Anyone can be affected by precariousness. Women often even more severely. On top of all the struggles to access food, housing, and healthcare, every month they have to find the money for their period products, which are essential for their dignity.
Yet, offering them is rarely thought of. This is why the association Règles Élémentaires was created — and because it is a cause that particularly touches us, we have been supporting them since the creation of Luneale.
Article Summary
1- Who is Règles Élémentaires?
Règles Élémentaires is a non-profit organization created in 2015 by Tara Heuzé, which helps homeless women or those in poor housing situations gain access to better menstrual health.
To achieve this, the association:
- communicates on this topic to raise public awareness and make people realize its importance;
- organizes temporary or permanent collections of period products;
- redistributes the proceeds of its collections to third-party associations (Samu Social, Restos du Cœur, Croix Rouge, Secours Populaire...), because these associations receive few donations of this type of product.
2- History of the Luneale x Règles Élémentaires partnership
The association was launched in November 2015, at the same time we started selling La Cup Luneale. We were already sensitive to the issue, as we were following initiatives launched in England — notably Homeless Period, from which Tara drew inspiration during her studies in the UK.
As soon as we heard about their launch, we reached out to them to see how we could help. But at that time, we concluded together that using cups is not really compatible with the lives of people on the streets.
And then, a stroke of genius: since more than 90% of people who switch to the cup abandon disposable products, what do they do with the ones left in their cupboards? They send them to us, so we can collect them for the benefit of Règles Élémentaires!
The association's teams were thrilled with the idea. To launch the operation, we created this short film, broadcasted on social networks.
3- Great results thanks to you!
Since then, we have collected thousands of period products thanks to you. You mobilized — sometimes huge packages, sometimes envelopes with 3 tampons — every gesture counts and touches us deeply.
To go further, we started accompanying the association's teams during gynecological drop-in centers for vulnerable people, to inform them about alternative products. Luneale provided a cup to those who wanted one. The people we met lived mostly in slums and rarely had access to drinking water — which is necessary to use sustainable products safely. The cup has its limits, we are aware of that.
We also spoke at the conference marking the 2nd anniversary of Règles Élémentaires, alongside, among others, Élise Thiébaut (author of Ceci est mon Sang), Juliette Boutillier (author of the documentary Rouge Comme les Règles on France Culture) and Martin Besson, founder of the magazine Sans A_.
4- How to help Règles Élémentaires?
If you want to help, it's very simple:
- Go to their website to check if there is a collection point near you.
- If there isn't one, you can send your products to the following address:
Règles Élémentaires x Luneale
La Cité Audacieuse
9 rue de Vaugirard
75006 Paris
What can you send?
Only tampons, pads, and panty liners. Packages can be open or closed, you can even send them loose if the outer packaging is clean.
How to help if you can't send products?
Anything is possible: talk about the initiative around you, organize a temporary collection in a supermarket, suggest that your employer install a permanent collection box in your company... Every little gesture counts!
This partnership takes on its full meaning thanks to you. A huge thank you from all those for whom it will no longer be necessary to choose between buying period products and buying food.
