Arla

Disposable menstrual products are commonly used as they are convenient and involve little cleaning. However, they contain plastic (90% for pads and 6% for tampons) which can take 500 years to decompose. A solution to this is menstrual cups, but they require more cleaning. Currently, they are either boiled on a stovetop or sterilised with tablets. Both methods are not discrete, have high water consumption, and need monitoring to different degrees to ensure the cup is sterilised. The challenge was to design a system to encourage the use of menstrual cups while making the cleaning process more enjoyable.

Common issues users had with cleaning menstrual cups were cleaning in the kitchen and public bathrooms. Using these two situations as a basis for development, Arla was designed. A multi-product system making cleaning in public and at home easier, with the aim of encouraging more people to use menstrual cups. 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.

Periods carry a stigma, especially the cleaning of reusable products. Visibility and location are often barriers of use stemming from the associated stigma. Arla aims to address this by making a system users are comfortable in. 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 menstrual cups has been addressed by shifting the process to the bathroom creating a much easier, low-profile user experience.

The Arla system is a family of products for menstrual cup sterilising. The products have a neutral name, an aesthetic that does not look like a personal hygiene product and the functional aspects are located together allowing functions to be hidden for discrete ownership and use. 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 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. While using Arla Home or Travel there is a running indicator light showing when in use. For power, Arla Home runs off Arla Base with a small battery capacity to release water after cleaning, while Arla Travel charges off the base with an integrated battery. Arla carry is an accessory to Arla travel allowing easy transportation and discrete use when in public and is made from waterproof fabric.