Femtech startup Hoopsy secures Superdrug listing
With 12.5 million home pregnancy tests completed in the UK each year, the founder of Femtech startup Hoopsy, realised the shocking amount of plastic waste being sent to landfill and spotted a gap in the market for an eco test.
Serial entrepreneur Lara Solomon is the brains behind the brand, which manufactures eco pregnancy tests made of 99% paper.
Once in landfill, polypropylene slowly degrades and can take anywhere from 20 to 30 years to completely break down. This poses environmental concerns because the additives used in the manufacturing may include toxins like cadmium and lead.
Lara created Hoopsy following her own journey of trying to conceive a baby aged 45 and single via IVF and embryo donation.
Lara explains: “It was during one of my embryo donation procedures at a clinic in Spain that I realised how many times women who’re trying to conceive test using plastic pregnancy tests. When I looked into how many plastic tests were being thrown into landfill each year, I knew I needed to take action, so I decided to try and see if I could find a way to manufacture eco pregnancy tests out of paper.”
The paper test can be cut in half - the part which is urinated on goes in the bin and the other half in paper recycling. The cardboard packaging can be recycled in paper recycling and the pouch the test comes in can be recycled in soft plastics at the supermarket.
A crowdfunding campaign on Microwd in July raised £132,479 which will be used to expand the team, fund the next production run and develop a new version of the product which will be even more environmentally friendly.
Lara added: “My goal with Hoopsy is to provide sustainable healthcare products that help women, their partners, and the planet. Knowing that every test we sell means one less plastic test thrown in the bin, is what makes me jump out of bed each morning.”
The tests have an hCG sensitivity of 25mIU/ml and are over 99% accurate from the day of an expected period. Clinical trials have taken place to prove the accuracy and laboratory tests to ensure the sensitivity levels of the tests. It’s also registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
