Free Pads. Real Impact.
Period poverty, the lack of access to menstrual health products, limits people's ability to go to school, work, and participate in public life.
Making period products accessible means half the global population can fully participate in the economy – acting as a catalyst for economic growth and human potential.
That's a breakthrough.
A Multidimensional Challenge
Menstrual Health
Re-using old pads, fashioning products out of rags or corn husks, or engaging in transactional sex to acquire more products means more health issues - both mental and physical.
Educational Access
Up to 20% of adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries report missing or dropping out of school due to lack of access to menstrual products.
Career Achievement
In some developing countries, women miss 15-24% of work days due to concerns regarding menstruation.
Economic Empowerment
The World Bank estimates that the gap loss of productivity and achievement associated with limitations from girls' missed education and work is a $15-30 trillion opportunity.
Aster shifts the burden of purchasing period products from women to private sector companies - in a model where everybody wins.
We offer a platform for companies to reach untapped markets while funding free products through on-pad advertising. When women in low- and middle-income countries get free period products, Aster boosts educational attainment, economic achievement, and health outcomes for billions of women.
At scale, Aster has the potential to transform how menstrual products are distributed and funded – improving health and educational outcomes for women and girls, and freeing up billions in household income for the world’s most economically vulnerable communities.
Aster's model increases the budget they can immediately spend on advertised products, as well as the amount of money they have to spend over their lifetimes. Win, win, win.
