Report Compostable
Report Compostable sanitary napkins for India’s girls and women Menstruation, the most natural bio-physiological phenomenon in a woman’s life cycle, is considered dirty and impure throughout India. This is reflected in the way the entire concept of Menstrual Hygiene gets handled. The shame, the secrecy, lack of access to clean pads or toilet facilities further adds to the challenges. The implications are deeper and more pervasive than any statistic can attempt to portray. Issues such as lack of awareness, lack of access, and un-affordability force approximately 300 million women to rely on old rags, plastic, sand, and ash to address their sanitation needs during their menstrual cycle. The 12 % that do have access will throw away approximately 433 million napkins every month (which equates to nearly 150 kg of waste per woman/girl over her lifetime). Studies show that each sanitary pad could take 500-800 years to decompose. According to a report, it is estimated that these 433 million pads annually generate a potential of 9,000 tonnes of sanitary waste in India. Furthermore, more than 80 % of this waste is either flushed down the toilet or ending up dumped in a landfill. Sanitary waste disposal is not merely a waste management issue, it’s a health and human rights issue that affects the entire country. As there is currently no standardized method of sustainable sanitary waste disposal, every menstrual product disposed contributes to either soil, air or water contamination. Any soiled sanitary products is a breeding ground for infections and diseases. Stagnant menstrual blood accumulates bacteria such as Escherichia coli, or E coli, which multiplies at an alarming rate. Through the Aakar Model, Aakar Innovations endeavour to break the silence around the issue of menstrual hygiene and provide knowledge and guidance to all stakeholders, especially adolescent girls. The idea is that something as natural as menstruation does not become a thing of shame, adolescent girls have access to pads, know how to use and dispose them, while the community and institutional systems are sensitised and support them in this process. Aakar is a hybrid social enterprise that enables women to produce and distribute affordable, high-quality, 100 % compostable sanitary napkins within their communities while simultaneously raising awareness and sensitization of menstrual hygiene management. In 2013, Aakar became India’s first company to launch a 100 % compostable sanitary pad under the brand name Anandi. To increase the efficiency of fluid (menstrual blood) absorption and make the pad thin, most of the sanitary napkins as produced by the MNCs (Multi National Companies) utilize gel-sheet of super absorbent polymer (SAP), dioxane, and other hazardous chemicals. SAP can sometimes suck the useful fluid which may cause serious infections and can lead to various diseases like cancer, skin diseases, etc. In fact, India is one of the countries with the highest rates of cervical cancer (it accounts for almost 23 % of all cancer in Indian women), and the studies shows a direct link between HPV (Human papillomavirus infection) infections (cause of cervical cancer) and poor menstrual hygiene. This situation necessitates the development of user and environmental friendly menstrual health products. ‘Anandi’ Fig 1 +2: Women produce compostable sanitary napkins 32 bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/18] Vol. 13
www.pu-magazine.com SPM-FLP-639 Flex Foam Ad_145x165mm.indd 1 03/2017 JUNE/JULY Molded flexible foam with Honeywell Solstice® Liquid Blowing Agent cuts weight up to 20% in seats, carpet underlayment, other acoustic parts, integral skin and more — all without sacrificing comfort, durability and acoustics. You’ll have the flexibility to meet desired designs while trimming weight to more easily meet MPG and environmental goals. Plus, it’s nonflammable and U.S. EPA SNAP-listed. Learn more at honeywell-blowingagents.com or 1-800-631-8138. © 2017 Honeywell International Inc. All rights reserved. 5/8/17 10:41 AM Mehr Tempo bei der Pultrusion: Die neuen iPul-Anlagen von KraussMaffei bieten Ihnen mehr Produktivität und Wirtschaftlichkeit bei der Herstellung gerader und gekrümmter Profile. Erfahren Sie mehr unter: www.kraussmaffei.com/pultrusion Engineering Passion 03/2017 Juli Composites Europe, Halle 4, Stand D21 Leichtbau/Composites Automo mobil Inter terieur Obe rfläch en Iso lat ion/We iße Ware Son derlös lösung gen Josef Renkl, Ihr rKrau raussM sMaff ei Expert rte für Pul tru sion KM_Anz_Leadership_Pultrusion_DE+m_145x164+3.indd 1 26.06.17 15:28 27 TH –28 TH SEPT. SmartTraining SmartTrace SmartFace SmartRemain Find more information about our Industry 4.0 products online: www.smartconnect4u.biz Report Beware of imitations. www.f-franceschetti.it Volume 8, May 2017 By: Jaydeep Mandal Aakar Innovations Pvt. Ltd. CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai, India (patent no.3129/MUM/2015) is 100 % compostable sanitary napkin using biobased compostable polymer film. It uses virgin soft pine wood pulp containing more than 97 % of cellulose and hemi-cellulose. The wood pulp as used has pure cellulose materials with complete uniformity of fibers allowing it to decompose easily. Activated by only ecofriendly Ozone treatment process and using compostable bioplastic. The root sources of the material used is from naturally available Corn starch. www.aakarinnovations.com Sanitary napkins made from biobased and compostable materials Anandi Eco+, compostable sanitary napkins SEEING POLYMERS WITH DIFFERENT EYES... Biokraftstoffkompatibilität von FKM Silica/silane reaction mechanism self-healing tpu POLYURETHANES MAGAZINE INTERNATIONAL Trim The Weight, Not The Comfort Interviews: ISL-Chemie, Dow, Magna, Vencorex PSE Europe 2017 preview High temperature foam PIR insulation CNSL-based polyols Blowing Agents FORUM FÜR DIE POLYURETHANINDUSTRIE www.pu-magazin.de PU MAGAZIN Strukture le Faserverbundbauteile PU-basierte Bedachungsmaterialien Polyole auf CNSL-Basis Polyesterpolyole Interview mit G. Burrow, Magna Führende Köpfe für führende Lösungen Pultrusion neu gedacht Relaxed Extrusion PEEK-PTFE-cg-Materialien Fachmagazin für die Polymerindustrie Peroxidvernetzung INNOVATIVE TECHNIK FÜR ROLL-EX ® ZAHNRADPUMPEN KAUTSCHUK TECHNOLOGIE SILIKON REIFEN DIE LÖSUNG FÜR PRÄZISE EXTRUSION, HOCHDRUCKANWENDUNGEN UND POLYMERDOSIERUNG 70. Jahrgang, Juli 2017 07| 2017 Magazine for the Polymer Industry SAVE THE DATE DESMA 4.0 CONNECTING PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES. Hybrid cure systems EPDM compounds Energy-efficient mixing Acrylic impact modifiers Volume 12, July 2017 03| 2017 tpu for wire & cable heat and oil resistant tpv stabilisers review: high-temperature tpe Visit us at stand 10.3T51 BORN AMBITIOUS. is the commercial brand of our products, all obtained with sophisticated mixing processes. Our product portfolio includes: TPE-S and TPO compounds based on SBS and SEBS. MARFRAN®... a world of possibilities ! 2| 2017 Contact us to learn more about subscriptions, advertising opportunities, editorial specials: info@gupta-verlag.de Our technical magazines and books create your expertise Tel. +49 2102 9345-0 · Fax +49 2102 9345-20 www.gupta-verlag.com bioplastics MAGAZINE [03/18] Vol. 13 33
