Description:

Arla is a menstrual cup cleaning system that makes sterilising easier and more convenient. For many people with periods, there are barriers to using reusable period products, specifically menstrual cups. Hence, many continue to use disposables which have negative impacts on our environment.

Disposable products including pads and tampons are single-use and contain plastic (90% for pads and 6% for tampons) which can take 500 years to decompose. Although menstrual cups are made from silicone and eventually go to landfill, they still have 5-10 years of use first. This would substantially lower the 25 million kilograms of menstrual product waste the UK estimates is produced annually.

Current cleaning methods for menstrual cups are either boiling on a stovetop or sterilising with tablets. Both these methods are not discrete, have high water consumption, and need monitoring to ensure the cup is sterilised.

Through discussions and surveys, the key issues with using menstrual cups were changing in public (limited access to sinks in bathroom stalls), length of cleaning time, and boiling the cup in the kitchen. As for why people won’t use them, convenience was commonly identified, and other barriers included upfront cost, lack of education, and cleaning time.

Arla is a multi-product system making cleaning in public and at home easier, with the aim of encouraging more people to switch to reusable period products. The system has four components: Arla Home the in-bathroom cleaner for deeper cleans at home, Arla Travel the portable cleaner for on-the-go cleans in public, Arla Base a wireless charger, and Arla Carry the waterproof bag for ‘Arla Travel’.

Arla Home uses ultra-sonics to clean the menstrual cup, with a water filtration system to cycle the water and ultra-violet light to sterilise the cup after the water is drained into the lower tank. The cleaning process is 20-30 minutes; longer than current practices but does not need constant monitoring. Arla Home sits on Arla Base while cleaning but has a small battery capacity to release water after cleaning.

Arla Travel is an expandable shaker cup for cleaning, also using ultra-violet light for sterilisation. The cleaning process is dependent on how long the cup is shaken while the UV sterilisation phase is 2 minutes. Arla Travel has an integrated battery for on-the-go use and charges off Arla Base.

Periods carry a stigma, especially the cleaning of reusable products. Arla was designed to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing so users can hide what the product does if they wish. The neutral name doesn’t draw attention, locating functional aspects together allowing the product functions to be hidden, and creating an aesthetic that does not look like a personal hygiene product.

The Arla system is a family of products that makes using menstrual cups a more enjoyable experience. Arla reduces water consumption during cleaning, is usable in locations comfortable for users, and encourages people to replace disposable period products with reusable products. The visibility of cleaning reusable period products in the kitchen creates a significant barrier and by shifting the process to the bathroom Arla creates a much easier, low-profile user experience.