Many of us associate the term ‘innovation’ with just science, technology and companies. But there is a lot more to it. For example, it means making something new for the betterment of society as well. And most of these ideas come from elements we see in our daily lives.

Menstruation is one such major issue in the daily lives of most women, but that rarely seems to find innovations for it. Menstruation is a complicated situation that has social, health and environmental considerations.

While social stigma and the health of menstruating women are of major concern, one overlooked aspect is the state of non-biodegradable plastic sanitary pads. They are discarded once used but can sit in landfills for hundreds, if not thousands of years. But some innovations do address this concern.

“During our research, we found many women in rural India are not mindful about menstrual hygiene. They are also unaware of the availability of biodegradable and organic sanitary napkins,” says Aayushi, a student from Amity International School Saket, South Delhi.

“So we decided to design organic sanitary napkins that could be made by women themselves and would be readily available in the local markets,” she adds.

These pads (made of different natural components like cotton, sap gel and more), are very easy to make at home. They also include antifungal ingredients so that the pads do not harm the health of users.

“Napkins like these could help women get rid of ordinary pads made of harmful materials that can affect the body and the environment,” Aayushi adds.

“We also want to provide DIY kits in rural areas so that women can make their own pads,” says Kaavya Joshi. “Our message to young innovators like us is that we should never give up hope. We have to be confident about our ideas and persevere.” Kaavya adds.