Dr Sabapathy S and professor Anup Ok Ghosh, two subject material scientists in IIT Delhi, have advanced the Celligo BioSAP, an all-natural insert for sanitary pads which are super-absorbent and eco-friendly.
We roll in them a work of paper or a bag and throw them within the dustbin, by no means to seem again, or realise the affect that sanitary napkins have at the surroundings. Over 355 million girls are menstruating in India, of which 64% use sanitary pads.
This quantity quantities to the era of 13,000 tonnes of menstrual waste annually, which leads to landfills and pollutes the planet. The plastic in those repeatedly to be had pads makes them non-biodegradable and tough to cast off. This is the place an innovation by way of two subject material scientists from IIT Delhi may lend a hand. Previous this yr, they patented a fibre they declare is biodegradable and environment-friendly.
Amongst them is Dr Sabapathy S, founding father of Celligo Herbal Fibres, who notes, “The air pollution brought about by way of the menstrual hygiene sector is very large. The sorrowful section is that in contrast to different sectors, little to no innovation is finished right here to unravel this downside. I sought after to discover a viable resolution, and therefore, the corporate was once born.”
Managing menstrual hygiene and waste
Dr Sabapathy met his co-founder and mentor all the way through his faculty. “Professor Anup Ok Ghosh, who was once my professor and is now the co-founder of the corporate, has over 30 years of enjoy within the house of polymer processing. Either one of us sought after to discover a nature-friendly choice to the repeatedly to be had sap-based pads,” he says.
The duo’s analysis gave them two causes to paintings on their subject material.
“We discovered that almost all sanitary pads ‘made in India’ are best assembled right here. The primary subject material generation — artificial Tremendous Absorbent Polymer (SAP) — is imported from Japan, Maldives and a lot of small-scale and cottage industries are making pads. There aren’t any set requirements for subject material for use,” he says.
“As opposed to that, whilst you discuss biodegradable pad manufacturing, the situation is even worse. There’s a lack of know-how in regards to the harms of plastic-based pads on each ends — buyer and producer.”
Taking a look on the pressing want for a type that solves each problems, the duo began brainstorming concepts. After two years of trial and mistake, they had been in a position to discover a resolution in 2023.
“We would have liked to turn out to be an organization that gives the uncooked fabrics to small, cottage and even large-scale industries, another with which they are able to make biodegradable pads,” he explains.
The generation and the way it works
The duo have advanced a biodegradable, superabsorbent polymer that they name Celligo BioSAP, which has infused BioSAP into cellulose sheets to expand Celligo Biosheets. “As opposed to our patented Cellulose bio-SAP, we additionally use cotton gauge and pure starch within the sheets to lead them to absorbent and leakage resistant. Either one of those fabrics have excessive absorbency homes,” he explains.
“The issue with common pads is the artificial SAP this is utilized in maximum high-end sanitary napkins has a non-biodegradable nature. There are applied sciences the place folks have made pads out of bamboo and banana leaves, however it’s of little need if artificial SAP is getting used. This is the reason we made bio-sap and used pure elements to make the sheets,” he provides.
Professor Ghosh explains, “The only-use polymer and plastic sheet in common sanitary napkins isn’t excellent for the surroundings because of its non-biodegradable and non-compostable nature. This is the reason another resolution is a should and our patented bio-sheets, which is constituted of starch and pure cellulose, is an ideal instance of that.”
The Celligo Biosheets or bio inserts are a alternative for layers of plastic and polymer utilized in common pads making it an eco-friendly choice. “They’re large absorbent and in addition steer clear of any form of leakage all the way through use,” he provides.
Explaining how the fabric may also be helpful for any producer, Dr Sabapathy says, “Any producer can use those sheets to make biodegradable pads with out converting their present equipment and setup. For example, with a standard pad, there are 7-8 layers that include single-use plastic in it. However with our subject material, they are able to merely reduce down the ones layers and use bio-SAP sheets as an alternative of the usage of the similar equipment.”
The duo says the fabric is “seven instances extra absorbent and biodegradable than common pads, and that it begins to degrade inside of 3 months of disposal, making it much less damaging for the surroundings”.
Six months into the marketplace, the duo has been looking to unfold consciousness amongst producers to induce them to make the transfer. “One of the most two problems we discovered all the way through our analysis was once a lack of know-how. In a bid to unravel this downside, we’ve got arrange a semi-pilot scale trade the place the producers can come get our fabrics and be informed from us. We display them how switching will likely be excellent for the surroundings and isn’t an advanced procedure,” he says.
“Somebody who needs to be informed the method and get accustomed to the product is welcome to fulfill us and we will be able to lend a hand them,” notes Dr Sabapathy, including that they recently have consumers in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Amongst them is Kavitha Prakash from Bengaluru, a producer of pads beneath the identify Cross Natura, who was once in search of an eco-friendly choice. “I discovered them on-line and reached out to them. There was a pattern within the trade the place an increasing number of girls are in search of nature-friendly possible choices to pads. The fabric utilized in common pads is damaging no longer best to the surroundings, but in addition to the frame. There was analysis that says that artificial fabrics could cause most cancers. For those causes, I selected bio-sap sheets,” she says.
One find out about studies, “Artificial plastic fabrics had been used as liquid absorbents to beef up the capability and softness of sanitary pads and diapers. On the other hand, a few of these plastic fabrics unlock risky natural compounds (VOCs) and endocrine-disrupting chemical compounds, probably posing dangers to ladies and kids who use them.”
“I’ve disbursed a number of pads to colleges in Karnataka to get their comments and it’s been in reality nice. The women advised me that the pads had been very absorbent and there have been no leakage lawsuits,” Kavitha provides.
Speaking in regards to the long run, Dr Sabapathy says, “Despite the fact that we’re a brand new corporate, we’ve got had a perfect reaction with producers attempting to achieve us. With our cottage arrange, we’re looking to persuade an increasing number of producers to modify to biodegradable pad making. We’re making plans to achieve extra states in India for a similar. Our venture as an organization is to cut back as a lot menstrual waste as conceivable.”
You’ll know extra in regards to the sheets from their site and achieve Dr Sabapathy at 88009 84309
(Edited by way of Divya Sethu)