Shelbie Harris
News Editor
Company initiated delivery and disposal subscription services have infiltrated markets for shaving equipment, ink cartridges and beauty products providing consumers with convenience while simultaneously limiting environmental impact.
At a conference held at San Diego State University, one team consisting of two ISU economics club members, Sydney Axtell, club president, and Yaritza Labra, a club member, proposed a product that could potentially eliminate 0.5 percent of waste contained in landfills.
“We found that 0.5 percent of a woman’s waste during their menses part of their life is [feminine] hygiene products,” said Axtell. “A half of one percent doesn’t sound like a lot, but actually half a percent of the items contained in landfills are plastic cups and plates, which considering is an insane amount.”
Over seven million tampons and 12 billion pads end up polluting U.S. landfills annually.
“Mothered Earth” is a subscription-based menses-product delivery service that will send out one-hundred percent compostable women’s hygiene products once a month. Delivered in an inconspicuous compostable container, women will put used products back in the container then simply ship it back to the company.
“My first thought was this area of the body has the capacity to grow a human life so it’s obviously insanely nutrient rich,” Axtell said. “I think we all know that, but we don’t really think about it, let alone say it aloud, so I decided ‘why don’t we turn this into dirt?’”
A box containing used products is not compostable by itself, but the company will add worms and waste from local sustainable restaurants in order to complete the process, turning pads and tampons into an incredibly nutrient rich soil.
Axtell was surprised the service didn’t receive questions from judges regarding diseases, but explained that used products are completely disease free after 48 hours following discharge.
The “Mothered Earth” logo is a flower with two leaves coming off in a way, resembling ovaries, accompanied by the tagline, “It’s Bloody Fantastic.” The team only had one male member, and Axtell excitedly convinced him to say, “We’re going from ‘vagies’ to veggies,” in front of 200 people.
“When you get past the taboo and stigma associated with menstrual blood, it’s just like everything else,” said Axtell.
Though placement awards weren’t part of the conference, “Mothered Earth” won most innovative idea.
The conference, A Place at the Table 2015 (APATT15) featured teams ranging from six to eight members consisting of one corporate leader, one policy maker, one non-profit professional and four students.
The goal was to collaboratively develop a tangible and sustainable solution to a conservation related issue of their choosing.
There is no denying the environment is constantly changing. However, as the environment changes, so does the need to become increasingly aware of the problems surrounding it. Concerns such as global warming, overpopulation, natural resource depletion, waste disposal and pollution are constantly shaping the planet over seven billion people currently call home.
A team with an additional member of the economics club, Jason Andersen, the club vice president, also left San Diego with an award from the conference for having the most impactful idea.
“Our group was given the problem of water harvesting,” said Andersen. “The most common method around this area or by [citizens] would be rain water collection.”
The idea would be something created and maintained on a smaller citizen-based scale, because according to Andersen, getting corporations to implement new practices is not always easy to accomplish.
The team identified the main problem facing water harvesting as storage, specifically for longer durations. After water sits for too long it risks contamination by algae and small insects.
Research shows ultraviolet light kills algae as long as it’s the single spore kind and also certain wave lengths of light kill fly larvae.
“So by using a light bar connected to a solar panel with a battery system we could have a zero impact, as far as energy cost, sustainable solution that would keep the water from contamination,” said Andersen.
The conference lasted two days with teams and conservation issues delegated the first day, and research and presentations the second.
Two keynote speakers, one of which was Lauren Singer who writes the blog “Trash is for Tossers,” and lives a waste free lifestyle in New York City, followed the presentations.
“All of the trash she has produced in the last three years of her life is contained within a 16 ounce mason jar,” said Axtell.
The economics team left San Diego with not only awards in two out of three categories, but also a better understanding of how economists can implement changes within society to battle market failure more effectively.
“My mom actually loved the idea so much that she wants to start marketing it,” said Axtell. “It would be insane to see this become a reality.”
