Eco-friendly and Biodegradable Sanitary Pads: a pledge for the environment

A few years back, Indian women's major crisis revolved around the lack of awareness towards menstrual hygiene and care. Women did not have adequate access to sanitary pads let alone be treated with dignity and consideration. But, thanks to the initiatives and voices of women who came forward and addressed this issue, many big companies pushed their sales with emotional and promising advertisements on the use of sanitary pads. The taboos surrounding sanitary pads are slowly being broken down, but then, there arises a new crisis. What is it? Menstrual waste.

The used menstrual pads are rolled in newspapers, put inside plastic bags, and discarded. But who can we really blame when there is no alternative option available. But then did you know? As per the Menstrual Health Alliance India, one used sanitary pad will possibly take 500 to 800 years to decompose as the mass-produced sanitary pads contain 90% plastic which is non-degradable. Every month in India, a whopping 1 billion non-compostable pads end up in urban sewers, landfills, rural fields, and aquatic bodies. In India, 12.3 billion sanitary pads are discarded each year, resulting in 113,000 tonnes of menstrual waste. Hence the disposal of these plastic pads is a major concern for our environment.

So what's the solution?

The affordability rate and safety guarantees women to switch to an ideal alternative of 100% cotton pads. Mass-produced sanitary pads are filled with super absorbent polymers and plastic linings which are not only hazardous for the environment but also your health. Whereas cotton pads are made of natural resources that will protect your health and minimize your environmental footprint.

Breaking the silence and shame behind a completely biological phenomenon such as menstruation, our society has treaded away from regressive viewpoints. If this mentality is shifted for the betterment of both the health of women and the sustainability of our nature, we can make things better for the years to come.