We’ve heard this phrase umpteen number of times, but what does it even actually mean? One can argue that it is the equivalent of a ticking time bomb in the sense that the window of opportunity is finite (and closing). In this case, that analogy does hold up, because fertility is finite, after all. Over the course of time, a woman’s fertility tends to dip the older she gets – these changes are the reason why many women (in particular) are anxious to accomplish a lot of things on the reproductive front before they lose the (biological opportunity) to. 

Right from the first time a teen menstruates (menarche), the biological clock is set in motion – every month, there is a menstrual cycle that occurs (for most women on clockwork), which continues well into adulthood. However, this may start to fluctuate by mid to late thirties, when most women start having erratic periods due to an overall decline in estrogen levels. As one ages, significant changes alter the rhythm of the biological clock, which eventually leads to the natural end of periods (menopause), the mark of a woman’s departure from the reproductive years.  

What does the transition to menopause look like?

Menopause is considered the permanent end to menstruation, and this which occurs as a natural part of the aging process (for women hitting their 40s and early 50s), except in the cases of premature menopause (before 40s), either due to damage in the ovaries and/or surgical intervention. 

Menopause is a gradual transition process which takes place across three stages:

1) Perimenopause

Perimenopause is a transition phase which may begin before menopause – the ovaries may gradually stop producing estrogen and this phase could last for 3- 4 years on an average. Even though the ovarian function might decline and both estrogen and progesterone levels could fall during perimenopause, the menstrual cycle usually continues as per schedule and one may also stand the chance of becoming pregnant.

This phase brings major changes in libido, the beginning of hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, anxiety, and depression for most women. 

2) Menopause

This is the point when there is a rapid decline in estrogen levels, and viable eggs are no longer released by the ovaries. Over the course of a year (maybe even more), the  monthly periods stop eventually, and the official label of menopause is assigned when a woman doesn’t experience a period for a period of one year. 

Hot flashes are the most frequently occurring symptom of this phase, which refers to the brief sensation of heat in the body (this could vary in  intensity, frequency and duration for every individual). Women are a lot  more prone to emotional changes like anxiety, mood swings, loss of energy, and irritability as well. The other common symptoms include insomnia, memory lapses, vaginal dryness, hair loss, urine urgency, and breast tenderness, among the others. 

3) Post- menopause

This is the phase that unfolds after menopause – while menopausal symptoms may ease up for some women, they can continue to be present for others even for a decade or longer after the transition to menopause. In the case of the latter, there is a higher vulnerability to several health conditions, such as osteoporosis and heart disease as the estrogen levels are at an all-time low. 

Is menopause a pause on life? 

This phase can definitely be tricky to handle, but it does not signal the end of  life. If you ask us, one can surely dazzle at 40 or sizzle at 50, while being able to cope with the myriad changes brought in by the onset of menopause: 

• Eat right, stay right: Go minimalistic and nutrition-heavy with your diet. To soothe the hot flashes, make sure you skip triggers like spicy food, alcohol, smoking, and caffeine.

• Consult your doctor regularly: Take advice from your doctor before introducing any supplements and/or medicines in your daily regime. Also remember to go for routine checkups, a yearly mammogram, to do sonography and pap smear tests as well. 

• Pamper your mind and body: Self-care can go a looooong way. Do not let putting on the kilos put you off too much because weight gain is a common challenge for women transitioning into the menopause stage. But believe us when we say that a portion of yoga and some ‘me-time’ coupled with good sleep, a good diet, good mindful practices and a healthy social life can help you heal and stay happier.

Read more on coping mechanisms to deal with menopause and beyond here.

• Try to be present: Menopause can hit you with loads of emotions at the same time. Most women are likely to face loneliness, anxiety and irritability – the key is to accept your emotions as they come and let them go gradually. Do what makes you happy, invest your time in meaningful relationships, and stay engaged positively. 

We’re sure you’ll be able to power on through the menopause phase! 

The post Menopause: A Pause on Periods – Not You! appeared first on Ignite the Spark.

In this article, we will discuss the biodegradability and compostability of ingredients used in the different layers of a sanitary pad.

Today, health-conscious and eco-conscious consumers are willing to go the extra mile to purchase products that are good for the environment. Some brands take advantage of this fact and use misleading eco-friendly terminology to trick you into buying something that may not really be as sustainable as you might have thought. 

Before we get into the technicalities, let us understand the composition of the different layers in a sanitary pad:

Sanitary pads are available in a wide range of styles and absorbencies. Most commercial sanitary pads are made with multiple layers wherein each layer is chosen with desired characteristics for a specific function as described below.

Synthetic Ingredients Used In Conventional Sanitary Pads

Did you know that conventional sanitary pads contain up to 90% plastic and remain unchanged in landfills for around 600-800 years after their disposal?

 Sustainable Plant-Based Ingredients Used In A Sparkle Sanitary Pad

We have carefully chosen sustainable plant-based ingredients that are gentle on your skin and kind to the planet. Made from banana fibres, bamboo fibres and corn starch, Sparkle pads do not contain plastics, perfumes or other harsh chemicals.                                     

The law does not require menstrual hygiene product manufacturers to disclose the ingredients. At Sparkle, we hold ourselves to higher standards. Instead of using misleading words, we believe in sharing the details of our offerings openly.

*Due to limitations in global technological advancements, 100% biodegradable and compostable hot-melt adhesive suitable for our application does not exist anywhere in the world yet. We are continuously collaborating with leading adhesive companies across the globe to develop a newer, more sustainable grade of hot-melt adhesive that can be suitable to be used in Sparkle pads.  

At the moment, Sparkle pads are made up of around 97% bio-based, natural and compostable ingredients that can biodegrade in about 6 months of disposal under ideal microbial conditions. The remaining 2-3% of ingredients that may not be classified as 100% biodegradable and compostable materials, mainly include hot-melt adhesives, as no suitable alternatives are available at the moment.

To learn more about what happens to a soiled sanitary pad after you throw it in a waste bin, where it ends up, and the biodegradability and compostability of the same in a landfill, please read the following section: 

Part 3: Guidelines For The Disposal Of Soiled Sanitary Pads

The post Synthetic Ingredients Used In Conventional Sanitary Pads And Their Sustainable Alternatives appeared first on Ignite the Spark.

While doing this, we don’t realize the fact that by disposing pad waste irresponsibly, we are poisoning our planet with tons of plastic and harsh petrochemicals. Because most sanitary napkins available in the market use non-compostable, synthetic materials. Even many companies that claim to sell 100% biodegradable and compostable sanitary napkins are just using these buzzwords as marketing gimmick.

So, before we start the discussion on how to dispose of a sanitary pad sustainably, we must understand critical concerns that conventional sanitary pads bring to our lives.

The Real Problem: Surge in Plastic Pollution from Sanitary Napkin Waste

The major issue lies in the composition of conventional pads that contain up to 90% plastic and other petrochemical byproducts which remain unchanged in the landfill for around 600-800 years after disposal.

Currently, only in India, with 1 in 6 women using pads, around 150,000 tons of pad waste is generated per year. If all of India’s 355 million women start using pads, it will result in approximately 1,000,000 tons of pad waste annually. 

Here is a shocking estimation by Global Health Non-Profit, PATH “over 1 billion non-compostable sanitary pads are making their way into urban sewerage systems, landfills, rural fields and water bodies in India every month.”

Sanitary napkins that get dumped in acres of landfills get picked up by birds and animals, which in turn lead to the pollution of land and water. Microscopic plastic particles that reach the ocean get transferred through multiple layers of the food chain, where the final result could even end up on your plate.

To tackle these issues, waste management systems have evolved over the years. However, when it comes to disposal of soiled sanitary napkins, there is no clarity on classification of sanitary pad waste. 

The Confusion: Solid Waste vs. Biomedical Waste

According to Indian Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, “items contaminated with blood and body fluids, including cotton, dressings, soiled plaster casts, linens and bedding, are bio-medical waste and should be incinerated, autoclaved or microwaved to destroy any pathogens.”

However, according to the Indian Solid Waste Management (SWM), soiled napkins, diapers, condoms, tampons and blood-soaked cotton, which are household waste, should be disposed of after its segregation into biodegradable and non-biodegradable nature.

Even if you have a backyard composting pit at your home, it is not recommended to compost feminine hygiene products such as pads, tampons, panty-liners or wipes that come in contact with bodily fluids. Because homemade composting systems do not provide an adequate environment or temperature that kill the bacteria and the pathogens. 

Most of the industrial compost facilities do not accept sanitary pad wastes too. Even in developed countries like the United States, sanitary pad waste ends up in landfills since the customary disposal system is the solid waste stream.

Current Methods Used in India for Soiled Sanitary Pads Disposal

In urban areas, women typically dispose of used sanitary pads in a waste bin, where they eventually end up in a landfill. 

In rural areas, women bury them in a pit. 

In public areas such as schools, offices or municipal toilets, where women may not have access to waste disposal bins, they flush the used sanitary pad in the toilet or even leave them in the corners.

Since non-biodegradable sanitary pads do not decompose for a long time, they lead to the clogging of toilets, sewerage systems and drains. 

Moreover, the social stigma surrounding menstruation and the lack of proper infrastructure for the collection and disposal of sanitary pad waste can lead to serious health and environmental hazards in India.

Recommended Options for Disposal of Different Sanitary Wastes (as per MHM Guidelines 2015)

Source: Indian Menstrual Hygiene Management National Guidelines

Incinerating conventional pads that contain up to 90% plastic is not the ideal method to dispose of a sanitary pad since it releases harmful gases into the environment. Disposing of conventional plastic pads in landfills is not ideal either as they remain unchanged for around 600-800 years after disposal.

The Smart Option: Switch to Natural and Sustainable Sanitary Pads

Until we can collectively find a better solution to this massive environmental and health obstacle caused by sanitary pad waste disposal, you can take it upon yourself to reduce plastic pollution caused by conventional pads and switch to sustainable products instead. (But ensure you are taking an informed decision and buying genuine products that mention their complete list of ingredients.)

How Sparkle is Addressing the Pad Waste Challenge

We started Sparkle with an objective to provide sustainable, affordable and effective period products to everyone. We wanted to provide a genuine, reliable alternative. But we faced some fundamental challenges when we were developing the initial prototype. 

To get Sparkle sanitary pads certified as biodegradable and compostable products, we contacted globally reputed agencies such as ‘Biodegradable Products Institute’ that provides certification services for compostable products. We received the following reply from the ‘Biodegradable Products Institute’:

“We do not certify sanitary pads because compost sites will not accept them. We only certify items that are acceptable at compost facilities.”

This reply made us re-examine the fundamental problem we were trying to solve, which was developing a compostable product which may never end up at an industrial compost facility. 

That’s when we shifted our focus to developing a sanitary pad with sustainable, bio-based and natural ingredients that could easily biodegrade after disposal. 

We realised that rather than making a sanitary pad that could claim the tag of 100% biodegradable or compostable, it would be better to focus on using natural ingredients that could break down quickly after its disposal, along with regular garbage.

We manufactured a product that’s made from plant-based ingredients like banana fibre, bamboo fibre, and cornstarch. 

No plastic. No harsh chemicals and no toxic fragrances. Sparkle sanitary pads can break down much faster than conventional plastic pads, even in the landfill.

Importantly, each pack of Sparkle pads comes with individual travel friendly bags for hassle free disposal.

Conclusion

This article was an attempt to help you transform yourself into a smart consumer of sustainable products. Because it’s in your hand: what impact you want to have on your surroundings. By making a wise decision, you can make a positive difference in the environment and in the society at large.

Begin your sustainable journey today.

Welcome to Sparkle!

The post Breaking the Dilemma of Sanitary Pads Disposal appeared first on Ignite the Spark.

So, as a brand that truly believes in full transparency, we have put together a simple guide that can help bring you more clarity as to the different ingredients we use to make our Sparkle pads. This guide will also point out the common misconceptions about biodegradable and compostable sanitary pads available in the market.

Before we get into the technicalities, let’s start with a quick quiz to test your knowledge about the sanitary pads you currently use:

1. What is the difference between a biodegradable product and a compostable product?
2. Are you sure that the sanitary pad you currently use is biodegradable or compostable?
3. What types of plastic or other petrochemical byproducts are present in your sanitary pads, and what are their quantities?
4. What is the correct way to dispose of a used sanitary pad?
5. What happens to a soiled sanitary pad, after you throw it into a waste bin?
6. How many years (or hundreds of years) does it take for a used sanitary pad to decompose after disposal?

By the time you complete reading this guide, you will have all the information you need to make an informed decision before your next purchase. You will also learn how to identify and interpret misleading buzzwords that are used by certain brands to trick you into buying something that may not really be as eco-friendly as you might have thought once.        

To help you understand the concept of biodegradability and compostability better, especially in the context of sanitary pads, we have divided this guide into the following three parts:

• Part 1: Understanding Biodegradability And Compostability Of Different Materials
• Part 2: Synthetic Ingredients Used In Conventional Sanitary Pads And Their Sustainable Alternatives
• Part 3: Guidelines For Proper Disposal Of Soiled Sanitary Pads

Part 1: Understanding Biodegradability And Compostability Of Different Materials

Unfortunately, the terms ‘biodegradable’, ‘compostable’, ‘oxo-degradable’ and many such others are frequently misused in marketing and advertising to sell products that may not entirely be eco-friendly. Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they are not synonymous.                               

To get clarity on the exact differences between biodegradability and compostability, let’s understand how we utilize different plant-based, animal-based or natural mineral-based resources, while transforming their inherent properties to develop value-added products that we use in our day-to-day lives.

What Comes From Nature Eventually Goes Back Into Nature

Everything created by nature will eventually degrade into basic building blocks that will in turn, constitute nature itself. Even raw crude oil will eventually breakdown when exposed to water, air and salts, if given enough time.

If the material is in its relatively natural form, it can easily break down into natural elements, carbon dioxide, and water vapour by organisms like bacteria and fungi. However, if the material is synthesised in a lab from element combinations that do not exist in nature, there may not be corresponding micro-organisms that can break them down. For example, products made from man-made petrochemical compounds are altered in such a way that they are unrecognisable to microorganisms and enzymes that return natural materials to their basic building blocks. Therefore, plastic as well will not break down back into the petroleum from which it is created.

What does the term ‘biodegradable’ mean?

The term ‘biodegradable’ has no legal definition which can be used to clearly differentiate between materials that fall either under the category of biodegradable or non-biodegradable.         

According to European Bioplastics, “Biodegradation is a chemical process during which microorganisms that are available in the environment convert materials into natural substances such as water, carbon dioxide, and compost (artificial additives are not needed). The process of biodegradation depends on the surrounding environmental conditions (e.g. location or temperature), on the material and the application.”

In other words, if something is biodegradable, it simply means that it will break down over some time. Biodegradability is a very vague term since it does not define the length of time needed for products to decompose.

Technically, just about everything can be called ‘biodegradable’, although it may take hundreds and thousands of years for items to biodegrade.

According to an Ohio State professor, Frederick Michel, Polyethylene (PE), the most widely used plastic, technically biodegrades 0.1% every ten years if present under the soil. Dr Michel points out, “Is it therefore biodegradable? Probably not.”

Some companies are quite straightforward with their objective – they make specific claims about the timeframe and the environmental conditions under which their products can biodegrade instead of simply claiming the tag of “biodegradability” without establishing further context. Materials that take a long time to biodegrade or have a very poor degradation rate are often referred to as ‘non-biodegradable‘.

As a smart consumer, you should ask yourself the following questions whenever you purchase a ‘biodegradable’ product:

• Is the material relatively in its natural form, or has it been synthesised in a lab from combinations of elements that do not exist in nature?
• How long does it take for the material to actually break down?
• Are there any contaminants or toxic substances left behind during the degradation process?

It is also important to note that it may take longer for items to biodegrade in landfills where the light, temperature and bacterial activities required for degradation are not at the optimal level. For example, even relatively natural materials such as orange or banana peels may also take around a year to biodegrade in landfills.

In most cases, it is the temperature and the level of microbial activity, which determines the rate and level of biodegradation.

What does the term “compostable” mean?

Compostable materials (a subset of biodegradable materials) are made from natural materials that can decompose fully into ‘compost’ without producing visible, distinguishable, or toxic residue in a specific timeframe under certain conditions.           

However, to be classified as ‘compostable’, products must meet all the requirements defined by globally accepted standards such as the European Standard EN 13432 or the US Standard ASTM D6400.

Here is a brief summary of the EN 13432 requirements for ‘compostable’ products:

• Biodegradation of 90% of the materials should occur in a commercial composting unit within 180 days.
• No more than 10% of material fragments should be larger than 2mm after 12 weeks.
• Leftover compost should be free of toxins.
• There should not be any adverse impacts on the ability of the compost to support plant growth.

Compostable materials are also biodegradable, but biodegradable materials may not be compostable.

It is also important to note that composting is a controlled process that usually happens in an industrial composting facility. Not all compostable materials are suitable for home composting unless the product has been certified as ‘home compostable’.

At an industrial compost facility, a temperature of around 60C is maintained in the presence of certain microorganisms for a duration of 90 days to create compost which can be repurposed for agriculture. Home backyard composting, on the other hand, refers to the cooler aerobic breakdown of organic matter at atmospheric temperatures.

As a smart consumer, it is essential for you to get yourself familiarised with some of the logos provided by global agencies for compostable products:

Besides the terms ‘biodegradable’ and ‘compostable’, there are a few other terms that are often misinterpreted.

Bio-based: A term often used to define organic materials in which the carbon comes from contemporary (non-fossil) biological sources such as corn, cereals, sugar beets, cassava or sugarcane crops.                                            

Oxo-degradable: A conventional petroleum-based plastic mixed with an additive in order to imitate biodegradation. Oxo-degradable plastics break down into smaller and smaller pieces, also known as microplastics. However, they do not break down at the molecular or polymer level. In other words, microplastics remain unchanged in the environment for hundreds of years.

Source: European Bioplastics

What does the term ‘organic’ mean?

Brands that claim that their products are made with 100% organic materials should honestly and transparently disclose the traceability and certifications for the organic ingredients used in their products.

As an intelligent consumer, you should look for the following logos provided by global agencies for certifying organic products before making an informed purchase-oriented decision.

To better understand the concept of biodegradability and compostability, especially in the context of sanitary pads, please read the information given below:

Part 2: Synthetic Ingredients Used In Conventional Sanitary Pads And Their Sustainable Alternatives

The post Biodegradable Sanitary Pads: Everything You Need To Know appeared first on Ignite the Spark.