More than selling menstrual cups to M’sians, they actively try to break taboos about them

Menstrual cups have been known to be a zero-waste, cost-saving choice for those experiencing periods. Unlike pads or tampons, one simply has to purchase a cup, allowing them to save on other menstrual hygiene products for the next 10 years.

However, there are misconceptions about the cups, one of them being that inserting these products will cause one to lose their virginity.

“We figured that the reason people aren’t giving menstrual cups a try, especially the Malay market, is because the idea is too foreign/taboo,” said Izzati, co-founder of Suci Cup.

“We wanted to solve this problem by clearing the misunderstandings due to culture by getting facts from Islamic and medical perspectives so that the uptake of menstrual cups is faster among the Malays.”

Breaking taboos through education

On top of selling menstrual cups on their site, Suci Cup also produces content in English and Malay to educate Malaysians about the cups and menstruation.

“We also want to be approachable and speak the same language as our users so that asking questions and getting support is easy for them,” Izzati told Vulcan Post.

The beginning of Suci Cup came after the pandemic caused the closure of Izzati’s first zero waste venture, Refill Houz. Around the same time, her youngest team member was the first of the group to give the cup a try out of personal interest and found herself converted.

While Izzati knew of menstrual cups as an alternative, she was perfectly content using reusable pads, but after being told how liberating the cup can be, Izzati’s ideas were challenged. Soon, she and her entire team were menstrual cup users, wondering why they hadn’t started using them sooner; it’s a sentiment echoed by Suci Cup’s customers today.

“So, we figured that there are many more Malaysians like us who are missing out. This is why we started Suci Cup. We wanted to share with more Malaysians in a way that they can relate and accept easily, which is by breaking the taboo,” Izzati emphasised.

In December 2020, Refill Houz pivoted to Suci Cup with a mission to break the period taboo and normalise the use of menstrual cups for Malaysian women. 

Getting the fit right

While Suci Cup outsources the manufacturing for its products, the main stand-out point of the business is in the brand’s educational content on its site and social media, as per the above.

But that’s not to say that their menstrual cups are of low quality either. Manufactured in the US and FDA registered, the cups are made of 100% medical-grade silicone, which provides soft but firm flexibility for comfortable insertion.

A personal concern I have in buying the cup is the possibility of not liking it in the end, which will go to waste. While returns are practised with some menstrual cup companies, Suci Cup unfortunately doesn’t allow for it to ensure all their products are hygienic when shipped to customers.

“As for the concern of buying it and not liking it in the end, I guess it’s similar to buying high-end lingerie and turns out, it doesn’t work for you,” shared Izzati. This is where Suci Cup’s educational content comes in handy to help you prepare and pick what you think would suit you best.

Sold in 2 sizes, Suci Cup provides a comprehensive sizing guide on its site so that customers are informed and aware of which to use without too much discomfort.

Caring for the cups is simple too. Before and after using it for a period cycle, cups must be sterilised in boiling water. During menstruation, one must simply remove it, empty it, rinse it with water, and reinsert it. 

Following these steps and storing them away from heat will ensure the cups last for at least 10 years.

“Unfortunately, silicone will not break down (when disposed of), but this alternative will help a woman save 1,440 worth of pads/tampons in 10 years or more from going to the landfill,” Izzati pointed out. 

Suci Cups are priced at RM94.50 each or RM170 for a twin pack. However, The Hive also has its own Malaysian menstrual cup called The Hivette Menstrual Cup, which costs slightly cheaper at RM80 for either a 25ml or 35ml size.

Saving the environment = saving money

Despite launching online in a pandemic, the cards Suci Cup was dealt with actually worked in their favour. “People want to save money and one of the simple ways is by reducing the cost of period products,” Izzati told Vulcan Post. 

Although its team couldn’t provide the exact figures of their revenue, Izzati shared that they’ve sold out 2 batches of their stocks and are restocking for their third batch of orders.

“People are becoming more accepting of the idea,” she said gratefully. 

Our goal is zero waste. We all are very passionate about it. The sooner Malaysian women opt to use the Suci Cup, the faster we reduce period waste. This is our ultimate goal. Along the way, we may look into developing other products to complement our existing product or we may look into new product lines to grow the Suci, a ‘Period with Confidence’ brand.

Nor Izzati Nordin, co-founder, director of business development at Suci Cup

• You can learn more about Suci Cup here.
• You can read about other Malaysian startups here.

Featured Image Credit: The team at Suci Cup