Hello, Sorry we were not part of the forum earlier but with some of your reference we joined in. Our Anandipads is the 1st & only certified ( ISO 17088) fully compostable pads in India. Unfortunately there are several fake claims are there in the market now, who are fooling consumers by normal or oxo-degradable pads and even selling it at 2-3 times cost than of P&G, J&J brands. We have composted our pads in vermi-composting process in lab, field trials in schools, community in Nepal. We are selling our pads pack of 8 for 40 INR for many years. Now we are entering urban market with our ultrathin version(in Amazon and other online portals) with industry 1st BioSAP. A portion of revenue from every purchase of commercial pads will go for providing free pads for needy women & girls in interior villages and those pads will also be produced in our village production unit, thus giving employment opportunities for rural women.  We will also launch fully compostable baby diapers soon at an affordable price. Please feel free to reach out to us for any queries. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Would appreciate some clarification. States home made pads, then later return to packet for composting. Latter implies a manufactured product such as Anandi pad. Many thanks.

Dear SuSanA Members.

On the subject of Eco friendly home made Sanitary pads, there is sufficient information and as it occurs it has become a normal feature in parts in Rural India.
The cost of each pad is Rs 10 ie @ 0.1 to 0.2 USD. ( 75 Rs = 1 USD).
Awareness can easily be built into this CBM ie Community Business Mechanism ie waste to wealth programs by CBM.
Once used pads are handed over ( returned in same sealed envelope which contained the new ones) to those specific waste handlers who carryout composting-- bio wastes into manure Etc.
Lab tests may be done and ensured that the produces in this path ie compost are bio logically safe for use in farms for fertigation, fish food and others
If this is ensured, a buy-back scheme can be initiated ie community persons are paid say INR 1/- per pad, this CBM can help the poor and needy, also keeping the environmnt clean.( SD practice can be show cased )
We have gathered that there are certain communities who resort to vermi - compostng, ie. use the mechanism to produce manure and worms too.
In fact, vermi- farming is a more gainful CBM as the worms have a lot of good uses and potential for CBM , including assisting community in catching fish from water bodies, streams or local areas.
Here too, it is suggested that compliant tests are done and safe nature of the produces are ensured.
Projects can be progressed as pilot - projects and then conceptualised and propagated Etc.
Issued in the interest of sustainance of CBMs.
Well wishes.
Prof Ajit Seshadri. The Vigyan Vijay Foundation. New Delhi. India. -- NGO ,

Hi Asha,
Progress is being made by Aakar Innovations, India with the compostable sanitary pad. Now well established in India and they a have now established partners across Africa.  I am sure you would welcome low cost compostable pads that can beneficially disposed via composting.
Aakar are willing to help with establishing local manufacture. Suggest you make contact. Current contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Can contact via Whatsapp by mobile phone on +917718844450

Thanks David.

Hopefully a discussion can be generated to enhance understanding and ensure the best solution for sanitary pads for the masses.
Pasting the detail causes loss of format therefore please see the attached. Look forward to inputs.

Hi Asha,
There is no product that I am offering. My role is to promote existing technologies and products that create a positive bio-cycle. Chiefly achieved by the promotion and use of PLA compostable plastic. This plastic together with sewage being processed by bio-digestion. If you are focused on the processing of sewage then I suggest that you contact Sanergy, they have an established process. See this link: www.sanergy.com/
Wishing you well David C

Our organisation, Green Hills Almora, is working on ecological solid waste management in the foothills of the Himalayas. We would be very interested in promoting your product there and perhaps, even manufacturing it. Please let us know where you are located and how we can contact you. I'm travelling abroad at present but would like to get in touch in a month's time. Asha D'Souza www.greenhillsalmora.org

Hi Alice, I feel that I needed to more directly answer your question. I created a response for you but composed to be used more widely. Hope this is helpful.

Hi Alice,
Thanks for your request. My role has been to promote the vision, contacting all who can contribute, supplying sourcing and process information and encouraging implementation of the complete bio-cycle that includes compostable sanitary pads. The early effort commenced in 2013, see a portion attached. My major effort started in 2018 following advances and discovery of more resources. I am not able to detail the materials used or the process. This is the area of the manufacturers, the requirement was to create a supply of affordable pads for the very poor. Unfortunately I have so far not been able move the low cost manufacturers in Africa to compostables, even though I located sources of substitute compostable material to replace the original Polyethylene.
The Anandi pad in India meets the need and Pryankit has been very helpful in providing the setup cost for production in Africa. I suggest that you contact him: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
There is a great deal of info available, I have attached a 2018 update document for you.

Dear David,

thank you for sharing this very interesting and innovative product approach.
I was wondering what exactly are the components of the compostable pads?

The project I currently work for, Sanitation for Millions, is implementing MHM-related activities in Uganda and Pakistan.
Menstrual waste is still an unresolved issue, thus I look forward to getting in touch with you on the details of the compostability of pads.

Best regards,
Alice

It is important to read my two previously contributed documents which were the culmination of over six months of intense research , contacting all those that were involved or could be involved in creating a bio-cycle that includes compostable sanitary pads. There was initially huge enthusiasm to implement across Africa, this came to a standstill when the low cost pad producers were not willing to move to a compostable product. The composting processes are ready to go, the hold up is a source of low cost compostables.
Many recommend a reusable sanitary pad as a better solution. I would agree that would be so for those that have the hygienic means of washing /cleaning the pads for re-use. However for the poor, the target of compostable pads, water is often precious and scarce and hygienic conditions are risky. The compostable pad eliminates these issues, it being simpler for disposal, either in a collection system as established by Sanergy in Nairobi or community and family composting (remote areas). The successful system established around the Anandi compostable pad in India is desirable for implementation across Africa and many countries of poverty, certainly desirable for the remote Aboriginal communities of Australia.
Low cost African manufacturers of pads for the poor in Africa have not yet been willing to accept a change from bio-degradable to compostable pads, even when substitute compostable materials and a source supplier have been identified. Bio-degradable pads comprise plastic material that degrades to nano plastic that does not contribute to a good environmental outcome ie not acceptable for composting that can be applied to cropping.
The compostable path is environmentally sustainable. There is a need to move forward, a need for acceptance and meaningful funds to get to bio cycle established. Welcome responses.