sustainability in feminine hygiene products advocating reusable cloth napkins over disposable...
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SUSTAINABILITY IN FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS
ADVOCATING REUSABLE CLOTH NAPKINS OVER DISPOSABLE SANITARY NAPKINS
BINDU and [email protected]
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
?
=500-800 years to decomposeReleases toxins into the soilOR
= Infections through skin contact
AccurateData
Disposal of DP: Social and Env. Impact
?
==
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