THE ENVIRONMENT
New Layer pads are made from upcycled plants, and are fully decomposable, meaning a huge reduction in the amount of sanitary waste that is created. With 500,000,000 pads being used in Australia per year, New Layer pads offer a much needed environmentally focused solution.
COMMUNITY
Free biodegradable sanitary wear for people who menstruate: Sanitary wear isn’t easily accessible in remote communities for many reasons. Pads can cost up to $10 a packet, and often, girls feel too embarrassed to buy them from male shop owners. People who menstruate face many barriers in accessing products. The New Layer is focused on producing free, biodegradable sanitary wear.
ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
In the later phase of our project, we see production being shifted to communities, so that ownership of the product can be handed over to those who need the product the most.
As The New Layer uses spinifex to make sanitary wear, moving production to community means the creation of long lasting, sustainable jobs in plant harvesting, collection, pad production, packaging, marketing and more. At a base level, community get to provide a much-needed resource to people who menstruate.
Shifting production and control to community also provides people who menstruate with economic empowerment, with the option of selling products back to supermarkets to make profit.
