Eco-bio sanitary pads: reducing period poverty and advancing environmental sustainability

Presentation by Professor Naba Dutta (RMIT University)

Abstract

Menstruation is a natural biological process with >800 million people menstruating each day.Women and girls can struggle to manage their menstrual hygiene with dignity and need to have access to menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) products that are safe, comfortable, sustainable and ecologically friendly. The menstrual products in many low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are not accessible or affordable. Here we will present a focus on innovations in materials science for transformative MHH products, which are low-cost, sustainable and more accessible ‘to meet the needs of women and girls in LMIC, who face challenges to managing their menstrual periods with discretion and dignity. We explore to address these societal issues by developing 100% eco-friendly, safe, sustainable and disposable eco-bio sanitary pads with exceptionally high fluid-absorption efficiency, made from abundant and low-cost biopolymers and agricultural by-products.