June 2024 - Sustainable Femtech Network Newsletter
Biodegradable Sex Toys | $300M for Climate and Health | Body-Powered Batteries
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Email hello@sustainablefemtech.net and say hello!
PS: Our Sustainability in Femtech Survey Report 2023 is available NOW! Download your copy of the first of its kind report here.
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News
⚖️ Novo Nordisk Foundation, Wellcome and Gates Foundation pledge $300 million by to tackle health inequities including those caused by climate change. The fund will support research and innovation to to mitigate the health impacts of climate change and enhance environmental sustainability.
🧊 Tenga, the Japanese sex toy brand, have released a line of biodegradeable toys made of 98% water (2% agar). Unlike other single use toys, the Iroha petite will break down naturally after use, leaving no trace.
📈 The Case for Her, The Waterloo Foundation, Cewas, seecon gmbh and Knoor-Bremse Global Healthcare have joined forces to launch the first Female Health and Hygiene Accelerator for Kenya, Uganda and Ghana - supporting menstrual health entrepreneurs to create profitable, scalable and sustainable businesses.
🩸Daye have launched their sustainable tampons in Walmart (featuring an ocean-safe flushable wrapper to reduce plastic waste)...
🩸... while Dame have launched their range (including reusable applicator, toxin-free tampons and washable pads) in Holland and Barratt stores across the UK
👩🔬Could a new hormone-free contraceptive be on the horizon? Preliminary data shows that Ovaprene, a hormone-free vaginal ring, successfully blocks sperm.
♻️ A pilot recycling project for non-hazardous medical plastic waste has been given the go ahead in the US.
♻️ Wondering how to recycle that pesky packaging for your contraceptive pill/supplements/medication? Terra Cycle has launched BlisterBack, to expand blister pack recycling availability across the UK.
🏪 Sustainable period care online retailer Period Nirvana is launching its first bricks and mortar store in North Carolina.
🌱 Health Care Without Harm launches Born Green Generation - a healtchcare project that aims to protect babies from the harmful effects of plastics and chemicals. (Want to work with HCWH? See below 👇 )
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Future Focus
🔮 Researchers have created a biocompatible, implantable battery that generates electricity by using the the body’s own oxygen. This could potentially be used to replace lithium batteries that are needed to power internal devices such as pacemakers and other health implants.
🔮 Recent research from McKinsey & Co shows that millennials and Gen Z are driving the global wellness market, including women's health. However, according to the Deloitte 2024 Gen Z and Millenial survey, sustainability is a priority for these consumers, who feel that 'business, in turn,
could and should do more to enable consumers to make more sustainable purchasing decisions'.
🔮 Pioneer of STEM-led ventures, Ruchira Shukla says that sustainability and tech will shape the future of VC funding for global challenges in climate and health:
"The confluence of technology and sustainability is a space where a lot of venture support is needed over the next two decades... Not only do these technologies address large global challenges but in doing so, they also present large financial return opportunities."
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Resources
🌎 A sustainability-minded duo from Sweden have created an online resource on communicating the links between menstrual health and climate change. This project is a work in progress, and feedback is welcome via a form on the main page.
📕 Global Menstrual Collective have also created a helpful overview to explain how climate change and menstrual health and hygiene are interlinked.
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Funding
Design Foundations – A share of £2M for design projects that utilise people-centred and dynamic design. A great opportunity for Femtech and women's health companies considering sustainable or circular design!
Design Exchange Partnerships: Design the Green Transition
£62.5k - £125k for "more than human" design across health and wellbeing, materials, technology and AI
Innovate UK Innovation Loans Future Economy: Loans of up to £2 million for UK-registered SMEs
Women in Innovation Award 2024 - £75k for UK-based female founders to develop innovative ideas
Industry Growth Program Australia - Up to $5m in grants to help innovative startups & high-growth SMEs commercialise their ideas.
Applications are now open for the Novo Nordisk Foundation's Global Science Summit Programme. The programme aims to explore the intersection between major global health and sustainability challenges through fostering scientific discoveries that address the combined impact of non-communicable diseases, infectious diseases, climate change, and related enabling technologies.
(We'd love to hear from researchers who would be interested in collaborating with us on this. Reach out to us at hello@sustainablefemtech.net)
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Opportunities
Want to advance climate-smart healthcare? Blue Shield are looking for a
Corporate Citizenship, Principal, Sustainability
Exciting UK-based Pharma role Head of Sustainability
Health Care Without Harm are seeking an International MEL and Reporting Manager
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Call to Action
Fossil to Clean - Open Letter: Join global companies representing over $1.5 trillion in global annual revenue in urging national governments to ramp up clean energy, phase out fossil fuels and set policy commitments to show how the UAE Consensus will be bought into reality. Add your company’s name to the letter and be heard by global leaders.
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That’s all for this edition. See you next month!
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