At the heart of the partnership between UHUMANS and Fashion Enter is a simple but powerful idea: turning fashion industry waste into life-changing resources.
UHUMANS points out that currently, in Leicester alone, approximately 3,000 girls miss school due to period poverty, resulting in an estimated 37,000 lost days of education each year. Across the UK, the issue is even more stark, with thousands of young people forced to choose between basic necessities and essential hygiene products.
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At the same time, the average woman in the UK spends up to £20,000 over her lifetime on period products, many of which are single-use and plastic-based. It is estimated that over 4.3 billion disposable menstrual products are used annually in the UK, with the majority containing up to 90% plastic. These products can take hundreds of years to decompose, contributing significantly to landfill waste and ocean pollution.
Meanwhile, the fashion industry generates vast quantities of unused materials, with tonnes of fabric, including end-of-roll textiles, discarded or sent to landfill every year.
By repurposing surplus fabric from fashion production, the partnership will create high-quality, reusable period pads manufactured by Fashion Enter. These sustainable products not only reduce reliance on single-use plastics but also provide a dignified, long-term solution for those experiencing period poverty.
The partnership stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through collaboration, creativity, and a shared commitment to change.
“This is about thinking differently,” said Reshma Desai, global project director of UHUMANS. “We are connecting industries that rarely intersect – fashion, sustainability and humanitarian aid – to create a circular solution that delivers real impact. This isn’t just a project; it’s the beginning of a movement.”
The pilot programme will launch in Leicester, with the ambition to scale nationally across the UK. By providing reusable products, the initiative has the potential to dramatically reduce school absenteeism, returning tens of thousands of lost education days back to young girls, while also tackling environmental waste at its source.
Jennifer Holloway, CEO of Fashion Enter, said: “This initiative shows what’s possible when innovation meets purpose. By utilising materials that would otherwise go to waste, we are creating something meaningful, impactful, and scalable.”
