1. SUSTAINABILITY IN FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS ADVOCATING REUSABLE CLOTH NAPKINS OVER DISPOSABLE SANITARY NAPKINS BINDU and MIN info@earthandus.org Strategic solutions for a sustainable world

2. Our formula for changing consumption behaviour for greater sustainability Accurate data Simple Communication Behaviour Change

3. From disposable pads to reusable pads Behaviour Change

4. Why feminine hygiene products? Accurate data Simple Communication Behaviour Change Collective impact in India One woman disposes 125 kg of sanitary napkins in her menstruating life time 355,000,000 women X 125 kg = 44,375,000,000 kgs of sanitary napkins

5. What does a disposable pad (DP) contain? Bleached cellulose wood pulp 4.5 gm Accurate Data Super Absorbent Acrylate Polymers (gel) 0.6 gm Perforated plastic top layer 1.1 gm Polypropylene back sheet 0.96 gm Silicon paper 0.67 gm Hot melt seal 0.45 gm Hot melt positioning seal 0.14 gm

6. Disposal of DP: Social and Env. Impact ? = 500-800 years to decompose Releases toxins into the soil OR = Infections through skin contact Accurate Data

7. Disposal of DP: Social and Env. Impact ? = = Release of dioxin, furans, and asphyxiant gases into the environment = = Diseases and Death Accurate Data

8. What does an Eco Femme pad contain? Cotton and Polyeutherate Layer Unbleached cotton flannel Brushed cotton flannel with non-toxic dyes Accurate Data

9. Eco Femme pad: Impacts Environmental impacts : Usage = water & soap over 360 washes during the life of the product Disposal in landfill (minimal toxins from polyeutharate layer) Health impacts = negligible Social impact = positive benefits Accurate Data

10. Awareness campaigns Simple Communic ation

11. Changing attitudes towards cloth pads Cloth is not inherently unhygienic; DSNs are not really sanitary What is really ‘convenient’ or ‘inconvenient’? What are the lines between fact and opinion? Can they change? Behaviour Change

12. Choose the most ethical cloth pad Behaviour Change

13. Our vision: Develop an online rating system Nudge consumers to ethical choices Shove corporations to making ethical products Accurate data Simple Communication Behaviour Change

14. Individual Change: Try reusable products Convince others Cross-systems and cross-scale changes Social Organizations Empower women by breaking taboos & open dialogues Government “Hug”: Distribute reusable pads for free “Smack” corporations through law enforcement Behaviour Change

15. Request from us for the earth Start manufacturing units of quality cloth pads (we will provide the consultancy) Support research and development into cloth pads Support advocacy of cloth pads in mainstream society Thank you earthandus.org