Bringing Affordable Eco-Friendly Period Products To India Is Time

by Pixiefor Her Pixie For Her

In India, progress continues in providing healthy and hygienic eco-friendly period products. Nonetheless, most pads for periods are manufactured from toxic polymers. More than 12 billion of them wind up in water bodies and landfills. We need to help women practice appropriate menstrual hygiene.

The number of menstruating women in India is approximately 355 million. Women between the ages of 13 and 24 who are menstruating use only cloth for menstrual hygiene management about a third of the time. Many women use sanitary napkins or tampons that are commercial products, while others use a combination of commercial products and cloth.

It is estimated that Euro monitor estimates that traditional sanitary pads are sold again by more than eight times every year since 2006, even though the use of commercial products appears low.

Sanitary pads from other brands are not eco-friendly

Despite the rapid progress that India has made in introducing healthy menstrual products, there does seem to be a problem. Most sanitary pad products consist of disposable plastic that can’t biodegrade. Each woman uses an average of eight pads per period, leading to more than 12 billion menstrual pads dumped annually. There is no solution to the problem. The waste either goes into the sewage system or is disposed of in landfills of burned incinerators. It takes over 600 years for traditional sanitary pads to decompose. The need to make menstrual products sustainable and environmentally friendly is more important than ever as climate change concerns have intensified across the globe.

Pads that decompose and are sustainable

Sustainable menstrual products are biodegradable, compostable, and reusable and are made using bamboo fiber, banana fibers, and cotton. India has become home to several new-age brands which have launched sustainable menstrual products in the past few years. In comparison to plastic-based sanitary pads, these products are more hygienic and more comfortable to use since they do not contain chemical additives or plastic. Besides reducing environmental damage, these eco-friendly products also promote women’s health, such as fewer infections and skin rashes. A shortage of information about sustainable alternatives has led to the abysmal adoption rate of sustainable menstrual products due to a lack of awareness regarding the environmental impact of traditional pads. Next, it is crucial to organize interrelated campaigns to promote and increase awareness of environmentally friendly menstrual supplies.

Promote awareness through community and government initiatives

Traditional pads harm the environment that is largely unknown to most women. To truly make an impact, significant changes must begin at home. Raising awareness is the first step. Developing grassroots campaigns with governments to increase public awareness about menstrual products can inspire women, especially since most women wait for some time before switching from the products they trust to a new product. Therefore, we need to demonstrate the advantages and ease of switching to sustainable cotton menstrual pads.

Invest in companies that make biodegradable products

Along with bringing awareness, it is equally important to make eco-friendly sanitary pads available. Governments in this sector can offer incentives to companies manufacturing sustainable products by waiving taxes, reducing manufacturing costs, and allowing them access to raw materials at reasonable prices. They can also lend to startups at lower interest rates.

Sustainable products have an infinite number of possibilities. It’s crucial for the world’s communities to work towards providing a sustainable menstrual ecosystem through greater awareness and use of green products. Along with making menstruation comfortable for women, it’s vital that we also promote green products in India.

Source:- https://pixieforher.com/eco-friendly-period-products/