Nadya Okamoto wants to make your period better. Well, better for you, and better for the environment.
On average, Global Citizen estimates that menstrual products can sit in landfills for 500 to 800 years before they fully decompose, to say nothing of the single-use plastic applicators. August, Okamoto’s brand of 100% organic cotton tampons and pads, are biodegradable within 12 months, and applicators are recyclable.
Okamoto graduated from Harvard in June but has been championing equity for menstrual hygiene since 2014 when she cofounded Period Inc., a nonprofit that distributes menstrual supplies to those in need and works to eradicate period stigma through education and advocacy. When she found herself “begging companies to donate products,” she decided to create a period-products brand that “builds social impact into base commodities, regardless.”
August’s tampons start at $11, pads at $8.25, and liners are $7. Subscriptions ship free, and the brand will cover tampon tax in states that categorize menstrual products as luxury goods. (The brand reported paying $6,608.92 in Q4 to cover their customers’ tampon taxes.)
“We have a gender-inclusive community,” Okamoto says. “We wanted to be hyper-inclusive of transgender men and nonbinary people. We wanted to make sure they were comfortable and felt championed by a brand.” The result is colorful, vibrant branding and packaging that encompasses August’s eco-conscious roots and its joyfully unapologetic mission. One $40 hoodie—yes, they have swag—is imprinted with “Periods Make Human Lives Possible,” on repeat. Called the Human Hoodie, it’s available in black, lavender, and sand, in sizes XS to XL, and worn by a diverse group of brand partners. Among the stats August released on diversity and representation this month: 69% of its influencers were people of color, and approximately 85% of their staff members are Black, Indigenous, and POC.
Currently, the group has more than 2,000 members across 40 different countries, with channels like Cramps and Cravings and The Flow. There, the August team interacts with their community—not just about product but all facets of life. “We have a channel called ‘Heavy Flow,’ and it’s a space where people can talk about hard things,” Okamoto says, noting its popularity as a support system throughout the pandemic. “We’ve hosted over 200 events with our community. On weekends, we’ll do the Inner Cycle Brunch, where we all have brunch together online.” While she was giving me a screen-share tour of the Inner Cycle, a member asked the group for support with digital marketing. Okamoto immediately typed in her reply: “I can help!”
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