AWARD YEAR
2015
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Responsible Consumption & Production
KEYWORDS
sustainable, Reusable, Menstruation
COUNTRY
India
DESIGNED BY
Kathy Walking (Ecofemme) • Lakshmi Murthy (Uger)
WEBSITE
http://www.jatansansthan.org/uger-pads/
Ecofemme and Uger, reusable cloth sanitary pads from India. Restructuring the anatomy of menstrual products!
Washable cloth pads for healthy, environmentally sustainable & dignified way to manage menstruation.
Women all over the world have used cloth for their monthly menstrual flow for generations. Observing the rapid infiltration of disposable sanitary napkins in recent years into India – a country with inadequate waste disposal systems – is what has inspired and motivated the research and development of cloth washable pads by Uger and Ecofemme. They have worked independently yet collaboratively to introduce the new option into the Indian market, which has a positive impact on health and environment. The pads have unique features:
• layers of cotton cloth to withstand washing and re-use for up to 3 years.
• contour, size options, wings, snaps for fixing to underwear
• carry pouch
• Uger - fabric touching the skin is white to identify abnormal discharges
• Ecofemme - bottom surfaces leak proof by coating of Polyurethane layer
• Ecofemme began in 2010 and Uger pads in 2012.
• Uger and Ecofemme pads are stitched by women from lower economic groups providing them a livelihood.