Technology
The technology in SunPad was originally developed by our research team at Cardiff University, as part of a project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Project Lead..
Dr Jennifer Edwards
“SunPad was originally inspired by my experiences during motherhood, when I had 3 children aged 4 and under. Seeking eco-friendly alternatives, we chose to use reusable nappies but quickly realised the challenges of keeping them clean and odour-free. With my expertise in catalysis, I knew there had to be a more convenient and less energy intensive way to sanitise this type of product”.
Exciting times
SunPad heads to Nepal
To realise our vision of creating a transformative, self-sanitising period product, we assembled a team with the necessary expertise to drive innovation.
Over the past year, Team SunPad has significantly expanded its membership and capabilities. It now includes 11 UK-based researchers, as well as project delivery partners in Nepal. Our team’s expertise spans materials science, catalysis, microbiology, psychology, and clinical trial design.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, Team SunPad will be conducting pilot studies in Nepal. This will allow us to assess the product’s effectiveness in rural communities and gather valuable feedback from end-users.
This will help us to refine SunPad to ensure it meets the practical needs of women and girls in developing regions.
THE product
SunPad prototype
SunPad’s coating is designed to be applied to cellulosic fibres, such as cotton, hemp and flax. The coating is easy to apply, either before or after sewing, adding flexibility to the manufacturing process.
What we consist of..
Work with us
Our team’s expertise spans materials science, catalysis, infection prevention, and clinical trials research. With a portfolio of over 500 peer-reviewed publications, we are committed to the pursuit of excellence in our efforts.
We understand the importance of collaboration to drive innovation and are seeking strategic partnerships with organisations throughout the value chain. To deliver on our mission of advancing global health, we are particularly keen to engage with the following sectors:
We seek collaboration with manufacturers experienced in large-scale sol-gel processes.
We have produced prototypes using a pilot line and aim to collaborate with textile finishing mills, especially those in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia. We aim to understand your technical requirements for scaling up SunPad textile production. Our finishing solution is optimised for safety and minimal hazardous off-gassing risk and can be easily applied to cellulosic fibres using a padding process.
We invite small and medium enterprises experienced in ethical garment manufacturing practices to collaborate with us. Ensuring fair wages for producers is integral to our mission.
Individuals and entities interested in distributing our innovation are encouraged to collaborate with us. We aim to understand how SunPad can align with your existing supply chain and cost requirements for distribution in your region.
We recognise that photocatalytic materials have many other potential applications, some of which are better suited to high-income countries. If you’re interested in investing in or licensing SunPad technology, please get in touch.
We also welcome the support of B Corps, social enterprises and other entities seeking to increase their social impact. Developed through charitable funding, SunPad technology will be freely licensed to menstrual product producers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) on a humanitarian basis. We aim to facilitate partnerships between your brand and local producers to drive meaningful change.
