<p>Environmental groups are campaigning against the plastic in sanitary napkins. Many awareness campaigns are popularising reusable products and what they call ‘sustainable menstruation’.</p>.<p>Here is a handy guide to an eco-friendly period.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Reusable sanitary pads</span></strong></p>.<p>A great option if you usually use regular pads, they work in almost exactly the same way but create zero waste.</p>.<p>Reusable pads come with a base that wraps around your panties with a removable insert that functions in the same way that a disposable pad does. </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Period panties </span></strong></p>.<p>These are said to be leak-free, stain-free and reusable.</p>.<p>They look and feel like normal underwear, making your period a more comfortable experience. </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Organic cotton tampons </span></strong></p>.<p>Non-organic sanitary products are made from cotton that’s<br />been sprayed with chemical pesticides. This is not only bad for biodiversity, but could also contain residues harmful to your health.</p>.<p>Brands such as Saathi Pads and Carmesi use bamboo and banana fibre as an alternative to cotton. A good place to start off on your sustainability journey. </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Menstrual cups </span></strong></p>.<p>These silicone cups have become popular in the recent past. While they cost from Rs 600 to Rs 1,000, they last years, making them a much more cheaper option in the long run.</p>.<p>While the process of inserting a cup can be intimidating, numerous guides are available online to help you.</p>.<p>For many, the cups reduce the discomfort (for example, rashes) of using pads. </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Interlabial pads</span></strong></p>.<p>They are reusable absorbent pads that come in a petal or leaf<br />shape. You could look at them as a cross between a tampon and a pad.</p>.<p>They are not a popular hygiene product since they might need to be used along with a cup. </p>.<p><strong>Why you should care: 90% plastic</strong></p>.<p>According to the Women’s Environmental Network, “Tampons, pads and panty liners generate more than 200,000 tonnes of waste per year, and they all contain plastic – in fact, pads are around 90 percent plastic – which ends up in landfill or, even worse, in seas and rivers.” </p>.<p>An average woman menstruates for about 40 years. She uses approximately 20 pads or tampons a month, equating to 240 a year. Over her lifetime, she uses about 9,600 feminine hygiene products. </p>.<p>A single plastic disposable sanitary pad requires about 500–800 years to decompose. In India, annually, 43.2 crore sanitary napkins are used, and they can cover landfills that spread over 24 hectares.</p>.<p><strong>How to discard menstrual hygiene products</strong></p>.<p>Most chemicals from pads cause groundwater pollution and loss of soil fertility. Also, there is no clarity on whether they should be classified as bio-medical waste or dry waste. Bengaluru and Pune are two cities in India that classify menstrual waste.</p>.<p><br />According to the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules of 2016, soiled napkins, diapers, condoms, tampons and blood-soaked cotton are household waste and should be disposed after segregation into biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Items contaminated with blood and body fluids are bio-medical waste and should be incinerated, autoclaved or microwaved to destroy pathogens.</p>
<p>Environmental groups are campaigning against the plastic in sanitary napkins. Many awareness campaigns are popularising reusable products and what they call ‘sustainable menstruation’.</p>.<p>Here is a handy guide to an eco-friendly period.</p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Reusable sanitary pads</span></strong></p>.<p>A great option if you usually use regular pads, they work in almost exactly the same way but create zero waste.</p>.<p>Reusable pads come with a base that wraps around your panties with a removable insert that functions in the same way that a disposable pad does. </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Period panties </span></strong></p>.<p>These are said to be leak-free, stain-free and reusable.</p>.<p>They look and feel like normal underwear, making your period a more comfortable experience. </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Organic cotton tampons </span></strong></p>.<p>Non-organic sanitary products are made from cotton that’s<br />been sprayed with chemical pesticides. This is not only bad for biodiversity, but could also contain residues harmful to your health.</p>.<p>Brands such as Saathi Pads and Carmesi use bamboo and banana fibre as an alternative to cotton. A good place to start off on your sustainability journey. </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Menstrual cups </span></strong></p>.<p>These silicone cups have become popular in the recent past. While they cost from Rs 600 to Rs 1,000, they last years, making them a much more cheaper option in the long run.</p>.<p>While the process of inserting a cup can be intimidating, numerous guides are available online to help you.</p>.<p>For many, the cups reduce the discomfort (for example, rashes) of using pads. </p>.<p><strong><span class="bold">Interlabial pads</span></strong></p>.<p>They are reusable absorbent pads that come in a petal or leaf<br />shape. You could look at them as a cross between a tampon and a pad.</p>.<p>They are not a popular hygiene product since they might need to be used along with a cup. </p>.<p><strong>Why you should care: 90% plastic</strong></p>.<p>According to the Women’s Environmental Network, “Tampons, pads and panty liners generate more than 200,000 tonnes of waste per year, and they all contain plastic – in fact, pads are around 90 percent plastic – which ends up in landfill or, even worse, in seas and rivers.” </p>.<p>An average woman menstruates for about 40 years. She uses approximately 20 pads or tampons a month, equating to 240 a year. Over her lifetime, she uses about 9,600 feminine hygiene products. </p>.<p>A single plastic disposable sanitary pad requires about 500–800 years to decompose. In India, annually, 43.2 crore sanitary napkins are used, and they can cover landfills that spread over 24 hectares.</p>.<p><strong>How to discard menstrual hygiene products</strong></p>.<p>Most chemicals from pads cause groundwater pollution and loss of soil fertility. Also, there is no clarity on whether they should be classified as bio-medical waste or dry waste. Bengaluru and Pune are two cities in India that classify menstrual waste.</p>.<p><br />According to the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules of 2016, soiled napkins, diapers, condoms, tampons and blood-soaked cotton are household waste and should be disposed after segregation into biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Items contaminated with blood and body fluids are bio-medical waste and should be incinerated, autoclaved or microwaved to destroy pathogens.</p>