In the throes of the first pandemic-induced lockdown in Indian history, many started to reflect on how humans\u2019 footprint on the environment can eventually come back to bite. It was during that time that Delhi-based Simran Monga and her family decided to play their part and go zero-waste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Mongas measured their monthly domestic trash of almost 60 kilograms, ordered a terracotta compost unit, and started phasing out non-compostable items. But even after weeks of planning, one particular item proved a nut hard to crack: sanitary pads. \u201cIt\u2019s a taboo subject, it\u2019s a health requirement but let\u2019s accept that it\u2019s an environment polluter too,\u201d said Simran, a 27-year-old graphic designer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simran is one of the 336 million menstruating people in India, of whom nearly 121 million use commercially produced disposable sanitary napkins, according to a study<\/a> by WaterAid India and Menstrual Hygiene Alliance India. The study says that disposable sanitary pads may take over 500 years to decompose<\/a>, posing a big environmental challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n USD 521.5 million<\/p> The value of the Indian sanitary napkin market in 2020, according to US-based market research firm Expert Market Research<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n What makes the problem more complex is that in developing countries like India menstrual health is not only a big hygiene issue, but also a social taboo. While a society cannot compromise on efforts to increase access to sanitary hygiene products in a country where women\u2019s health is often neglected, the amount of steadily growing menstrual waste is an equally acute environmental issue, said Delhi-based waste management expert Swati Singh Sambyal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDisposable sanitary napkins are a hazard because 70-90% of a sanitary pad is made of plastic,\u201d Sambyal said. One pad is equivalent to four plastic bags, \u201cso one can imagine the quantity of single-use non-biodegradable plastic generated every month from sanitary napkins. It\u2019s a strong enough issue to raise environmental concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The latest government data<\/a> show that adoption of sanitary pads is growing steadily<\/a> among the 15-24 age group. For example, in Bihar 58.8% of girls and women in this age group were using such products, recording an almost 90% growth in four years. In Andhra Pradesh its usage has risen to 85.1% from 67.5% in 2015-16. A similar trend is observed in most Indian states.<\/p>\n\n\n\nGrowing sanitary pad usage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n