They may be better known for their far-reaching range of supplements, but Swisse is making news in a different field of health this week with their latest partnership. In a new collaboration with Ads on Pads, they’re offering 17,000 free period products to women at select local gyms and Pilates studios.
The collab is ready-made for those who, like myself, have found themselves about to start a Pilates class, only to realise their period has started.
By making menstrual products freely available, the partnership means an unexpected period no longer has to cut a workout short. Unfortunately, it’s not forever, with only 17,000 period products on the slate for the current promotion. (Learn more about that here.)
In case you haven’t already heard of Ads on Pads, it’s a social enterprise with a clever approach to making period products more accessible. The organisation works with advertisers to fund the production and distribution of sustainable period products, which are then provided free of charge in places women actually need them.
The concept is pretty simple: brands pay to advertise on the product packaging and dispensers, and that investment helps cover the cost of getting period products into gyms, studios and other community spaces.
Better yet, 10 per cent of profits from the campaign will be donated to Share the Dignity—an Australian charity providing period products to people homeless, fleeing violence or doing it tough.
Read: These Period Pant Brands Have Your Cycle Covered—Literally
Essentially, the advertising funds the free products—turning something that would normally be another expense into a resource women can access when they need it.
“Getting your period unexpectedly shouldn’t mean abandoning your plans,” says Ads on Pads Founder and CEO Aditi Gorasia. “Gyms and studios are places women move through every day, so having products there when they’re needed can make a real difference.”
The partnership also aligns with Swisse’s recently launched HYSTERIA platform, which delves into women’s health and helps to encourage more advocacy, research and funding.
“Partnering with Ads on Pads is a natural extension of our commitment to women’s health,” says Stephanie Taylor, Swisse Wellness Marketing Director ANZ.
Where Are Swisse Offering Free Menstrual Products?
The only downside to the Swisse partnership with Ads on Pads? For now, it’s only available across Melbourne—although we’re keeping our fingers crossed for further expansion.
The rollout will span Pilates Republic locations in Brunswick, Collingwood, Fairfield, Ivanhoe, Kingsbury and Preston; Kaya Health Clubs in Melbourne CBD, Chadstone and Prahran; and Prime Athletica in Fitzroy, Thornbury and Ivanhoe.
Needless to say, this feels like a step in the right direction for women’s health, and I’m personally thrilled to see initiatives that help break down the stigma around periods while making products more accessible.
If you’re in Melbourne, congratulations. If you’re elsewhere, we’ll wait in eager anticipation.
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