Last Update: February 05, 2023, 11:46 IST
Several young Indian startups are working towards providing a sustainable alternative to chemical filled sanitary pads
Given the ongoing decline in the health of our planet and climate, these products that are essential for women must be biodegradable
Non-biodegradable sanitary products add a significant amount of plastic waste to the environment. This not only has dangerous effects on global warming but also on animal health as well as depletion of resources, both on land and water.
The numbers are staggering from the point of view of menstruation and the impact of menstrual products on our environment It is estimated that approximately 121 million women dispose of approximately eight sanitary napkins in a menstrual cycle. It calculates that approximately 12.3 billion disposable pads are added to landfills annually! During the years of menstruation, each woman generates about 120 kg of plastic waste. To tackle this problem, a system is needed to deal with menstrual waste, especially used sanitary plastic pads.
Keeping in mind the ongoing decline in the health of our planet and climate, these products which are essential for women for most of their lives should be chemical free and biodegradable. As preventive measures, the use of sustainable, biodegradable products in routine life can reduce waste generation. Biodegradable and reusable products such as bamboo razors and menstrual cups also promote better waste management as opposed to using one-time products. This will also reduce the amount of harmful products being thrown into landfills.
Incinerators may also be the way forward, according to Anika Parashar, founder and CEO of The Woman Company. Instead of finding their way to our landfills, water, and eventually soil, when the pads are burned they will turn to ash for climate health.
Research shows that non-biodegradable menstrual pads take 500 to 800 years to break down and when they do break down, they eventually become microplastics, ie pieces of plastic that are less than 5 millimeters in size. These microplastics then find their way into our soil system and even into the oceans. In contrast, organic, biodegradable tampons biodegrade within 6 months.
So, the way to deal with this is that women should be aware of the kind of products they are opting for. Instead of what is being pushed into the market, look for brands and alternatives that are following sustainability.
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Alternatives like menstrual cups are a great option if you’re comfortable using them. Reports suggest that menstrual cups make up about 0.4 percent of the plastic waste produced by pads and only 6 percent of the plastic waste produced by tampons.
“If you’re not comfortable using reusable menstrual products, invest in pads that are sustainable, including packaging. When purchasing disposable pads, look for non-chlorine bleached pads and tampons that are made from organic cotton and without Be made of plastic applicator.” Anika says.
Several young Indian startups are working towards providing sustainable alternatives to chemical laden sanitary pads. Research what works for you, your flow, and your lifestyle, and then make these small changes that can be extremely effective in removing plastic waste from the ecosystem while ensuring your comfort.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)