Certain things are inevitable and the ramifications they cause are sometimes unbearable. Menstruation is one of the invincible things that are a sign of progress in the existent. Menstruation, however, causes seamless consequences in the environment that are so horrifying but yet ignored, by the use of plastic sanitary napkins.
Drawing this discussion to India, the condition is extremely alarming. India carries a record for generating 9000 tonnes of sanitary waste that is equal to 432 million pads annually, according to a report by a journal. The number is exorbitantly high for various reasons. For starters, the sanitary pads that females of this country use is substantially made up of plastic. They are non-biodegradable in nature and hence clearly extremely hazardous. We all are well aware of the fact that plastic sanitary napkins are just a one-time use product. They have to be disposed of right away after use. This justifies the huge wedges of sanitary pads in the waste disposal. A recent data provided by Menstrual Health Alliance estimated 45% of household garbage disposed of as routine waste predominantly consists of sanitary napkins. These disposed of sanitary pads then remain a mere residue in the face of the environment as they consume around 500-800 years to biodegrade.
It is essentially about time India looks at the flip side of the situation to slash the levels of waste generated by the consumption of plastic sanitary pads. ‘Cloth menstrual pads’ are the new limelight of the show. The usage of cotton sanitary pads not only help in pulling down the levels of waste generated by plastic sanitary pads but also positively reinforce in enhancing one’s health. Non-biodegradable disposable pads pose the fear of causing cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer due to the presence of cellulose gel (constituent) in the pad, is reduced by the use of cloth sanitary pads. Cloth sanitary pads seem to reduce the chances of causing minor infections and irritability. A major feature of cloth pads is that they are reusable. This plays well with the economic budget of an individual.
While discussing the benefits of cloth pads over plastic sanitary pads, it is pertinent to highlight the perks that cloth pads offer to the sustainability of the environment. Cloth menstrual pads are highly sustainable as usage of these pads reduces the requirement of more and more pads during one cycle. This, in turn, reduces the waste generated in the environment. There are already various companies that have picked up cloth pads as their brand products.
Well, there is certainly no need for a conclusion after such a clear description of the usage of sanitary napkins in India, isn’t it? So, it’s time to throw away all the disposable pads and switch to reusable pads for a better you and the environment you own up to live.
Make Room for Cloth Sanitary Pads Heading Your Way
