SUSTAINABILITY IN FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS

ADVOCATING REUSABLE CLOTH NAPKINS OVER DISPOSABLE SANITARY NAPKINS

BINDU and MINinfo@earthandus.org

Strategic solutions for a sustainable world

Our formula for changing consumption behaviour for greater sustainability

From disposable pads to reusable padsBehaviour Change

Why feminine hygiene products?

Collective impact in India

One woman disposes 125 kg of sanitary napkins in her menstruating life time 355,000,000 women X 125 kg = 44,375,000,000 kgs of sanitary napkins

What does a disposable pad (DP) contain?

Bleached cellulose wood pulp 4.5 gm

AccurateData

Super Absorbent Acrylate

Polymers (gel) 0.6 gm

Perforated plastic top layer 1.1 gm

Polypropylene back sheet 0.96 gm

Silicon paper 0.67 gmHot melt seal 0.45 gmHot melt positioning seal 0.14 gm

Disposal of DP: Social and Env. Impact

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=500-800 years to decomposeReleases toxins into the soilOR

= Infections through skin contact

AccurateData

Disposal of DP: Social and Env. Impact

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==

Release of dioxin, furans, and asphyxiant gases into the environment

=

=Diseases and Death

AccurateData

What does an Eco Femme pad contain?

Cotton and Polyeutherate Layer

Unbleached cotton flannel

Brushed cotton flannel with non-toxic dyes

AccurateData

Eco Femme pad: ImpactsEnvironmental impacts:•Usage = water & soap over 360 washes during the life of the product •Disposal in landfill (minimal toxins from polyeutharate layer)

Health impacts = negligible

Social impact = positive benefits

AccurateData

Awareness campaignsSimple

Communication

Changing attitudes towards cloth pads

Cloth is not inherently unhygienic; DSNs are not really sanitary

What is really ‘convenient’ or ‘inconvenient’?

What are the lines between fact and opinion? Can they change?

Behaviour Change

Choose the most ethical cloth padBehaviour Change

Our vision: Develop an online rating system

Nudge consumers to ethical choicesShove corporations to making ethical

products

Individual Change: Try reusable productsConvince others

Cross-systems and cross-scale changes

Social OrganizationsEmpower women by breaking taboos &open dialogues

Government “Hug”: Distribute reusable pads for free“Smack” corporations through law enforcement

Behaviour Change

Request from us for the earth

• Start manufacturing units of quality cloth pads (we will provide the consultancy)

• Support research and development into cloth pads

• Support advocacy of cloth pads in mainstream society

Thank youearthandus.org