OFFICEMAX AND ESSITY PARTNER TO DELIVER GOVERNMENT’S IKURA PERIOD PRODUCTS IN SCHOOLS’ INITIATIVE

Free period products provided to 200,000+ students through strategic partnership leveraging OfficeMax education networks and distribution and Essity innovation and experience in period care supported by the Ministry of Education.

Auckland, New Zealand – OfficeMax, New Zealand’s leading workplace and education solutions provider, together with Essity, a leader in period care and the company behind well-known brands, Libra and TOM Organic, have been selected to jointly deliver the Government’s Ikura | Manaakitia te whare tangata - Period products in schools initiative.

The initiative is designed to provide free period products to more than 200,000 children and young people in state and state-integrated schools and kura across Aotearoa, New Zealand. It will seek to break down stigmas tied to periods and is another positive step to providing equal health and well-being outcomes for all, regardless of gender or economic status.

Managing Director of OfficeMax, Kevin Obern, says that he and his team are delighted to be partnering with Essity and the Ministry of Education, to deliver such a meaningful and important initiative. “From research, we know that there are many barriers to period care, which result in education or participation in sports being compromised. We’re certain that Ikura will truly be a life changing initiative for many students in Aotearoa.”

While Essity will be responsible for developing white label period products and installing its TORK dispenser solutions, OfficeMax will leverage its distribution expertise and relationships with New Zealand schools and kura to lead on product replenishment in each of the 1,965 schools who have opted into the initiative.

“We are committed to using our extensive school’s network, experience working within the education sector and existing distribution systems, to make the initiative a seamless and positive experience for all those schools involved,” continues Mr Obern.

“As the largest distributor of educational products in New Zealand, we’re fortunate that 96 percent of the schools enrolled in the Ikura initiative already have active accounts with us, as well as established relationships with our team of 20 education account managers. This will enable us to streamline the implementation of the contract, helping schools be more time efficient and removing the requirement for any additional suppliers.

“Once the dispensers are installed in eligible schools, our OfficeMax Education team will simply integrate the initiative into ongoing interactions that they are already having with schools,” he adds.

Essity’s Executive General Manager, B2B, Jody Scaife, says that with a long history of innovation in period care, Essity understands the needs of menstruators and the barriers that exist for them.

“Our research has found that six in ten* female students in New Zealand admit to having been without period care products at school and that’s simply not good enough. This not only affect wellbeing of students but can also impact on them being able to attend school. We are honoured to be partnering with OfficeMax, whose relationships and understanding of the education sector are second to none, and working alongside the Ministry of Education, to ensure that we can work together to close this gap,” she says.

The contract has commenced with immediate effect.