Hi, I'm Fran Lucraft, the Founder and CEO of Grace & Green. My background lies in environmental management and sustainability within the WASH sector, and Grace & Green was born out of a commitment to creating a transparent and ethical supply chain.
Many issues surround menstrual health, affecting thousands worldwide. Sadly, a significant number of individuals who menstruate, primarily women and girls, lack access to safe menstrual products, jeopardising their health and forcing millions of girls to miss school.
Due to the cost of living crisis, period poverty has hit closer to home, impacting more people in the UK. It's an environmental and social atrocity that demands our attention.
10% of girls in England lack the financial means to buy period products. This leads to missed school days, perpetuating shame and stigma around periods. While progress has been made with free product distribution in schools and the planned abolition of period tax, the taboo and stigma persist. Cultures considering periods 'impure' isolate women, pushing them to use unsafe alternatives. Recognising the need for action, we collaborate with charities like the Unmentionables, donating products to those without access.
With my background in water and sanitation, I witnessed the unsustainable effects of traditional period products. Conventional menstrual pads take 500 to 800 years to decompose, and with the average woman using 11,000 disposable products in her reproductive lifetime, the environmental impact is immense.
Sustainable period products offer a solution. When you choose them, you contribute to reducing plastic demand and production, addressing critical environmental issues. Additionally, you minimise the amount of plastic entering the waste stream, preventing pollution in oceans and landfills.
At Grace & Green, we've tackled these challenges by crafting a premium collection of period products that focus on health, the environment, social impact, and a transparent supply chain.
Launched in January 2019, we're one of the UK's first organic, independent period care companies, marking the end of three intense years of behind-the-scenes work. We focused on better raw materials, improved manufacturing processes, and an evolved style to provide a sustainable alternative for menstruators. The result is a premium, sustainable collection made from 100% organic cotton and bamboo —biodegradable, super absorbent, breathable, soft, and antibacterial. Our manufacturing process avoids chlorine or dioxin bleach, and our products are individually wrapped in biodegradable sleeves and packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes. Plus, we proudly use renewable energy in our production.
In 2022, we launched our Period Dignity scheme, this is our programme to fight for all public spaces, offices, schools and universities to offer free period products for all. We work with over 300 organisations to make this happen, equipping them with sustainable products and training to tackle access and education.
Last year, we became a certified B Corp with the highest score in the organic period care category. One of our proudest achievements to date.
We can’t wait to keep growing with your support and creating a world where everyone lives with dignity.
