Olivia Ahn is a British medical doctor, innovator, and founder of Fluus. Fluus developed the world's first flushable sanitary pad, which launched in 2023. She is the winner of the Mayor of London's Entrepreneur Competition and the WE Innovate Program.
Olivia Ahn | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | Imperial College London |
| Website | wearefluus |
Education
editAhn studied medicine at the Imperial College London. She became angry at the feminine hygiene market and more concerned by environmental issues.[1] Frustrated by the impact of sanitary pads on the environment, she founded Planera during her final year of medical school.[2][3] She competed in entrepreneurial competitions at Imperial College London, securing financial support, mentorship, and sponsors.[4] Ahn has said that her biggest advice to budding entrepreneurs is to do consumer testing and validation: extensive in-house testing proved insufficient.[4]
Fluus
editEvery day, Europe sends 535 tonnes of sanitary pad plastic to landfill or incinerators.[4] Ahn developed a flushable sanitary pad that can be used and disposed of sustainably.[4][5] The sanitary pad is certified flushable, 100% biodegradable, and has the same environmental impact as toilet paper.[4] She achieved "certified flushable" status by working with the Water Research Centre.[6]
The pads launched in 2023, and take inspiration from hydrophobic surfaces in plants to direct water into a highly absorbent core.[6] The materials are plant-based, and include natural fibres, a biopolymer barrier, and non-toxic, tree-sap based adhesive.[7]
Awards and honours
edit- 2017 Althea-Imperial Programme Winner[8]
- 2018 Advanced Hackspace Grant[9]
- 2018 Mayor of London Entrepreneur Competition[10]
References
edit- ^ "Meet The Founder Behind The World's First Flushable Pad". ARTAH. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ "Planera Founder Dr. Olivia Ahn Talks Period Products and Sustainability at TEDxCambridgeUniversity". Retrieved 2024-02-27.
- ^ "Dr Olivia Ahn, Co-Founder and CEO of Planera on Creating Sustainable Products and the Role of FMCG". 2021-03-10.
- ^ a b c d e "D/srupt Issue 3 by Imperial Enterprise Lab - Issuu". issuu.com. 2020-10-15. pp. 40–41. Retrieved 2024-02-27.
- ^ Sustainability: Where consumers & corporates compromise | Dr. Olivia Ahn | TEDxCambridgeUniversity, retrieved 2024-02-28
- ^ a b "Our Story". Fluus. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ "tech". Fluus. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ "Flower-petal-inspired menstrual pads crowned Althea 2017 winner | Imperial News | Imperial College London". Imperial News. 2017-03-23. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
- ^ Admin (2020-07-08). "Scores of Imperial students make semi-finals of Mayor's Entrepreneur competition". The Imperial College Advanced Hackspace. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
- ^ "Imperial startup developing flushable menstrual pads wins Mayor's competition | Imperial News | Imperial College London". Imperial News. 2018-04-11. Retrieved 2024-02-26.