Dartmouth-based Aruna Revolution, a women-led company that makes compostable sanitary products from plants, last week raised money on the popular television show Dragons’ Den.
The Aruna team asked the Den’s investors for $250,000 for a 10 percent share in the business. After negotiations, Dragons Michele Romanow and Manjit Minhas partnered up and offered $300,000 for 25 percent of the company, which was accepted.
Aruna is tackling the environmental impacts of traditional hygiene products, which contribute to global waste, water pollution, and soil degradation, the company said in a press release.
In North America alone, 20 billion menstrual products and their packaging end up in landfills annually, the company said.
“Our mission is deeply rooted in inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation,” said CEO Rashmi Prakash.
“We are building a future where healthcare solutions not only reduce environmental harm but also foster equity and accessibility for all.”
Prakash, previously an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Biomedical Engineering, launched the company in 2020 with fellow UBC graduate Lanna Last.
“The (menstrual) products on the market don't meet our needs,” Prakash once told an audience of conference-goers. “They contain harmful chemicals that are known to cause cancer, and they last on this planet for over 500 years…"
By 2030, Aruna predicts that its products could prevent the release of as much carbon dioxide as nearly 2,000 trees would absorb over 10 years.
The company’s name, Aruna— symbolizing a new dawn—reflects a commitment to holistic solutions inspired by Indian traditions, the company said.
Its team includes staff from universities such as Dalhousie, Saint Mary's, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Manitoba.
Last year, Aruna participated in Accelerate, Invest NS’s program for pre-market startups that comes with $40,000 of funding.
The company is now looking at producing compostable tampons, panty liners, diapers and incontinence pads.
