Conscious Hygiene

In parts of India, huge numbers of women don’t have access to sanitary napkins. When the founders of Saathi pads decided to try to tackle the problem, they wanted to do it in an eco-friendly way. So they created pads made from banana fibers that they say are 100% biodegradable. This also helps the local community: Saathi buys its materials from farmers who might other­wise throw the banana fibers away, and employs underprivileged women to produce the pads. The company recently launched a new product made from bamboo fibers. The innovative products provide “a hygienic, effective alternative to improve the lives of women without creating any negative environmental impact,” says Kristin Kagetsu, one of the company’s co-founders. She estimates that more than 6,000 women now use Saathi pads. —Amy Gunia