Martha Silcott: One woman's mission to stem the flow of period waste

Inspiration struck Martha Silcott when she found herself in a situation most women will recognise.

She was at a dinner party and went to the bathroom to change her tampon. Realising there was no bin to dispose of the used item, Martha wrapped it in reams of toilet paper, smuggled it into her handbag, and spent the evening praying it didn't leak. No fun.

Now, Martha is on a mission to convert us from flushing to binning our period waste. And she's invented the product that will help change our habits forever.

That panic and embarrassment are sadly familiar to all of us who have struggled with period product disposal. It's an issue which Martha wants to put an end to. "It was an awkward experience that ended up ruining my evening. I realised there was no environmentally-friendly or feel-good way to dispose of tampons and pads. So I invented the FabLittleBag." A sustainably sourced, opaque, sealable bag designed to store your used sanitary items until you find a bin.

Ocean pollution matters. Period

So far, so game-changing. But Martha is a firm believer that making a difference starts with finding your passion. "Find what it is you care about. Not what you think you should care about. And take positive action that's true to what really matters to you."

For Martha, that means not only tackling the awkwardness around period waste but solving the problem of trash in our oceans. Menstrual products that are flushed down the toilet can end up in the sea. And tampons take many decades to biodegrade. Not to mention the plastic applicators which hang around for centuries. The imperfect but best solution is to bag and bin your menstrual waste. "I know I'm preventing huge numbers of sanitary items from ending up in rivers and oceans and washed up on beaches, which is a huge driver for me."

This year, Martha upgraded the FabLittleBag. It’s now made from plants and recycled plastic, making it more sustainable and supporting the circular economy of waste.

But the journey hasn't always been easy. People are still uncomfortable talking about periods. "A lot of retail buyers and investors are men who don't always empathise with the problems FabLittleBag solves," Martha says.

But, if anything, their lack of empathy proves how important Martha's product is. "I had to have sheer grit, perseverance, determination, and belief," she says. "There are so many things that can and have gone wrong."

Focus on what you can control

Whether it's dealing with explosions in a faraway port or a lack of stock, Martha says that running FabLittleBag has taken over her life. She's had to don multiple business hats and get stuck into areas she had no experience in, including marketing, branding, and logistics. "Not my favourite part!" She admits. Her biggest lesson from the whole process? "Ultimately, some things are just beyond your control."

That's not to say she's mastered keeping her cool when things go wrong. "I'm not sure that being an entrepreneur is good for your health!" She says. Despite intending to begin her day with yoga and meditation, the demands of her business often see her reaching for her phone to start work instead. In non-COVID times, she lets off steam by watching her local team play football or sharing wine and food with friends, family or her husband.

Ending period awkwardness

But it's all worthwhile when customers fall in love with her product. "People tell me that FabLittleBag has changed their life and their experience of managing their periods. I'll never get over how emotional the feedback can be and how much of an issue the disposal of period products is for so many people."

Change begins with a thought

If you haven't quite figured out your own life-changing invention yet, no stress. "You don't need to invent a new product to make a difference!" says Martha. "The world will benefit most if the majority of people make small changes rather than a minority of people making big changes."

She encourages us to start with one or two eco-swaps that fit with our existing habits to avoid feeling overwhelmed. "Making a difference starts with a thought, followed by an action. Then all we have to do is repeat that action." When those initial swaps have taken shape, add in a couple more.

2020 held a significant personal milestone for Martha; she turned fifty. "It's slightly shocking to me!" Then, there was COVID. Martha pivoted away from business partnerships in favour of encouraging consumers to pick up her product. Martha hopes 2022 brings plenty of growth for FabLittleBag and the conversion of more flushers to binners in the name of keeping the oceans clean.

Follow Martha's journey and check out FabLittleBag.

All photos courtesy of FabLittleBag and Dustan Woodhouse.