Menstrual Waste in India: How Reusable Period Panties Can Reduce Plastic Pollution

Every month, an estimated 440 million women and girls in India manage their periods, and for many, disposable sanitary pads are the primary menstrual product. These products have played a significant role in improving menstrual hygiene, accessibility, and awareness over the years.

But if we step back and ask a bigger question - "Is this the most sustainable way to support menstrual health for the next decade?"- the answer becomes more complicated.

When we look at the numbers, disposable menstrual products create a significant financial and environmental burden. Reusable menstrual products, particularly period panties, offer an opportunity to rethink menstrual care at scale by reducing waste while providing long-term value.

Looking at India's Numbers

India is home to an estimated 440 million menstruators, making it one of the world's largest populations requiring menstrual care every month.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), around 78% of women aged 15–24 use hygienic methods of menstrual protection, including disposable sanitary pads, tampons, menstrual cups, and reusable products. However, access and usage vary significantly across income groups, geography, and awareness levels.

One government initiative, the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), has sold more than 100 crore Suvidha Oxo-Biodegradable Sanitary Pads since its launch. While this is a significant milestone, it represents only the distribution through the Jan Aushadhi network and not the total number of disposable sanitary pads sold in India, which is considerably higher.

To understand the scale of menstrual product demand, consider a simple illustration.

If a menstruator uses an average of 32 pads per menstrual cycle (approximately four pads per day over eight days), then:

• 440 million menstruators

• × 32 pads per cycle

• × 12 cycles per year

= Around 169 billion menstrual products may be required annually if disposable pads were the primary product used by every menstruator.

In reality, not every woman uses disposable pads, and usage varies depending on affordability, availability, personal preference, and access to menstrual products. Even so, the calculation highlights the enormous scale of menstrual care required in India—and why conversations around affordability, sustainability, and reusable alternatives are becoming increasingly important.