Use of menstrual cups reduce generation of non-biodegradable waste by 99 pct: Study

Scientist Soumya Swaminathan released a report on World Environment Day on June 5 about the use of menstrual cups a method for managing menstrual hygiene and for reducing the generation of total nonbiodegradable waste of disposable sanitary pads by 99 per centThe report Why India needs to move beyond sanitary pads has been brought out by Action Research and Training for Health ARTH at a webinar titled Sustainable Menstrual Hygiene Options The event was hosted by ARTH and Population Foundation of IndiaSwaminathan said The report estimates that a woman generates around 141 kg of nonbiodegradable waste in a lifetime if she uses commercially manufactured disposable sanitary pads On the other hand if she uses menstrual cups she will generate 06 kg of nonbiodegradable waste This reduces the generation of total nonbiodegradable waste by 99 per cent and is an example of a winwin intervention that is good for the environment and good for health and hygieneMenstrual cups are practical hygienic and costeffective More and more women need to know about them and myths around their use need to be bustedThe webinar included voices of young champions who shared their experiences of leading initiatives for menstrual hygiene and cloth pad accessibility in their respective communitiesAs many as 77 per cent of girls and women 89 per cent in urban areas and 72 per cent in rural areas in the 1524 years age group were using a hygienic method for managing their menstruation according to NFHS5 201921ARTH has successfully introduced menstrual cups in two districts of Rajasthan as part of a documented study the findings of which were shared at the webinarThe study analyses the various methods available for menstrual hygiene management and the urgent need to expand to sustainable and reusable methods which benefit both women and the environmentPoonam Muttreja executive director of Population Foundation of India said the advantages of menstrual cups were that it offered longer duration of menstrual apart from costeffectivenessHowever it is important to undertake communication campaigns with communities that they support the use of menstrual cups Evidence shows that women who transitioned from locally made cloth pads to cups experienced high levels of satisfaction Promoting cups as a method of menstrual hygiene management along with other options like pads and tampons will offer choice to women and let them choose a method that they prefer to useThe ARTH report states that pads are the most used method as these have been widely promoted by the corporate sector and distributed free or subsidised by the governmentIt notes that pads consist of 49 per cent polymers and disposal of used pads remains a problem only two Indian cities Pune and Bengaluru separate menstrual waste during routine garbage collectionThe recommended methods for treating and disposing used pads include use of incinerators deep burial composting and pitburningHowever not doing this can lead to negative health and environmental impacts The study also observes that tampons with 10 per cent nonbiodegradable content are not reusableMaking a case for menstrual cups the report states that cups have been available since 1930s and are sold under various brand names in the market and on ecommerce sitesMade of medical grade silicon the cup does not break down into microplasticsIt is reusable and has a far lower environmental impact than sanitary pads said Sharad Iyengar CEO of ARTHAlso Read World Environment Day 2023 How zoomers unite to clean up Mumbai beachesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever