ABOUT

Scenarium

Breast milk donations decreased about 5% during the pandemic. This corresponds to a monthly average of almost 200 liters less than what was normally collected.
2019 and 2020, the number of donors dropped from 188 thousand people to 156 thousand people, which led the amount of milk collected to dropped from 221 thousand liters to 191 thousand liters. Even before the pandemic, the levels of donated breast milk were still unable to supply newborns hospitalized in Neonatal ICUs.

Background

The low levels of breast milk stocks happen not only because of the low number of donations, but also because of contamination of the milk, which happens due to the lack of information about the use and handling of inappropriate packaging. Currently, 30% of human milk is lost in the donation process, between collection and receipt by the newborn.

Glass is the only material accepted and approved by SUS for donate (Brazilian Health System).

Idea

To alert the donor mothers about the importance of breast milk and avoid waste due to contamination, we partnered with a group of specialist doctors and a glass designer. So we created a new package that solves this problem and helps raise the levels of milk banks.

Just 1 ml of breast milk is enough for premature babies to survive for up to 1 day.

How does it works?

Through the extensive scientific and practical knowledge of the partner’s doctors, Dr. Andrea Fernandes (Coordinator of the Human Milk Bank Reference Center of the Metropolitan Region of Sao Paulo, Brazil), Dr. Cinthia Calsinski (Obstetric nurse, International Lactation Consultant) and Dr. Moises Chencinski (Pediatrician), a glass packaging was developed by the glass designer Elvira Schuartz with unique design that meets all sanitary prerequisites for storing breast milk, and avoiding handling of inappropriate packaging for donation.

Results

Milk banks are now ready to receive packages as well as provide it to donors,
enabling so then a not a single drop will be wasted.
One of Brazil’s largest baby product companies is closing a mass production
deal and, along with sales, make packaging donations.