L. Inc.
 | A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. (July 2017) |
 | |
| Industry | Personal care products |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Talia Frenkel |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
Area served | United States |
| Website | www |
This is L. Inc. (L.) is a privately held, California based social enterprise[1] and public-benefit corporation that makes organic personal care products. The company has a one-for-one give back model: for every product sold, one is made accessible to a person who needs it. L. has supported a network of over 4,000 female entrepreneurs[2] around the world and is on track to give over 200 million health products.[2][dead link] L. is the fastest growing feminine care company in the United States according to the market research group IRI.[3] On February 5, 2019, it was announced that P&G acquired This is L.[4]
History
[edit]L. was founded by Talia Frenkel, a photojournalist,[5] who worked for organizations such as the United Nations and Red Cross. Frenkel’s coverage of women's lack of access to reproductive rights and the effects of HIV/AIDS on young girls drove her to provide a sustainable solution to improving access to prevention. L. works with female entrepreneurs that distribute donated health products in Kenya, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Ghana, Guatemala, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Ecuador, Nepal, Cambodia, India, Papua New Guinea, and Lebanon.[6]
L. is funded by Y Combinator.[7]
L. has received coverage from press outlets including The Financial Times,[3] Forbes,[8] The New York Times,[8] Fast Company,[9] Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan,[10] and Glamour. L. has partnered with Planned Parenthood, Women’s Health,[11] Revlon,[12] and Refinery 29.
Products
[edit]L.’s feminine care line includes organic cotton tampons, menstrual pads, liners, and wipes. L.’s feminine care products are made with GOTS-certified organic cotton and are free of chlorine, pesticides, fragrances and dyes.[13]
L. condoms were made with low-protein latex. The latex was sourced local to the manufacturing facility and the packaging was made with 100% recyclable materials and vegetable-based inks. The condom packaging was intentionally gender-neutral.[14] Mid-2019, the company ceased production of prophylactics and began solely focusing on menstrual care products.[15]
References
[edit]- ^ "This is L. Inc. - B Corporation". www.bcorporation.net.
- ^ a b "Our Movement – L. - Ethical Personal Care Products, Delivered". L.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Organic tampons escalate battle in feminine care". Financial Times. 28 May 2018.
- ^ "Showing the power of startup women's health brands, P&G buys This is L". www.techcrunch.com. 5 Feb 2019.
- ^ Combinator, Y (27 January 2016). "L.'s Talia Frenkel on Turning a Concept Into a Company". Y Combinator.
- ^ "Our Movement". L.[dead link]
- ^ Geron, Tomio (30 April 2012). "Top Startup Incubators And Accelerators: Y Combinator Tops With $7.8 Billion In Value". Forbes.
- ^ a b "How Talia Frenkel is revolutionizing the condom". New York Times. 4 February 2016.
- ^ Turner, Jody (8 May 2011). "The Future-Forward Company Called "L"". The Fast Company.
- ^ Breslaw, Anna (9 July 2013). "Use These Woman-Friendly, Free Range, Organic Condoms For a Cause". Cosmopolitan.
- ^ "I Founded the 'Toms of Condoms'". Women's Health. 19 December 2016.
- ^ Lee, Jinnie (11 November 2014). "The Sexual Revolutionist – Talia Frenkel". Refinery 29.
- ^ "Period Products – SHOP – L. - Ethical Personal Care Products, Delivered". L.[dead link]
- ^ Simms, Molly (1 February 2016). "This Woman Just Made Condoms 10 Times Better". Huffington Post.
- ^ "Thanks for getting in touch about our condoms. We're sorry to break the news that we have discontinued making our condom line. We appreciate your interest in them, and I will be sure to pass along your inquiry". This is L. Official Twitter.