Biodegradable Sanitary Pads

A growing number of women are seeking sustainable alternatives to traditional pads. These products are sourced from natural, renewable materials and break down naturally, minimising their impact on the environment.

A University of Utah team has developed a 100% biodegradable feminine maxi pad. The SHERO pad is made of all-natural materials and is thinner than regular sanitary pads.

1. Reduced Landfill Waste

Each year, 20 billion sanitary pads, tampons and applicators are dumped into North American landfills where they take hundreds of years to break down, contributing to pollution and consuming fossil fuel energy. Biodegradable sanitary pads made from natural materials can break down in the same amount of time, reducing the environmental footprint.

Many women are now opting for sustainable and eco-friendly menstrual hygiene products that are both gentle on the body and the planet. Compared to synthetic sanitary pads, which contain plastic and harmful chemicals, biodegradable sanitary pads are made from organic cotton, bamboo fibre, wood pulp, corn starch and compostable bio-plastic.

Moreover, these are made from naturally occurring materials that are free of any artificial fragrances and colours. Unlike traditional pads that use bleached rayon (cellulose made from wood pulp) and are covered with a chemical-based plastic coating, organic sanitary pads are soft against the skin, breathable and extremely absorbent.

While reusable cloth pads require water, which can be scarce in developing countries, and detergent to clean, biodegradable sanitary pads do not. They are also easy to carry in bags or purses for convenient and discreet use. They can be used for up to 10-12 hours without leaking, and are comfortable to wear. They are doctor-recommended and more comfortable to use than tampons. Plus, they are much safer for your health as they do not release any dioxins into the environment and do not cause cervical cancer.

2. Lower Carbon Footprint

Traditionally-made plastic sanitary pads and tampons contain super-absorbent polymers (SAPs) – single-use plastic which has an extremely high carbon footprint. These SAPs are made from non-renewable fossil fuel-generated energy, which leads to huge amounts of air and biodegradable sanitary pads water pollution. SAPs are also non-biodegradable and take hundreds of years to decompose, creating toxic toxins in the environment.

Biodegradable sanitary pads use natural, plant-based materials that break down and decompose in the environment quickly, with less impact. These raw materials can include organic cotton, fluffed wood pulp, bio-plastics and corn starch – a natural and sustainable alternative to traditional synthetic polymers.

This approach to period products reduces the carbon footprint of the manufacturing process and creates a more circular system, where the raw materials can be used over again in other stages of production. This reduces the waste that is sent to landfills and incinerated, as well as reducing the amount of chemicals released into the environment.

For example, the company Saathi uses locally sourced banana fiber biodegradable sanitary pads wholesale and bamboo, grown without pesticides or fertilizers to produce fully eco-friendly and compostable sanitary napkins. They are working towards incorporating other local crops into the product to make it even more environmentally friendly.

3. Protection of Ecosystems

Most commercial sanitary pads contain plastic and synthetic materials that can be harmful to the body as well as the environment. Some of these plastic-based products are discarded into trash receptacles or found in marine environments, where they can cause harm to wildlife (Barr 2018). Biodegradable sanitary pads provide an eco-friendly alternative that helps minimize environmental waste. Unlike traditional pads, sustainable and biodegradable sanitary pad brands use natural materials such as bamboo, banana fiber, organic cotton, and vermicomposting to produce their menstrual hygiene products.

One of the biggest advantages of using biodegradable sanitary pads is that they do not disrupt the ecosystems in which they are made. For instance, the cellulose used to create synthetic sanitary pads goes through a bleaching process that releases dioxin into the atmosphere. Dioxin can also contaminate soil and water and affect human health, especially for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. On the other hand, sanitary pads made from bamboo and banana fibers decompose naturally in a few months. This protects the environment from the harmful effects of chemicals as well as slows down deforestation.

A woman-led Kenyan company, Sirona Hygiene, uses agricultural waste to make reusable and eco-friendly sanitary towels for their clients. The company created a product called Janipad, which is a biodegradable and affordable alternative to commercial sanitary pads. The company’s founder, Mary Nyaruai, sourced the raw material for the sanitary pads from the waters of Lake Victoria. Water hyacinths are an invasive plant that causes ecological issues in the region. By creating a product that utilizes these plants, Nyaruai’s initiative can help reduce the risk of period poverty in women across the country.

4. Safer Alternative

A typical sanitary pad is made of chemicals and synthetic fibres which can cause allergic reactions on the delicate skin of women. The toxins in the sanitary pads can also enter the bloodstream and can lead to health complications like toxic shock syndrome. The sanitary pads are usually disposed of in a non-biodegradable manner and can end up in landfills, where they will take hundreds of years to decompose. This creates a lot of waste, and is hazardous to the environment and human beings.

Moreover, the plastic-based sanitary napkins are often discarded into ponds, lakes and rivers which causes serious harm to the organisms present in them. They can even clog drains and pollute the soil. Many women have suffered from these side-effects, which is why they are opting for natural, chemical-free menstrual hygiene products.

The makers of biodegradable sanitary pads use organic materials such as cotton, bamboo and corn. They are reusable and come with biodegradable disposal bags which make them easier to use for women. This is why Carmesi has been a favourite among women for all-natural sanitary pads.

The founder of Purganics has created her own line of sanitary pads using organic cotton certified by GOTS and ICEA, that are sourced from farmers who follow the highest standards of environmental sustainability. These are safe on your sensitive skin and do not contain any harmful chemicals or gels that can cause irritation.