things that make sense for you, at your own pace. That will look different for everyone, and that’s totes OK! Here are some ways you might start off, or deepen your eco-conscious living:
Take some time to think about the product lifetime of the disposables you use. Before reaching for your next plastic water bottle or plastic bag at the grocery store, take a minute to think of how long you’ll be able to use that item. You’ll likely find that its lifetime won't exceed more than a couple of minutes before it makes its way to a landfill forever. So try to keep your reusable essentials on hand whenever you can (in your car or in your tote) to help make greener choices in your day today!
Begin experimenting with small sustainable product swaps. Changing your favorite face soap bottle for a natural soap bar is a BIG step to take. Instead, try swapping products you are less attached to, like swapping your plastic bin liners for biodegradable ones or your plastic toothbrush for a bamboo one.
Assess your real wants vs. impulsive wants before buying a product. Challenge yourself to wait a 24 hour period before buying something. Ask yourself questions like “Will I still remember this cute shirt I saw online by tomorrow?” What does its lifetime look like? Is it a timeless piece you will treasure or a piece that’ll collect dust in your closet after a few wears?
In-store shopping tip: if you're physically shopping at a store, you can somewhat replicate this challenge by walking around and spotting items you like without grabbing them. After scanning the store, think to yourself - what do I actually remember seeing that I really, really liked?
Check out the sustainability credentials of brands you love, and where you can try to ditch fast fashion in favor of sustainable, planet and people-friendly clothing.
Regardless of whether you’re doing all, one or none of the above right now, be kind to yourself! Remember that sustainable living is a journey, not a destination and that as the world changes, so will your practice!
GET EDUCATED AND GET A LIL’ MAD!
Michaela Barnett, PhD and Behavioral Scientist, wrote a great opinion piece for the non-profit digital magazine Behavioral Scientist where she talks about her own guilt and shame navigating eco-conscious living.
In the article, she talks about the roles corporations play in contributing to environmental damage stating ‘[o]ur sustainability guilt is misplaced.’ Instead, she recommends we objectively hold corporations accountable - that could mean refusing to buy certain products and spending more of your shopping budget on eco-conscious shopping.
We’re not talking about radical action here, we’re talking about objectively asking organizations to step up, rather than internalizing all the blame and guilt.
LOAD UP ON knowledge bombs
For us, one of the most powerful tools towards living more green (and feeling good about the moves we’ve made), is to get educated about sustainability and eco-conscious living. Here are a some of our favorite resources:
Reefs & Beyond & Seeds - Your go-to’s for Kuwait-based initiatives focused on sustainable living. Check them out for local resources and events.
Trash Is For Tossers - Keep up with the zero waste queen herself, Lauren Singer. Infamously known for fitting an entire year’s worth of waste in a 16oz mason jar, Lauren’s website is filled with guides and DIY’s that’ll surely set you on a greener path.
Chicks For Climate - one for our green girls (and guys)! Learn the intersections of feminism and environmentalism through their curated content.
Intersectional Environmentalist & The Slow Factory - incredible and accessible educational sources we can't recommend highly enough. Learn the intersections of people and planet when it comes to environmentalism and keep an eye out for all their free courses!
Our Leap Loves Green Instagram - our founder and collaborators share tips for making your daily more eco- from upcycling to leftover makeovers and cool inspos
We can’t promise you pain-free periods (girl, we wish we could), but we can promise you we’ve got you covered for when your next period comes around. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite period essentials so you can look and feel cute on your period.
]]>We can’t promise you pain-free periods (girl, we wish we could), but we can promise you we’ve got you covered for when your next period comes around. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite period essentials so you can look and feel cute on your period.
TSUNO PADS bamboo based & SUPER cute
Tsuno is a brand we love SO much, and they were our very first collaboration! Tsuno pads are made from disposable and sustainable natural bamboo fibre, which is super eco-friendly due to their fast growth rate and low impact on natural resources. Bamboo is absorbent, antibacterial and breathable, making it great for pads - and Tsuno’s also feel silky smooth thanks to the corn fibre top sheet.
We also love these pads because they come in grammable packaging that features inspiring artwork by female artists Tsuno loves, making them delightful to slip in your bag or keep at your desk.
Shop the full period care collection here!
LEAP’s WARM BOTTLES a hug when you need it most
These Leap Loves Green exclusives are designed to feel like warm hugs. Designed extra long, with built-in straps, you can wrap them around any part of your body and enjoy your day in comfort. The bottles are all made with 100% natural Sri Lankan rubber and come with a range of cute covers in different colors, designs and materials.
If it’s summer and you want to change it up, you can also fill the bottle and put it in the freezer for 30 minutes for a quick way to cool down!
Find them over here!
MENSTRUAL-FRIENDLY TEA a cup (or two!) a day keeps those symptoms at bay
We partnered with Infuse, a Kuwait-based tea company, to launch an exclusive curation of menstrual-friendly teas that’ll take you through the days leading up to, the days of, and the days after your period. These teas are made with you in mind, helping you ease and soothe menstruation symptoms for a bloody good period!
These teas are entirely natural and totally caffeine-free, and they’re all ethically and sustainably sourced per Ethical Tea Partnerships standards.
We spill all the tea here!
HARA UNDIES feel feminine and free on your period
HARA undies are favorites of ours for a few reasons. They come in a range of super cute colors like ivory, charcoal and pink. They’re made from OEKO-TEX 100 approved organic bamboo fabric (did we mention we ❤️ bamboo?!) and natural plant dyes.
The undies collection includes low or high waist designs all made ethically by Hara and shipped with love to you.
LAVENDER SOAP a luxurious escape when you need it most
Not sure about you, but we love to pamper ourselves on our period. It’s a time to slow down a bit, take it easy (when we can), and indulge as our bodies go through the changes. Of course, there’s nothing better than a mini-vacation from the comfort of your own home - that’s why we’re so into pretty much everything The Soap Box makes.
For relief from stress and anxiety before and during menstruation, we love their Fresh Lavender Soap Bar followed by a healthy dose of Lavender Body Butter.
ECRU’s ROBE for the love of loungewear
There’s nothing quite like a cool, light cotton robe to wrap yourself in after a long day. We’re obsessed with Ecru’s Indian cotton robes for days where we’re feeling bloated and need a break from the clothes in our closet.
Their signature hand-blocked prints make each robe feel distinctly unique, and the roomy one size fit means you’ll be comfortable whatever size and shape you are!
MAKE YOUR NEXT PERIOD bloody good!
These eco-friendly products are good for the planet, and they’re developed with you in mind by women - aka people who actually know what getting your period feels like! Do you have a planet-friendly period essential that could be our new favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
]]>Say hello to the online home of Leap Loves Green, a destination for curated eco-friendly products, knowledge drops on sustainable self-care, and real-talk reflections on living a sustainable life from our customers and partners from around the world.
]]>Say hello to the online home of Leap Loves Green, a destination for curated eco-friendly products, knowledge drops on sustainable self-care, and real-talk reflections on living a sustainable life from our customers and partners from around the world.
Leap Loves Green is made by women for women. We’re all about helping you find conscious alternatives and look cute while doing it!
We’re committed to constantly changing and growing and sharing our journey with you, and we’re excited that you’re joining us wherever you’re at in your sustainability journey. We’re all about empowering the women around us to make a change, however big or small.
THE STORY so far
Based out of Kuwait, Leap Loves Green is a woman-owned business that started with the intention of sharing knowledge about local environmental resources and sustainable alternatives. The idea grew one leap at a time, and by 2019 Leap Loves Green proudly launched a range of sustainable period care products. This project set the tone for most of the planet-friendly products that Leap Loves Green introduces, with the intention to elevate and celebrate the menstrual experience.
Since then Leap Loves Green has partnered with independent, emerging women-led brands from all over the world to launch a range of products (with more coming soon!) to Kuwait, the GCC, and beyond!
A QUICK INTRO to our founder
Hind AlKhatrash started Leap Loves Green as a passion project, and it quickly grew into an ever-evolving business. By growing Leap Loves Green with empathy and an openness to learn and discover, Hind has helped grow a small but mighty community of eco-conscious consumers who want to change the world, one day at a time.
When Hind isn’t working behind the scenes on managing Leap Loves Green, she’s growing the community on socials and being a full-time mom to two dogs, a cat and a turtle, which keeps her pretty busy! To keep balanced as she grows Leap Loves Green, Hind turns to her pets for play and enjoys keeping active outdoors to get her creative juices going when thinking of the next big thing!
BE PART of our community
We’re here to build an inclusive, collaborative and supportive community that’s committed to environmentalism. We’d like you to be a part of this journey to whatever level works for you. Here are some ways you can get involved:
Become part of the family on social media, see the cool stuff we’re doing and let us know what you’re up to! We love hearing from you!
Hit us up on WhatsApp! We don’t spam, we just share 100% awesome updates on product drops, new projects and more!
Join our mailing list to be the first to find out about new products, cool collaborations and more
You can buy our products online or at our partnering vendor locations. Right now, you can find them at 360 mall’s female bathroom facilities and DISC in AlHamra Business Tower, and we’ve got more coming soon!
If you’re a business owner and you’d like to partner with Leap Loves Green to provide on-site period essentials, let us know!
Or, reach out to us directly if you’d like to contribute in another way!