Reusable period products supporting the UK human and natural environment for health and wellbeing

De Montfort University

This project aims to develop reusable period pants by utilising underused UK grown fibres including various types of wool fibre, flax and hemp that support biodiversity and British farming. The goal is to create a biodegradable product that at the end of life does not contribute to waste and ideally gives back to the environment further supporting the UK ecosystems. 

The project aims to explore consumer views on the end-of-life management of period products supporting UK environment and biodiversity focusing on the needs of the consumer, education and viable solutions. It will also identify an appropriate material construction for the period pant, compare biodegradation and composting methodologies and identify potential viable end of life strategies.

This collaborative project brings together a broad range of stakeholders within the textile supply chain.

Project team


Academic Supervisor: Angela Davies

Research Associate: Edward Smith and Kay Radford

Non-Academic Partner: Femme Tasse, British Wool (British Wool Marketing Board), Shibori Ltd, Welsh government (Period Dignity) and Basic Premier Ltd

Angela Davies

Dr Angela Davies is an Associate Professor in textile and garment technology at De Montfort University, Leicester. Angela’s PhD focused on sustainable incontinence product development for residential
 

Kay Radford

Kay Radford is a research associate at the school of Fashion and Textiles in the faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities, at De Montfort University in Leicester. As a textile testing technical
 

Edward Smith

Dr Edward Smith is a Senior Research Fellow in the Textile Engineering and Materials (TEAM) Research Group at De Montfort University, Leicester. Edward is a chemist specialising in textiles, fibres