Among India’s 355 million menstruating people, only 58% use sanitary napkins or pads regularly, while the rest resort to mostly using unhygienic traditional alternatives such as old rags, sand, husk, ash, and even gobar (cow dung).
Amidst the pandemic, lower wage-earning families and daily wage workers have prioritised the need for basic yet scarce necessities like foodgrains, and menstruating people from these families have resorted to conventional unhygienic menstrual practices and products.
Among the middle-classes, and the upper middle-classes, a sanitary pad is the most common and seemingly convenient choice for a menstrual product.And rightly so, since it is readily available, can be comparatively cheaper on a short-term basis and is widely advertised and accepted as the ‘right’ choice.
The lesser-known fact in this entire process is that the number of used sanitary pads disposed of every year in India amounts to 12.3 billion. As it turns out, the majority of these are non-biodegradable and non-compostable. Thus, the management of menstrual waste has proved to be a mammoth task due to the improper disposal of used sanitary products and unorganised methods of solid waste management by the municipal corporation.
What Does Sustainability Mean In Terms Of Menstrual Products?
Sustainability refers to the ability to maintain something at a certain level or in a certain way, and the definition of sustainability varies from person to person. Keeping all of this in mind, the most effective and sustainable sanitary products should not only be eco-friendly or reusable, but also accessible, economical, and easy to use. There is a wide range of alternative menstrual hygiene products out there, which most menstruators are not aware of.
- Disposable Sanitary Pads: In terms of eco-friendliness, conventional sanitary pads with high plastic ratio (containing Super Absorbent Polymers (SAPs) such as polyacrylate) not make a feasible option, since they take around 500-800 years to biodegrade completely. Improper sanitary waste management in our country makes sanitation workers susceptible to a wide range of debilitating diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis. However, a sanitary pad may be the most sustainable option for many menstruators in India, due to its wide availability, user-friendliness and lower upfront cost.
- Menstrual Cups: One of these is the menstrual cup, which is a reusable, flexible, funnel-shaped product usually made of rubber or silicone. One menstrual cup can last up to 7-8 years or even more, and the cost ranges from ₹300 to ₹700. Brands like Sirona make cups out of medical-grade silicone that are inexpensive in the long run and last up to ten years with proper maintenance. However, it is to be kept in mind that menstrual cups are not a suitable option for those with vaginismus, IUDs, uterine fibroids and variations in uterine position. Since a menstrual cup requires insertion, it adds to the stigma of losing one’s ‘virginity’, which makes it a less popular option in the conservative Indian society.
- Cloth Pads: Another alternative is the cloth pad, which is made out of a triple layer of cotton. Cloth pads require comparatively more maintenance, and they can be washed with detergent or soap to remove the blood after each use. Cloth pads by EcoFemme can last for five years easily without replacement if used and cleaned properly at regular intervals. Although the upfront cost of cloth pads can be on the higher side (ranging from ₹150 to ₹400 for each pad), they can be used for a longer period of time. NGOs such as Goonj have taken up the initiative to teach menstruating people in rural India to make their own cloth pads, making them more accessible and budget-friendly. Cloth pads made from old pieces of cloth can also make a sustainable option (when used and maintained properly).
- Period Underwears: Period underwear is another brilliant innovation in the field of menstrual hygiene, as these fit just like regular underwear and can be washed regularly and used up to 5-6 years, just like cloth pads. Period Underwear may not be the most sustainable option for menstruators in India, as they are not as widely available as the cup or cloth pads, and can be quite expensive (ranging from ₹1000 to ₹3000). Brands such as Thinx make gender-neutral period underwear such as boy-shorts, boxer briefs etc. to make the process of menstruation easier for trans-men and non-binary folks.
- Biodegradable Pads: If one is reluctant to shift from disposable products, a good alternative would be biodegradable pads, which are generally made from bamboo or banana fibres, are easily compostable, and good for the environment. Brands like Saathi and Carmesi make biodegradable pads with prices ranging from ₹250 to ₹400 for a single box (generally containing 10-12 pads). They are priced higher than conventional plastic pads and thus, are not cost-effective.