Apart from plastic, they contain harsh chemicals that cause rashes or allergic reactions.

Now, the environment and women everywhere have a better alternative.

Bobble Sdn Bhd produces a line of sanitary pads, tampons and liners that are made of organic cotton, free of the chemicals and artificial fragrances typically found in products purchased at the supermarket.

The objective is to ensure that women do not put themselves at risk or harm the environment, Bobble founder Malisse Tan told FMT Business.

Bobble uses biodegradable materials in everything — from the product to the packaging.

These materials break down in an environment of high levels of oxygen, heat and bacteria — typically prevalent in waste management systems.

Tan has gone to great lengths to ensure that the products that emerge from Bobble meet high health and eco-friendly standards.

“Typically manufacturers bleach the synthetic fibres to make the sanitary pad as white as cotton,” she said.

But at Bobble, only cotton from Turkey that has been certified by the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) as sustainably harvested, is used.

Even the ink on its packaging is soy-based rather than the more commonly used petroleum-based alternative.

But Bobble’s mission goes beyond offering a high quality and environmentally friendly product. “(It’s about) how we can shift the narrative in this space, break taboo and stigma (around menstruation),” Tan said.

How it all began

The Bobble sanitary pad was introduced to the market in 2019, but its story began two years earlier, when Tan was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“Back then, my daughter Aleya was only four weeks old,” she recalled.

During the six months of chemotherapy, Tan reflected on what she had been using and consuming, and the need to change now that she had a family.

For health reasons, she switched to natural alternatives from detergents to personal care items such as soap.

That was when she made the startling discovery that chemicals were used in sanitary pads.

“Natural or organic ones (were found only) in the US, UK and Australia,” she said.

That started her on a search for a better alternative and 18 months and a leap of faith later, Bobble was launched.

A purpose-driven enterprise 

Tan was determined to make an impact now that she had been given a new lease of life.

Digging deep into her own experience as a seasoned entrepreneur — she already had two start-ups prior to Bobble — she started work on what was to become a go-to essential item for women who care about the environment and their own well-being.

But being a mother meant she could not take the same level of risk she did before, so she worked on Bobble on the side while still employed in an innovation consulting firm.

But when Covid-19 hit, she lost her job, forcing her to focus full-time on Bobble. A year later, it was officially launched.

“Periods don’t stop for pandemics so we were able to sustain and grow,” she said.

Growing to deliver more impact

Bobble registered a 170% rise in revenue from 2021 to 2022, with online sale contributing 70% of the total.

It also widened its presence from five retail outlets to more than 30 in 2022. Its products are available at boutique supermarket chains like Qra or zero-waste stores like The Hive.

Bobble products now sell in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei and there are plans to expand regionally through partnerships with retailers.

In the pipeline are more sustainable period care alternatives such as menstrual cups as well as complementary items such as topical cramp relief.

Fully aware that biodegradable pads still produce waste, Bobble is working on developing re-usable alternatives.

The company also works with businesses to provide its products for distribution to employees and to conduct workshops on feminine hygiene.

Next, it is looking at expanding to schools and universities.

To achieve its goals, Bobble has already begun seeking funds from a few angel investors.

But Tan also wants to ensure that investors share her ideals, which is to make a difference in the period care space.

“We want a future where our children no longer find menstruation a taboo,” she said.

More information on Bobble products is available here.