At a Glance

Location: Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Impact Areas: Employment Generation, Menstrual Dignity, Circular Economy

People Supported:
Women, Black Community, Indigenous Peoples

NESsT Program: Racial Equity Initiative

Joined NESsT Portfolio:
2025

instagram.com/ecociclo

Overview

Every day, more than 800 million people around the world menstruate — yet millions still lack access to safe, dignified, and sustainable menstrual products. In Brazil, billions of disposable sanitary pads are consumed each year (estimates suggest up to 15 billion). Yet many struggle to afford basic menstrual products, particularly Black, Indigenous, and low-income people. Conventional disposable pads can take up to 500 years to decompose, generating plastic waste that pollutes soil and oceans while excluding vulnerable women from the economic value chain. 

EcoCiclo was founded in 2019 by Hellen Nzinga, Adriele Menezes, and Patrícia Zanella, three Black women from northeastern Brazil who set out to tackle menstrual poverty through innovation, sustainability, and inclusion. The company developed Brazil’s first 100% biodegradable sanitary pad, made from bamboo and natural cellulose that fully decomposes within six months. 

EcoCiclo brings together menstrual dignity, environmental health, and women’s economic empowerment through a local, community-based production model. Grassroots minicenters in Bahia, São Paulo, and Amazonas train and employ women from under-represented communities to produce biodegradable pads, menstrual underwear, and swimsuits. The company also offers menstrual and environmental education programs to local communities, strengthening local leadership and awareness. 

EcoCiclo operates through two complementary business lines: B2B projects––where companies and institutions purchase menstrual kits and educational programs aligned with ESG goals––and B2C sales, which bring biodegradable menstrual products and self-care items directly to consumers via e-commerce, retail, and community channels. 

NESsT Investment

EcoCiclo has exhibited its track record of innovation and leadership in racial, gender, and climate justice, creating a scalable model for inclusive, sustainable menstrual care.  

NESsT’s investment in EcoCiclo will support expanding its production capacity, activating its B2C sales channels, and strengthening governance, financial management, and impact measurement systems. 

During its time in the Racial Equity Initiative, NESsT will support EcoCiclo in structuring marketing and sales strategies for new menstrual care lifestyle products, establishing an advisory board and improving governance transparency, strengthening financial planning and access to additional capital, and developing robust systems for monitoring and communicating social and environmental impact.