The latex condom is the single most efficient, available technology to reduce the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS*, STIs, and unintended pregnancy. Furthermore, condoms are the most accessible form of birth control (both in developed and developing nations), allowing for thoughtful family planning. *Source: WHO, UNAIDS, UNFPA

We believe the power of business can help bring health and pleasure to the global community. There is a huge condom shortage that is leaving millions of people susceptible to some of the world's most preventable diseases. We are building a company that can help address this global health crisis. For every condom you purchase, you contribute one to a developing country as part of the Sir Richard's community. Here's the facts: + Some 215 million women who would like to delay childbearing still have no access to contraception. Many of them live in the poorest countries where governments are having trouble building schools and health systems for their rapidly growing populations. (UNFPA) + Four in 10 of the 186 million pregnancies that occur in developing countries each year are unintended, meaning they were unwanted or were not wanted at the time. Women who lack access to effective contraception account for 82% of all unintended pregnancies. (UNFPA) + According to UNAIDS, nearly 13 billion condoms would be needed by 2015 to help halt the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections worldwide. The reality falls short. In 2008, 2.4 billion male condoms were provided by UNFPA, USAID and other donors. + The number of people living with HIV worldwide has continued to grow, reaching 33.4 million in 2008. In the same year 2.7 million new HIV infections occurred, almost half (45%) among people younger than 25 years. (UNAIDS, WHO: HIV epidemic update. Geneva 2009.) + Estimated amount spent on integrated condom programming in 2000 was $226M, and in 2008 was $92M, which represents a 60% decline. (UNFPA, NIDI database) + Similarly, less than 40% of young people in developing countries are estimated to have basic information about AIDS and HIV prevention. (UNAIDS, WHO: HIV epidemic update. Geneva 2009.)

We have taken great care to ensure our condoms are amongst the finest possible. Sir Richard's are manufactured using 100% natural latex, which is important because we don't use any filler ingredients and latex is a renewable resource that comes from the rubber tree. Furthermore, our condoms are vegan-certified, and our silicone-based lubricant does not contain ingredients that have known to be harmful to the body such as spermicide, parabens, and glycerin.

Sir Richard's condoms contain trace amounts of key stabilizers, specifically corn starch, magnesium carbonate, and ammonia. Here's why these ingredients matter: Corn starch: helps keep the latex from sticking to itself and make it easier to unroll. Magnesium carbonate: improves the tensile strength of the natural-latex rubber Ammonia: prevents coagulation and kills unnecessary bacteria

The U.S. FDA recently released new labeling requirements for spermicidal lubricants including the increased risk of getting HIV from an infected partner, its inability to protect against HIV/AIDS or other STIs, among other warnings. Studies also indicate that the use of spermicide can increase vaginal irritation. Furthermore, parabens are chemical preservatives that can interfere with the endocrine (or hormone) system, which includes your ovaries, hypothalamus and thyroid.

Yes. Our condoms are vegan-certified due to the fact that we don't use the dairy product casein (or any animal product) in our manufacturing process. In March 2012, we received our vegan certification from the AVA (American Vegetarian Association).

Sir Richard's is deeply committed to supporting and promoting the highest environmental, labor, human and animal rights standards and stewardship available today. Reflecting that commitment, in August 2012, Sir Richard's supplied PETA with all information needed to meet their rigorous standards. PETA approved Sir Richard's as cruelty-free, listing the company among many that do not test on animals. Moreover, Sir Richard's is committed to never conducting or commissioning animal testing on the ingredients and formulations of our products, now or in the future.

It is important that our community is aware that due to the intimate bodily use of condoms that all condoms sold in the United States must be a certified Class II, FDA medical device. To be an FDA approved Class II medical device and meet required statutory regulations, some of the following biological tests may have been historically conducted on ingredients that Sir Richard's licenses to create our products: Cytotoxicity -ISO 10993-5; Sensitization, Vaginal Irritation, Penile Irritation- ISO 10993-1 0; Acute Systemic Toxicity -ISO 10993-11. However, in developing Sir Richard's, we believed years of FDA-approved ingredients provided more than an ample opportunity for us to assemble a unique combination of condom ingredients that would a.) provide a best-in-class product for humans, and b.) avoid further statutory requirements that could negatively impact animals (See FDA, 510K Clearance). As a result, our assembled ingredients and product line does not require, nor will it ever require, animal testing or retesting. Critical to this story is that by selecting historically FDA-approved ingredients, we have brought to the marketplace a product free of harmful chemicals (which can still be found in many conventional brands) as well as a product designed to thoughtfully minimize negative impacts on human and animal well-being. As a company we commission no animal testing; in no way, shape or form do we order, commission or request animal testing; and, we have never ordered any animal testing at all for the development, manufacturing and/or distribution of our products. In signing the PETA statement of assurance, we have also pledged that we will never originate, conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients and/or formulations with our current or future finished products. Finally, we, as a company, believe business-to-business market pressure is a critical piece in making for a better world. As such, to the best of our ability we continue to apply market pressures on our manufacturers and suppliers so that the highest ethical standards and stewardships for animals, environmental, labor, and human health and rights becomes a global norm.

Sir Richard's was founded in 2009 by a team of socially conscious entrepreneurs and designers, and launched into the marketplace in January 2011.

No. Sir Richard's are manufactured in Malaysia close to the rubber tree.

Store condoms in a cool (not cold), dry place. Condoms should NOT be stored in excess of 100 degrees or below 32 degrees F. Don't store in direct sunlight, your car, or your wallet as this can compromise the efficacy.

No. Sir Richard's does not currently offer a polyurethane or polyisporene option, but we are looking at developing one in the future. Its important to be sure that one's allergy is to latex and not a filler ingredient, because latex alternatives have higher breakage rates.

Yes. Only use silicone or water-based lubricants with latex condoms. Latex condoms become less elastic and can tear or slip off more easily after coming into contact with oils.

It is best to throw condoms away in the trash. Additionally, it is strongly recommended that one does not flush condoms down the toilet because they will either end up in the septic tank, at the water treatment facility, clogging your pipes or into waterways where they take a very long time to break down.

You can find Sir Richard's at a cross-section of retailers, including Whole Foods Market, Harmons, Earth Fare, PCC, National Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Priscilla McCalls, Mother's Markets, Central Markets, Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy, New Leaf Community Markets, as well as hundreds independents grocers, pharmacies, and boutiques. Additionally, we are available through our website, at Drugstore.com, and at fine hotels such as Thompson Hotels, Kimpton Hotel Group, ACE, Wynn, among other boutique and luxury properties.

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We are initially working with Partners In Health as a distribution partner, and our first contribution effort of 500,000 condoms arrived to Partners in Health (PIH), Haiti in September 2012. The condom contribution will be made available for free through PIH's clinics in Haiti. Furthermore, we worked with our creative director to Haiti, Marc Baptiste, to create a new condom brand for Haitians called KORE (pronounced kȯr-ā), which is a slang term that translates as “I have your back.” The packaging also incorporates Haitian Kréyòl messaging and visual instructions.

Partners In Health ranks as one of the largest nongovernmental health care providers in Haiti with over 5,000 employees and more than 2.6 million patient visits at its clinics in 2008. It launched the world's first program to provide free, comprehensive HIV care and treatment in an impoverished setting, and as part of its prevention efforts distributes (on average) two million condoms per year.

Yes. All condoms that are sold in the U.S. have to meet or exceed FDA requirements, which means they are 98% effective when used correctly.

You can plan to receive an email confirmation that your order was placed, with your (discreet) delivery arriving in 3 - 5 business days. *International orders may take longer.

Yes. Your order will arrive in discreet packaging, with the return address reading as from “Lady Lucy."