LUÜNA | B Corp™

Meet Danish Refino, a student at PolyU Hong Kong, who is passionate about breaking the stigma surrounding menstruation. Growing up in Jakarta, Danish witnessed firsthand the challenges of period taboos and to this day, sees many around her struggling to manage their menstrual health with little support. Danish tells us about her vision for a world free from stigma and shares her perspective on how we can collectively take steps toward this goal. Read her story on the blog below. ⭐ About this Series ⭐ #NineYears4Her is a community-driven storytelling initiative inspired by a McKinsey study that uncovered a startling reality: women spend an average of nine years of their lives in poor health. By amplifying voices from across Asia, we aim to raise awareness, advocate for change, and take decisive action to address the gender health gap and its profound impact on women, marginalised people and their communities across the region.

Last night, our five-year-old social enterprise stood amongst global giants at the Community Business awards, a finalist for the Achieving Gender Equality in Asia category and… …we won 🎉 It was a moment I will never forget, accepting the award in a room full of people I admire so deeply—individuals dedicating their time to advancing change across an intersection of so many critical issues. There are too many to name here, but so many of you are the reason LUÜNA | B Corp™ has been able to achieve what we have - I am so grateful to each and every one of you. This award is for the women and people who menstruate who have: 🩸Had to improvise a 'makeshift toilet roll pad' in the office and deliver a meeting with a wad of tissue between their legs - IYKYK 🩸Done the “walk of shame” in the office or school hallways, filled with anxiety that someone will notice the period product up their sleeve 🩸Sat in a toilet cubicle gritting teeth in pain, unable to convey their menstrual challenges to colleagues for fear of judgement, dismissal or discrimination 🩸Been told by a doctor that the symptoms negatively impacting their life on a regular basis are 'just bad period pain' 🩸Missed work, school or a meaningful event in their life because they cannot afford menstrual products 🩸Felt ashamed of their bodies because they menstruate. This award is for you. It is for all of us. Thank you also to Janet Ledger and the Community Business team for creating a platform where young social enterprises can stand shoulder to shoulder with institutional industry leaders. I will die on this hill: we need each other to survive, thrive and make impact. Lastly, my team - represented last night by the inspirational superstar that is Jayme Walker (Ellis). You are second-to-none. Not supporting menstrual health in your workplace yet? This is your sign to change that. Visit www.luuna.care to learn more.

🚨 Period poverty isn’t a distant issue; it’s a reality here in Hong Kong. Refugee families often receive only HK$1,200 in grocery vouchers each month, making it impossible to afford essential items like menstrual care. Last week, nearly 100 community members joined us for FLOW FORWARD, where Uzma Naveed shared powerful insights into the challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers. We are profoundly grateful to Uzma, the team at the Christian Action Centre for Refugees, and our event partner Maaike Steinebach from FemTech Future Limited. We also want to thank The Black Sheep Asia for providing the event space, as well as everyone who attended to support this gathering. Together, we are committed to ending period poverty in Hong Kong. Want to join our next event? Follow us for updates! #FlowForward #PeriodPoverty

✨ Grateful to have spent a wonderful afternoon with the team from our latest charity partner in Hong Kong, the Christian Action Centre for Refugees 🌆 Jayme, Danish and Olivia from our team and Christian Action team member, Uzma, shared a stunning view of Hong Kong Island from the rooftop of the Christian Action centre. We'll be working together to further tackle menstrual stigma and #PeriodPoverty in Hong Kong 💙 Watch this space!

It's amazing to see GIRLTALK students taking real action! It's a powerful example of how young leaders are driving awareness and tangible change in menstrual equity.   Well done to Chinese International School, Libby Alexander, Janet Humphris, and Mala Uttam for mentoring such an incredible next generation. This initiative truly reflects our mission of advancing gender equality through meaningful impact.

🌟 We're thrilled to celebrate the iconic Lee Kum Kee joining as a #PeriodEquityPartner in Hong Kong 🩸✨ Not only has Lee Kum Kee launched organic LUÜNA period products in their office washrooms, they also hosted a two-part workshop series to drive awareness around the importance of supporting team members at different life stages from menstruation through menopause🩸✨ During the second workshop, we were honoured to have an incredible panel of women and male allies from Lee Kum Kee who shared their experiences and insights on how to foster a more inclusive and supportive workplace for everyone. 💬  "Women's health is not a luxury, it's a right. As an employer, it's our responsibility to ensure that every woman in Lee Kum Kee has access to the resources and support she needs to prioritize her health and well-being." – Helen Y. Engagement Manager at Lee Kum Kee #PeriodFriendlyWorkplace  #MenstrualEquity #PeriodPositive  #GenderHealthGap  #WorkplaceWellness #Sustainability  #ESG

We are so proud to be partnering with Rentokil Initial, a leader in global facilities management, in taking the creation of menstruation-inclusive washrooms to new heights 👏

We cannot accept this as the reality for women within our community. Everyone deserves a period free from shame, stress, and inconvenience. Who’s ready to make this change happen? Raise your hand! ✋ HelperChoice

Spotted in HSBC washrooms 👀 🩸 Thank you to our long-standing period equity ally Kate Wood , not just for snapping this moment, but for advocating tirelessly over the years for LUÜNA to be part of office washrooms around Hong Kong 🙏

We need to talk about this👇 Kate Weston’s recent piece for Stylist Magazine powerfully sheds light on critical issues related to the gender health gap: 🩸 The widespread dismissal of menstrual pain which at LUÜNA we see so much in conversations with our community members, who have been dismissed countless times as 'just having bad period pain' by people in their lives, from managers to medical professionals 🩸 The overlooked link between menstrual and mental health 🩸 How everyday menstrual health is often ignored, despite its impact on so many aspects of everyday life Swipe for a few key quotes we've chosen from the piece 👉 Reproductive health is essential, but our well-being is about so much more than just fertility. And yet the importance of *everyday* menstrual health continue to be overlooked because of taboos, misconceptions and outdated practices. In order to ensure that women, girls and all menstruating people can truly thrive, we must insist on improved support for everyday menstrual health. Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/e9vHhH5k