The Menstrual Health Market pt. 1 with Jan O'Regan

In this episode of ‘Attached to Hygiene’, Jan O'Regan, outgoing Director of Nonwovens Marketing for Cotton Incorporated, helps us view the full scope of the menstrual health market. Today’s topic: the cultural, religious, and commercial factors that play a role in how women make their feminine hygiene choices. Listen as Jan and host, Jack Hughes, have a conversation about a variety of related subjects. Included in the discussion: What do consumers expect from the brands they purchase? Why are certain brands leading the way? What are the biggest opportunities for market growth?

Continuing Cotton Incorporated’s Hygienix Conversation

This podcast interview elaborates on the presentation Cotton Incorporated gave at the annual Hygienix Conference in November of 2021, giving you additional information on the nonwoven markets and economic trends occurring today. Jan and Jack talk more in-depth about the research results conducted on qualitative focus groups from nine different countries. They delve into how this research gives us a better understanding of the global market for feminine hygiene products. 

For example, it was found that menstruation first occurs to women at an average of 12 years and 10 months old. This period lasts 5 days (again, on average), and menstruators may use as many as 12 period products in that time. 

Overall, this is a fast-moving, ever-evolving market with many opportunities for new brands. In fact, the menstrual health market is expected to grow by 25% from 2019 to 2024. Currently, China holds the biggest market for feminine hygiene products. India, on the other hand, is expected to continue as the fastest-growing region in the market. Understanding the changing needs and preferences of feminine hygiene consumers worldwide has the potential to offer great benefits for you as a manufacturer. This knowledge can prove helpful as you evaluate your current product line and explore future designs.

 

Go to Episode

 

Outline of the Episode

• [04:47] Cotton Incorporated, dedicated to research and marketing of all aspects of 'cotton'
• [06:34] Overview of Cotton Incorporated’s presentation at the annual Hygienix Conference
• [09:18] The countries that serve the biggest feminine hygiene markets
• [13:37] What can developing countries contribute to this market's continuous growth?
• [15:06] Why should the feminine hygiene market pay attention to Africa?
• [18:00] How cultural and religious factors affect the market    
• [22:02] Which brands are succeeding in the marketplace and why
• [24:01] Opportunities for new brands entering the marketplace
• [28:02] Feminine hygiene is a quick-moving market that comes with a lot of opportunities for growth

Recommended Resources

You can find Jan O'Regan on LinkedIn. (As this episode airs, Meghan Holliday will succeed Jan as Director of Nonwovens Marketing at Cotton Incorporated.)  You can contact Meghan on LinkedIn or via her email at [email protected].

Check out Cotton Incorporated’s B2B resource hub, CottonWorks™. For more information on Cotton's efforts around sustainability, visit consumer-facing, Cotton Today or B2B site, Cotton Sustainability | CottonWorks™.

Cotton Incorporated is also on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

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You can email us with questions, comments, or ideas for future episodes at [email protected].

Host: Jack Hughes

Music by Jonathan Boyle

Produced and edited by: Jack Hughes with help from Paul Andrews, Michele Tonkovitz, Emory Churness, Nikki Ackerman, and Green Onion Creative.