An affordable, convenient and

eco-friendly sanitary napkin

Around 3 million Women are working in Bangladesh RMG Industry

Which contributes 80% of our total export earning and 13.5% of our

GDP

85% of the total work force in

this industry are WOMEN

Women working in the RMG industry

Turn the wheels of Sewing Machines

Which turns the wheels of our

economy simultaneously

The success of the

RMG Sector is built on

the diligent efforts of

Female workers

But do you know their

side of the story?

Work

low income Home

Healthcare

ONE COMMON

STRUGGLE

MENSTRUATION

The ill

Menstrual

Practices 95%Uses Dirty Rags and

Rejected Fabric Scraps

90%Workers wash rags

without soap and reuse

without proper drying

By the Garments

workers

33% girls Hide their rags in dirty

places

Why Not?

Working

Condition

Low

Affordability

Distribution

Channel

Living

Condition

Ignorance

Ignorance

Social Stigma • Hesitation in open

discussion

• Considered as Secret

and Shameful

80% of the RMG

workers do not know

about the healthy

menstrual practices

Low

Affordability• Monthly Average

Salary USD 36.88

• Around 66% less

than Living wage

• Delayed payment

• Deduction of

overtime amount

Distribution

Channel

• Male dominated

Distribution Channel

• Conservative

Society

• Reserved Attitude

Scarceness of Water

Poor Sanitation

No Personal Space

Working

Condition

• Long Work Hours

• Forced Overtime

• Low Access to

Sanitation facilities

THE OTHER SIDEOF SEWING MACHINE3

SOAP

PP

FOODS

Living

Condition

• Scarcity of Water

• Poor Sanitation

• No Personal Space

Compromised Income

Socio-economic Factors

Use of Rags and Rejected Fabrics

Psychological & Physical Problems

Lower WageHigher Medical Expenses

Work Absenteeism

Ignorance

Living & Working Condition

Low work productivity

Physical Discomfort

The Evil cycle

of ill Menstrual

Practices

Infections*

Abnormal Pain

Complicated Pregnancy

Elongated Period

Physical Problems

The Impacts

Stress

Anxiety

Low Self Esteem

Lack of Concentration

Psychological Problems

*More than 50% of the women have

been identified with infection

Work Place Absenteeism*

Low Productivity

Decrease in Wage

Increase in Medical Expense

Economic Problems

*The Most cited Reason for

Absenteeism is Menstrual Pain

Affects Individuals

Their Families

The Industry

The Nation

The

Impact

Map

The Absence of an affordable, available and

hygienic solution to menstruation leads to physical,

psychological, economic loss for the women RMG

workers in Bangladesh

The Problem

Statement

Our Solution

What is

High absorbing

Disposable Sanitary

Napkin with Sanitary Belt

made of Bamboo Pulp

Why Sanitary Napkin

Disposable Sanitary Napkin

Washable Sanitary Pads

Menstrual Cups Tampons

Reuse Disposable Water and sunlight needed to wash and reuse

Water needed, complex reuse procedure

Disposable

Convenience Highly convenient to carry

Inconvenient to carry the used pads

Inconvenient to carry the used cups

Highly convenient to carry

Comfort Comfortable Comfortable Unfamiliar and uncomfortable

Unfamiliar and uncomfortable

Cost High cost Initially High Cost Initially High Cost

High Cost

Disposable Sanitary Napkin would be the best option if

its available for Low Price

Local SourcingLocal

Manufacturing

Informal Distribution

Low-Cost Environment

Friendly

Sanitary Napkin

It’s Affordable8 pads at USD 0.21 only

The Innovative features of

1

It’s AccessibleDistribution through Info-fairies

2

Its Eco-FriendlyMade from local Bamboo Fibers

3

Why Bamboo?

Health Factors

Naturally antibacterial, antifungal and anti-static

300% more absorbent power than normal wood pulp

Environmental Factors

Reduces pressure on valuable tree resources

Biodegradable in Nature

Compost can be prepared from used pads

Economic Factors

Less competition on its usage

Grows faster

Requires less space

Distribution through

Info-fairies

• Pool of trained women health

workers who works as Shurokkha

Distributor

• 18 to 25 years old

• Educate the target market about

menstrual hygiene and Shurokkha

BTL: Personal Awareness Program

Garments Boithok• Monthly Group discussion among

Garments workers moderated by Info-

fairies

• The objectives of the group discussions

are:• Make the garments workers

aware of the harmful effects of

Rags and Rejected Fabrics

• Promote the use and benefits of

Shurokkha

• RMG workers tend not to seek

medical help, even for serious

infections

• Shurokkha will arrange free

medical camps for RMG workers

every three month

• The objective of the Medical

camp would be:

– Conduct a basic Medical Check

up of the RMG workers

– Provide free medical advice on

female health problems

– Recommend Sanitary Napkins

over Rags

BTL: Free Medical Advising

Operational Plan: Location

Factory at Savar, Dhaka

Near to Dhaka EPZ (23 km) where

more than 40% of the Garments

Factories are located

Availability of Raw Materials (cotton,

gauge, polyethylene, and elastics)

Operational Plan: Procurement of Raw Materials

Procurement and Transportation of Bamboo

Pulp from Sylhet Paper and Pulp Mills Limited

Collection of Cotton and Gauze from Orion

Group, and Local Pharmaceutical Supplies near

Savar

Collection of Elastics and Polyethylene from

Aukson Garments and other Local Vendors

PackagingSterilizingCovering

Layer Production

Core FormationPulverization

Manufacturing Process

Management Team

Debojit SahaHead of Production

and Distribution

Sumayea Tabassum

Head of Marketing

Sabrina AfrozErina

Head of Fiance

Pilot Test at

• Conducted at Wisteria Textiles

Limited, Dhaka

• 30 RMG workers were

provided with one packet of

Shurokkha

Success Story- Comments from

Garments Workers at Wisteria

Textile Limited

“I think I am never going to miss

work for period again, thanks to

Shurokkha! ” -Shompa

“Previously it was difficult for me to

buy sanitary napkin from a male

shopkeeper but friendly info-fairies

make Shurokkha available at my

doorstep”- Amena

Success Story- Comments from

Wisteria Textile Limited

“Before our workers didn’t know

much about any such priduct.

Many of those who knew felt shy

to buy from shops. Now, after the

pilot, our workers work with

comfort. Medical expenses wend

down and productivity went up.”

Sadia Ahmed OisheeDirectorWisteria Textile Limited

Social benefits of the project

Low-cost, high-quality disposable sanitary napkin with sanitary belt to the working women of Bangladesh

Awareness among the target group women about the menstrual health

Employment for unskilled poor living in slums

More confident and productive women workforce

Product Specification

Length 260 mm

Width 75 mm

Weight 7 gm.

Absorption Capacity 100 ml

Product Specifications of Shurokkha

• Mini Sanitary Napkin Unit

• UV Sterilizer

• Sealing Machine

Factory Machineries*

*Sourced from India

Legal Status

The Company will be registered with the Registrar of Companies in

Bangladesh as a Private Limited Company under the Bangladesh

Companies Act 2004.

Key Management

Value-Chain