ગુજરાતી
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Vadodara 2025
Researchers from the Department of Textile Engineering, Faculty of Technology, MS University, have developed an indigenous eco-friendly sanitary napkin for women.
PhD student Arpan Kharwa, under the guidance of his PhD mentors P.C. Patel and Satyajit Chaudhary, developed the sanitary napkin.
All materials used in this napkin are biodegradable. The upper material is made of organic cotton and silk. The back layer is made of PBAT (Poly Butylene Adipate Coterephthalate) PLA (Polylactide). Bamboo pulp and cotton starch are used between the two layers. Silk is also used.
Price is also important for eco-friendly napkins. Eco-friendly sanitary napkins can be priced between 4 and 7 rupees, which is comparable to non-biodegradable sanitary napkins available in the market. Additionally, this napkin decomposes automatically within 150 days, eliminating pollution. Patenting for the product has begun.
Most sanitary napkins available on the market have three layers. The first layer, called the top sheet, is made of a plastic material called polypropylene, and the back, or lower layer, is made of polyethylene. Both materials are non-biodegradable and can degrade in soil within 500 to 600 years. The middle layer is made of pinewood pulp. This material is biodegradable and has to be imported from the United States.
Non-biodegradable napkins and diapers contain 70 percent of the plastic content. Plastic packaging products contribute to the global waste generation of 78 million tons each year. Of this, 32 percent is dumped into the ocean. This figure is expected to double by 2023 and triple by 2060.
Biodegradable sanitary napkins currently available on the market are manufactured outside India. Therefore, they are also more expensive.
Sanitary Napkin Use in India
A decade ago, the proportion of women using sanitary napkins in India was 11 percent. In 2025, 32 percent of women will use them. If a woman uses even 7 napkins per menstrual cycle, she uses approximately 70 napkins in a year.
Most sanitary napkins are thrown away in the trash, further exacerbating the problem of plastic pollution.
