Editor’s note: Approx 125kg of sanitary waste is generated per person during their menstruating years and these sanitary napkins can take 500-800 years to break down! #ThePadEffect is a campaign to advocate for sustainable menstruation and prevent thousands of tons of sanitary waste.We all are aware of the immense amount of waste – 125kg per person – that disposable sanitary pads generate. This is not just harmful for the environment, but also has a social injustice aspect to it, where most of the ragpickers are people from the Dalit community, who have to sift through our sanitary waste with their bare hands and are hence vulnerable to various diseases.
Also read: Infographic: What Is #ThePadEffect?
What can we do to reduce this waste? There are many alternative sustainable menstrual products available, which are not just eco-friendly but also do not give us any rashes (which disposable pads do)! So what are these alternative sustainable menstrual products and what do we need to keep in mind while using them?
Also read: Know Your Alternative Menstrual Products | #ThePadEffect
Update: Saathi Pads are biodegradable pads that do not require you to remove the leak-proof layer. They can be disposed off normally.
About the author(s)
Feminism In India is an award-winning digital intersectional feminist media organisation to learn, educate and develop a feminist sensibility and unravel the F-word among the youth in India.
