Project to Support Each Individual's Menstruation Enters its 5th Year! Applications for "Scholarship Napkin® 2026" to Provide 1 Year's Worth of Sanitary Napkins Free of Charge Begin on Wednesday, April 8th for the 2026 Academic Year

Daio Paper Corporation (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), which develops "Elleair," the No. 1 brand of sanitary paper products*1, is implementing "Scholarship Napkin," a program that provides sanitary napkins free of charge for one year to 2,000 students who have difficulty obtaining sanitary products for various reasons. Applications for 2,000 scholarship students for the 2026 academic year will begin on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

■ About the "Scholarship Napkin" 2026 Recruitment

"Scholarship Napkin" is implemented as part of the "meet my elis" project, which started in 2022 to respect diversity and support each individual's menstruation, and this year marks its fifth year. In the four previous implementations, we have received over 20,000 applications in total and have distributed sanitary napkins free of charge to 8,000 students. This initiative has also received endorsement from over 25 companies and organizations.

Positive changes have been observed from scholarship students*2 who have participated so far, such as improved hygiene due to increased frequency of changing and reduced financial burden due to the free provision of sanitary napkins for one year. In "Scholarship Napkin 2025," many scholarship students commented, "I can change them without worrying about the number" and "I can change them whenever I want, which gives me peace of mind"*3.

Our survey*4 on experiences where school events and menstruation overlapped and caused difficulties revealed that approximately 90% (88.2%) of respondents answered "yes," and approximately 70% (67.1%) of respondents said that their activities in sports festivals and athletic meets were restricted during menstruation, indicating that many people are affected in their school life.

Through "Scholarship Napkin," which provides sanitary napkins free of charge for one year, "Elis" hopes to reduce the difficulties associated with menstruation as much as possible and help everyone live a worry-free daily life. Therefore, applications for scholarship students for the 2026 academic year will begin on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, on a special website. In "Scholarship Napkin 2026," we will continue to conduct surveys targeting scholarship students to further promote activities that support each individual's menstruation.

*1: Intage SRI+ total of tissue market, toilet paper market, kitchen paper market, and paper towel market (January-December 2025, sales amount by manufacturer)

*2: According to our survey, conducted from 2022 to December 2025, from "Survey on Menstruation" (Target: "Scholarship students who won Scholarship Napkin" Sample size: 4,261 people)

*3: According to our survey, conducted in December 2025, from "Survey on Menstruation" (Target: "Scholarship Napkin" winners Sample size: 999 people)

*4: According to our survey, conducted in August 2025, from "Survey on Menstruation" (Target: "Scholarship Napkin" winners Sample size: 999 people)

—Overview of "Scholarship Napkin" for 2026—

In recent years, "period poverty," where it is difficult to obtain sanitary products for various reasons such as financial and environmental aspects, has attracted attention. Therefore, "Elis," a sanitary product brand that supports each individual, has been implementing the "Scholarship Napkin" initiative since April 2022, providing one year's worth of sanitary napkins free of charge to students who have difficulty obtaining sanitary products. This year, in response to many requests for the continuation of the initiative, applications for scholarship students for the 2026 academic year will be accepted on a special website from Wednesday, April 8th.

■ Implementation Details

【Application Period】 Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 10:00 AM 〜 Sunday, May 17, 2026, 11:59 PM

【How to Apply】 Answer approximately 10 questions about menstruation on the application form on the special "Scholarship Napkin" website below and apply.

【Eligible Applicants】 All students themselves who have difficulty obtaining sanitary products (Elementary School / Junior High School / High School / Technical College / Vocational School / Junior College / University / Other)

【Number of Applicants】 2,000 people

【Selection Method】 2,000 scholarship students will be selected based on the content of the questionnaire answered in the application form. Results will be notified by email.

【Provision Frequency】 One year's worth of sanitary napkins will be provided in early July.

【Products Provided】　

A. Set of "Elis Luna Fit" and "Elis Asa Made Cho Anshin"

B. Set of "Elis Compact Guard" and "Elis Asa Made Cho Anshin"

【Special Website】 https://www.elleair.jp/elis/meetmyelis-shogaku/

■ Implementation Schedule

＜2026＞

April 8 (Wed) 10:00 AM 〜 May 17 (Sun) 11:59 PM: Scholarship student recruitment (2,000 people)

Late June: Scholarship student selection

Early July: Delivery of sanitary napkins to 2,000 people

Around August: Mid-term questionnaire conducted

Around December: Final questionnaire conducted

■ Endorsing Companies and Organizations

"Scholarship Napkin" is currently endorsed by over 25 companies and organizations. We will continue to create opportunities to support each individual's menstruation in a diverse society, aiming to gain understanding and empathy from many more companies and organizations in the future.

【Examples of Endorsing Companies and Organizations】 *In no particular order

Tsuruha Drug / Kusuri no Fukutaro / Kirindo Pharmacy / Aruca Drugstore / Ohga Pharmacy / Himawari Co., Ltd. / NPO Mama's Cafe / Specified Non-profit Organization Gifu Tatai Net / .Style / Komazawa University / 4MOON / Yui Kikaku Kobo Co., Ltd. / Pola Inc. / Sugi Pharmacy / Sugiyama Yakuhin Co., Ltd. / LOHACO (operated by Askul Corporation) / MatsukiyoCocokara & Company / Matsumoto Kiyoshi Group / Cocokara Fine Group / Aeon Kyushu Co., Ltd. / Welcia Pharmacy Co., Ltd. / Inzai City Citizen Public Interest Activity Group Shake Hands / NPO Live Nagasaki / Hitorioya Cheers / Sapporo Nursing and Medical College / Tetote Hiroba

—Inquiries from the General Public Regarding This Matter—

"Elis Scholarship Napkin 2026 Secretariat"

MAIL：info@elis-shogaku.jp

Reception hours: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays, and New Year holidays)

Reception period: Wednesday, April 8, 2026, to Wednesday, March 31, 2027

*Inquiries are accepted only by email. It may take several days to respond depending on the content.

—What is the "meet my elis" project?—

"meet my elis" is a project launched by Elis, which advocates the brand message "Not for someone, but for you," to support each individual's menstruation in a diverse society.

It was named "meet my elis" with the desire for people who menstruate to understand and experience "a brand that values individuals and helps them find sanitary products that suit them." "Meet" implies an "encounter" with Elis's aspirations and products that suit oneself, and "my" implies "for me" rather than "for women." We value creating "fresh encounters" with the brand and products and will carry out various activities, including "Scholarship Napkin."

—About Elis—

■ Not for someone, but for you.

Elis advocates the brand message "Not for someone, but for you," and with the wish for many people who menstruate to live more authentically, it breaks away from conventional wisdom and supports each individual's values and lifestyles.

The Daio Group aims to contribute to the achievement of SDGs goals "5. Achieve gender equality" and "17. Partnerships for the Goals" through the implementation of "Scholarship Napkin," in line with its management philosophy of "Spinning a gentle future for people around the world" and its vision of "Three Lives" to achieve "Hygiene: Protecting people's health," "Life: Improving the quality of life," and "Regeneration: Regenerating the Earth." We will continue to promote initiatives for the realization of a sustainable society through our products and services.