Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Features

Su Hardy, Unsung Hero No.22

Sep 6, 2011
-
Posted by James Kendall

Mooncup MD Su Hardy has been offering an ethical alternative to tampons for nearly a decade.

Where did the idea for the Mooncup come from?
Menstrual cups have been around since the 1930s and I first came across them when I was backpacking in Australia. When I came back I started making my own out of more modern materials. The original ones were made out of latex rubber and I found that some women were allergic to those so I had a factory make them out of silicone.

How many have you sold?
Hundreds of thousands of them! We’ve been going since 2002 and have sold Mooncups to women all over the world – 65 different countries, all over Europe and other places like South Africa.

What are the benefits?
My main interest to start with was environmental. Because you have one Mooncup, you empty it and then use the same one over and over again. There’s nothing to throw away, no waste, no packaging every month. But there are other benefits. After about four months it pays for itself. There’s no drying so it’s much better for your vagina. It’s more comfortable, it’s more convenient. It ticks all the boxes: it’s safer, greener and cheaper.

What sort of women use it?
Green and ethical women were the pioneers. But now it’s really mainstream. We have customers who certainly wouldn’t consider themselves to be hippies. Women hear about it from their friends and they’re really enthusiastic about it. Our customers tend to be real evangelists actually.

Is it an ethical mission or a business first?
I would say it’s an ethical mission first. If you wanted to have a business to make money you wouldn’t produce something that’s as difficult to sell as a Mooncup and that had no repeat sales. As a business proposition it’s not a particularly good one!

You’ve won loads of awards, but what’s been your proudest moment?
Winning the Women In Ethical Business Award probably because the Eve Magazine readers actually voted for the Mooncup. I think that there’s something quite special about the fact it came from the public.

More Unsung Heroes: Click Hereunsungx

Unsung Heroes
Sep 6, 2011
Email
James Kendall
James Kendall was the co-owner and editor of SOURCE. He’s been a music journalist since 1992 and spent over a decade travelling the globe covering dance music for DJmag. He’s interviewed a range of subjects from Bat For Lashes, Foals and James ‘LCD Soundsystem’ Murphy to Katie Price and the Sugababes. He’s a keen photographer and has work featured in The Guardian.
← PREVIOUS POST
Secret Eater: Aloka
NEXT POST →
Street Style, Mar
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Great Escape 2025 Day 4 Review
    Jun 13, 2025

    Day 4 started with a party whistle thrash punk Extravaganza and ended with the glorious debut of Post Common. We love you TGE.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 3 Review
    Jun 9, 2025

    One of the real joys of the Great Escape is you can often see the bands that really grab you more than once. Day 3 delivered.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 2 Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    Day 2 provided a diverse range of acts. Within 30 minutes we went from beautiful Australian folk to riotous Korean DnB and that was before tea time!

  • The Girl On The Train Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    A fantastic adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel which is a beautiful balance of acting, theatricality and gritty story telling.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 1 Review
    Jun 6, 2025

    No longer just a day for getting your wrist band; some serious heavy hitters were brought out for a cracking day one.

  • Winnie The Pooh Review
    Jun 2, 2025

    A delightful venture into the 100 acre wood with Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh and their friends: full of wonder, innocence and charm.

  • Lower Slaughter Return With New Album And Headline Show
    May 30, 2025

    New line up! New Album! New Show! Same heavy heavy monster riffs. Winner.

  • Delightfully Dark Review
    May 30, 2025

    A fresh and hilariously funny one man cabaret show about the absurdity of death, living a finite existence and embracing life in all its imperfections.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Su Hardy, Unsung Hero No.22 - Brighton Source