KAIST-founded startup's plastic-free pad named among Time's best inventions of 2026

The product replaces plastic absorbents with plant-derived materials and has sold more than 83 million units

A sanitary pad developed by four female scientists from KAIST has been named one of Time magazine's Best Inventions of 2026, joining products from Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics on the global list. The pad replaces the plastic absorbents found in conventional pads with plant-derived materials.

South Korean femtech startup Innertia announced Wednesday that its pad, The Prism, was selected in the health and wellness category of Time's Best Inventions of 2026.

Time introduced The Prism as a "plastic-free period product" in its list published Oct. 15 (local time). The magazine highlighted the product as an alternative to conventional period products, noting cases in which per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — so-called "forever chemicals" — had been detected in some feminine hygiene products.

The Prism's core technology is Labocell, a plant-derived cellulose absorbent developed in-house by Innertia.

Rather than the synthetic polymer absorbents used in conventional pads, Labocell achieves its absorbency through cellulose extracted from plants. The cover layer that sits directly against the skin uses organic cotton. Time described Labocell as a plant-based material that is both highly absorbent and biodegradable.

The Prism sanitary pad developed by Innertia. [Innertia]

Innertia was founded in 2021 by four female scientists from KAIST. The company set out to transform the materials used in sanitary pads — products women use every month — by applying science and technology from the ground up.

Co-founder Lee Seung-min told Time in an interview that the idea came from a simple question: "Why are we still using the same pads our mothers used?"

The technology has translated into strong market results. The Prism has sold a cumulative 83 million units in South Korea through October this year, and the company's total sales have surpassed 50 billion won ($37.3 million), Innertia said.

Earlier this year, the company entered the US market and is now selling through online platforms including TikTok Shop and Amazon.

Time selects innovative products and technologies from around the world each year, evaluating them on originality, effectiveness, ambition and impact. This year's list featured 300 inventions and 100 special mentions.

South Korean entries included Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S26 Ultra, Bespoke AI Family Hub and Odyssey G8, as well as LG Electronics' Signature OLED W. Innertia stood out as a women's health startup among a domestic lineup otherwise dominated by large conglomerates.

"Sanitary pads are a category where material innovation has been slow for decades," CEO Kim Hyo-i said. "It is meaningful that Time recognized what happens when female scientists redesign the absorbent from scratch, as consumers themselves."

Kim said the company would use the United States as a springboard to prove its mission — bringing science and technology to women's everyday lives — in global markets.

nbgkoo@heraldcorp.com