Making sanitary pads from grass

Making sanitary pads from grass (Photo: F. Wandia) The silent barrier to girls' education in many regions isn't a lack of resources but a natural and recurring biological event: menstruation. Still a deeply entrenched taboo, this monthly cycle unjustly limits access to schooling for countless girls, tragically widening the gender gap in education. But Faith Wandia, 26, has devised a solution to the problem by developing affordable and eco-friendly sanitary towels made out of grass. She commenced a bold journey in fighting poverty during the period using grass in a country where over 60 percent of women and girls cannot afford sanitary towels, as documented by USAID and ActionAid, which has led to significant menstrual hygiene challenges. We found Wandia busy washing grass, which we learned was a component in crafting her sanitary towel. The Eve team visited Wandia to learn more about her latest innovation, and this time, she was using grass to revolutionise the sanitary towel industry. She is the founder of Wandia Innovation Company, holding a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Finance for her master's. With a background in business, Wandia has developed solutions in the biotechnology sector. "It all started in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic with a lot of free time. I came up with an idea of converting grass into human food," she said. Wandia says grass is the most abundant, underutilised resource that grows quickly with high yield and is biodegradable. Since then, she said the idea has evolved and she discovered how grass can be used in making many innovative solutions that could help in solving real-world problems such as hunger and period poverty while eradicating plastic waste. Two years ago, Wandia was recognised for her ground-breaking grass flour innovation, which is meant to solve the hunger problem globally. "Yes, I'm using grass to bring dignity to girls and women who cannot afford sanitary products and are forced to skip school or work when they menstruate. If grass can feed us, why can't it help in restoring dignity?" says Wandia. She says menstruation shouldn't hinder women from achieving their dreams. Wandia is saddened by the fact that women and girls in rural areas are forced to use unsafe materials like rags, animal skins and leaves when they are on their periods. "Menstruation is not a choice, yet 60 per cent of women and girls cannot afford sanitary pads and end up using unsafe alternatives such as leaves and rags, to the extent that others drink herbs to stop menstruation," she claims. The unhealthy use of unsafe pads has exposed girls and women to infections, discomfort and humiliation. The situation, she said, can be solved by using grass, saying it is safe. "You see all these sanitary towels in the market; they use wood pulp, which contributes to deforestation. The top layer is made up of polypropylene, which is a plastic that might take years to decompose," she adds. For a long time, she says ladies have been complaining of irritation and infections during and after having their periods. Wandia says these were a result of a chemical used. Using grass, Wandia explained, helps in conserving the environment due to its biodegradable nature. "The top layer of the sanitary pad will consist of nonwoven fabric cotton with grass fibers - no plastics, no chemicals, just nature solving real problems," she added. She believes that with proper investment, her sanitary grass towel would eradicate period poverty globally. According to her, grass has the potential to restore dignity and save the planet. "The grass I'm using is something sourced locally, readily available and has been to laboratories to test its viability," she added. Grass, she said, is harvested, washed, chopped into small pieces, boiled to form a soft fiber, then ground into a porridge-like consistency and compressed to form the absorbent core of sanitary towels and the bioplastic part. A kilogram of grass produces up to 15 sanitary towels. She has since leased an acre for the grass that will be used to launch the sanitary grass pads in September. Before commencing the project, Wandia conducted research by analysing the sanitary pads in the market. "Following my research, I established that companies don't use biodegradable materials; pads consist of three major parts: the top layer, which is in contact with the skin, then the absorbent core and then the bottom layer," she explains. The top layer, she says, most companies use nonwoven polypropylene, which takes centuries to decompose. For the absorbent core, she added that the sanitary parts in the market use wood pulp and synthetic superabsorbent polymer, which is chemical-based and causes irritation. The bottom layer, she said, is plastic polyethylene, meaning ladies have been forced to choose between affordability and protecting the environment. "Women have not been given an alternative to choose; that is why I decided to give an alternative," she adds. Her product is composed of the top layer, which is cotton non-woven fabric; the absorbent core, where she uses grass fibers; and the bottom layer, which is grass-based bioplastic. "No plastic, no chemicals, just nature solving problems," she added. Competitive analysis Grass sanitary pads are affordable; she says that a packet consisting of 10 pieces will go for Sh60, unlike the traditional pads in the market. The traditional sanitary towels, she said, a packet with eight pieces ranges from Sh75 to Sh150. "Being biodegradable, grass sanitary towels degrade within weeks. There are no chemicals in grass sanitary pads," she added. She dreams of a world without plastics, with advanced technology and innovation. Wandia stated that by using grass, among other innovations, the world will be free from harmful emissions to the environment. "When I shared my concept of grass sanitary towels with my peers, at first they were skeptical, but after enlightening them on the contents used to manufacture traditional pads, they ended up changing their minds," she added. She is planning to work with institutions dealing with menstrual health. Innovation, she says, is a game-changer that the government should support in ensuring that the country is advanced and produces products manufactured locally. "Environmental issues are a global problem, but governments should handle the matter seriously in solving the menace created by plastics," she said.

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