Why I Volunteer for SHE: Meet Michael Moscherosch

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My background is in chemistry and I’ve been with J&J for 22 years. I worked for many years in in product development for feminine hygiene products. Now my focus is more on external innovation, sustainability and social innovation.

How did you find out about SHE?

We heard about SHE’s approach to make affordable napkins from banana fibers and we reached out to Elizabeth Scharpf and offered our help.

What project have you been working on with SHE? How are you using your skills and talents to help advance SHE’s mission?

We began by improving the current process so that the products met the Rwandan Standards Board requirements. I then made a trip to Rwanda in September 2015, which helped us develop a new processes and equipment to increase production at the manufacturing site in Ngoma. I also participated in consumer research to refine the go! pad and its packaging to meet environmental standards. I also helped improve banana fiber quality.

What are some highlights of your volunteer work with SHE?

Having Dany visit us in NJ, visiting the manufacturing site in Ngoma, and visiting a banana cooperative and see how the fibers are produced.

What should people know about SHE?

One of SHE’s goals is to profitably manufacture menstrual pads in developing countries. The goal is to create a financially sustainable business model that is scalable and can be implemented in other banana growing regions in the developing world where women and girls have no access to safe and affordable sanitary napkins.