Make a Change – Reimagining Resources to End Period Poverty

Rhea-AI Summary

Glatfelter Corporation (NYSE: GLT) has partnered with Aakar Innovations to combat period poverty in India by providing menstrual products and creating job opportunities for women in rural areas. This initiative aims to supply 3 million menstrual pads, benefiting around 30,000 local women and girls over one year. Approximately 500 million women globally face period poverty, impacting education, particularly in India, where 70% of girls cannot afford sanitary products. The project aligns with Glatfelter's commitment to social sustainability and environmental responsibility, repurposing materials to further these goals.

Positive

• Partnership with Aakar Innovations to enhance access to period products in India.
• Creation of approximately 3 million menstrual pads from repurposed materials.
• Employment opportunities for around 150 women in rural areas of India.

Negative

• None.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glatfelter Corporation (NYSE: GLT), a leading global supplier of engineered materials, is proud to partner with Aakar Innovations (Aakar) from India, to increase access to period products for Indian women and girls while providing gainful employment to women in rural India through the conversion of Glatfelter’s repurposed airlaid materials. This initiative supplies period products to women who could not otherwise obtain these resources, promoting menstrual equity and advancing Glatfelter’s Core Values of Environmental and Social Responsibility.

Worldwide, 500 million women are estimated to be living in period poverty due to financial constraints or lack of access to adequate period products. In countries like India, many girls drop out of school once they reach puberty because they lack menstrual products. Additionally, approximately 70% of women and girls in India are unable to afford period products, which often leads to using harmful, unsafe alternatives.

“This project is Enhancing Everyday Life^® for women and girls by providing resources and means to access menstrual products to eliminate period poverty,” said Ramesh Shettigar, Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer of Glatfelter, who oversees the Company’s ESG strategy. “Through the Make a Change initiative, we are a repurposing material away from landfills, reducing our environmental impact and demonstrating our commitment to social sustainability and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

As part of the Company’s broader mission to advance sustainability efforts, Glatfelter has made several shipments of repurposed nonwoven material from its Gatineau, Canada facility to Aakar, which will be converted into menstrual pads by village-level entrepreneur women in India. This material will create approximately 3 million pads, ensuring nearly 30,000 local girls and women are period secure for one year. This project will provide access to those who may not have period products and also invests in women by supplying access to capital, training, and resources to generate a viable income. The conversion of Glatfelter material will help sustain the employment of roughly 150 local women working in independent villages.

“The lack of access to period products for rural girls in India threatens the country’s educational progress. Through this ongoing project, we can maximize the access girls have to menstrual products, allowing them to receive the education that is important to their futures,” said Jaydeep Mandal, Founder and Managing Director of Aakar.

About Glatfelter

Glatfelter is a leading global supplier of engineered materials with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability. The Company’s high quality, technology-driven, innovative, and customizable nonwovens solutions can be found in products that are Enhancing Everyday Life^®. These include personal care and hygiene products, food and beverage filtration, critical cleaning products, medical and personal protection, packaging products, as well as home improvement and industrial applications. Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, the Company’s 2021 net sales were $1.1 billion with approximately 3,250 employees worldwide. Glatfelter’s operations utilize a variety of manufacturing technologies including airlaid, wetlaid and spunlace with sixteen manufacturing sites located in the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and the Philippines. The Company has sales offices in all major geographies serving customers under the Glatfelter and Sontara^® brands. Additional information about Glatfelter may be found at www.glatfelter.com.

Contacts:
Investors:	Media:
Ramesh Shettigar	Eileen L. Beck
(717) 225-2746	(717) 225-2793

FAQ

What is the partnership between Glatfelter and Aakar Innovations about?

Glatfelter partnered with Aakar Innovations to increase access to menstrual products for women in India while providing employment to rural women.

How many menstrual pads will be produced through the Glatfelter and Aakar initiative?

The initiative aims to produce approximately 3 million menstrual pads.

What is the impact of period poverty in India according to Glatfelter's press release?

Approximately 70% of women and girls in India cannot afford period products, leading to school dropouts and health risks.

How does Glatfelter support social responsibility through this initiative?

Glatfelter's initiative promotes menstrual equity while repurposing materials and supporting women entrepreneurs in rural India.