Name of company: Lunapads 
Featured Lunapads Team Member: Jennifer Lipka
For a full range of products you’ll want to go online to www.lunapads.ca;
Find them here: Twitter • Facebook • Instagram

Can you please tell us a little bit about yourself, your products and how your company came about? 
The Lunapads story? In short, its started with a s&*!-disturbing fashion designer meets business savvy chartered accountant at a community leadership conference. They hit it off and partner up to transform menstrual health. Lots of surprises, teachable moments, belly laughs and a few tears ensue with the end result: a global brand leader in sustainable personal hygiene that is acclaimed for its innovation, fearlessness and commitment to social justice. 

What is your biggest driver for being sustainable?
We’re deeply committed to building a more environmentally-friendly and socially just way of doing business to ensure a better future for menstruating people and the planet. We’re particularly proud of how our customers help divert twenty million disposable pads and tampons from North American landfills every year. 

How would you differentiate your products from other sustainable alternatives? What sets them apart? 
Since 1993 we’ve been inspiring our customers to make better, more sustainable choices for their own health and the environment. In other words, we were here before words like “carbon footprint” were even a thing.

Our commitment to sourcing high quality, sustainable fabrics & reducing carbon emissions by working with local Canadian producers, means that we’re always seeking to be a little kinder on the ecosystems that sustain us all, and more transparent about where and how our products are made.

Your purchases also help us fund a brighter future for girls in East Africa. Our One4Her program, in partnership with AFRIpads, supports equitable access to menstrual hygiene products for girls, and local employment for women in Uganda. As a founding Canadian B Corp, we are held to the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, and our commitment to sustainability and social impact is written right into the DNA of our company. 

What is one thing you have done at your company to drive sustainability that other businesses could replicate as best practice?Lunapads is Climate Smart Certified! Being Climate Smart Certified means that as a company we are measuring our carbon footprint and taking concrete steps to reduce our impact. Every individual has a carbon footprint, comprised of the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted from their day-to-day activities. Lunapads emits carbon through our manufacturing, transportation, operations, waste and more. We have made the conscious effort to change our actions to reduce this impact! 
Furthermore, we do business as an ethical, women-owned B-Corporation! Lunapads is an ethical, social-mission based business. As one of only 1000 certified B Corporations worldwide, we’ve had our business audited to ensure we meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. 

What have you done outside of work to live a more sustainable life?
For me personally, I’ve switched to Lunapads! I calculated that by using Lunapads for the past 6 years, I’ve kept 1350 tampons and 540 pads out of the landfill. This conversion has had a profound effect on my life by encouraging me to use reusable alternatives to napkins, coffee cups, and water bottles. 

Which sustainable action or change you’ve made in your life are you most proud of?
As a company, Lunapads is most proud of our B Corp and Climate Smart certification! For me personally, I’m super proud to be a transit user. I gave up my car 3 years ago and have been taking transit everywhere since. It’s allowed me to save the time I’d spend in traffic reading books! 

What is your “guilty” habit that just isn’t very sustainable? How do you plan to change it if you could?
I love stickers! We have a number of Lunapads branded sticker which I love. However, my love of stickers extends far into my childhood as I have a large collection. I’d love for stickers to become more environmentally-friendly. 

In one phrase, what does sustainability mean to you?

To me sustainability means that the actions we have on the earth will not impact it negatively so that it can regenerate or even be positively impacted for future generations! 

Can you provide three top tips for others trying to lead more sustainable lives and reduce their waste?

Well of course; first use Lunapads! The conversion to Lunapads will encourage you to change other parts of your life to be more sustainable. Start with replacing your disposables with reusable options, next look at different ways to ‘reduce’ the waste you create (especially at Christmas). Best of luck to you all!  

Bonus: Share the love – Which businesses besides your wonderful company would you recommend to help people reduce their waste?
Abeego: https://canada.abeego.com/
Libre Tea: https://www.libretea.com/
The Divacup: https://divacup.com/

You can find Lunapads throughout Calgary! Try Community Natural Foods, London Drugs, Planet Organic, Babes in Arms, and SUNNYSIDE MARKET, 
Check out our Zero-Waste Directory to find these awesome places!