BENGALURU: For the first time in the country, a fully biodegradable low-cost sanitary napkin was released by the Bureau of Pharma PSUs of India (BPPI), in association with the department of pharmaceuticals, on the occasion of World Environment Day on Tuesday.
Reinforcing the theme of ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, the JanAushadhi Suvidha sanitary napkins were launched before hundreds of people, including 200 girls from five city schools.
Containing a special additive that renders the napkin biodegradable when exposed to the sun and air, the oxo-biodegradable napkin starts decomposing six months after its disposal in a landfill, under certain pressure conditions.
By comparison, an ordinary pad starts degrading after 500 years. Costing only Rs 2.50 per piece, the aim is to enable more women to have access to affordable and healthy menstruation products.
“In India, only 48% of women use sanitary napkins, as the remaining 52% are unable to afford them. This has been done to ensure swachhata, swasthya and suvidha (hygiene, health and convenience) for unprivileged women like garment workers and daily wage workers,” said Ananth Kumar, Union minister for chemicals and fertilizers.
Source : Times Of India
