Everyone knows that India is the 2nd largest populated country in the world. But not everyone knows that only 16% of women in India use Sanitary pads due to poverty and other reasons.
Every year around 2 million non biodegradable pads ends up in landfills. Also manufacturing them (Cotton farming) consumes millions of gallons of water each year. Meanwhile, "Saathi" a startup company founded by Kristen Kagetsu and Tarun Bothra aims to solve these aforementioned problems. Saathi's pads are affordable and are made from discarded banana tree fibers in a sustainable way and are 100% biodegradable.
Due to economic reasons, Saathi is selling these pads in rural areas at cost and in urban areas for profit. Girls in rural areas miss up 50 days of school every year due to a lack of sanitary pads and other hygiene-related products. and Saathi is trying to help such girls and women at work through their 'One Million Pads' initiative. "The goal is to help keep women at school and at work," Kagetsu said.
Affordable pads do not mean that they will lack the quality. Here are some key notes on these pads:
- Saathi Pads (Banana fiber pads) have modern comfortable design with wings to prevent leakage.
- Banana fiber pads are 50% more absorbent than regular sanitary pads.
- Soft to touch and doesn't irritate skin.
- No risk of UTIs/rashes since they don't use bleach, sodium acrylate or any other chemicals like their other major counterparts.
- Biodegrades to compost in just 3 to 6 months in a landfill.
Saathi has won considerable recognition worldwide including Hello Conference held in paris for Wellbeing and Impact.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2017/10/29/saathi-banana-sanitary-pads-hello-tomorrow/
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