Sustainable menstrual solutions: a scoping review of novel eco-friendly materials for reusable menstrual pads.

Background: Reusable menstrual pads (RMPs) offer a sustainable alternative, but the effectiveness and properties of novel eco-friendly materials for RMPs remain unclear. The objective of this scoping review is to identify novel eco-friendly materials used for RMPs.

Methods: This review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. A comprehensive three-step search strategy was employed to locate both published and unpublished studies. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts using the software Covidence. Data were extracted and charted using a standardized form. This search was conducted in February, 2024.

Results: The search yielded 479 studies, 37 studies were assessed for full-text review, which led to inclusion of 16 studies. A diverse array of eco-friendly materials were identified for RMPs. The top layer includes bamboo, banana, organic cotton and other natural fibers. The core layer, focused on absorbency, features materials like cotton terry cloth, hemp, bamboo wadding and bamboo kun. The bottom layer uses water-repellent materials, such as polyester, polyurethane laminate, nylon and bio-plastic sheets.

Conclusion: This review highlights the potential of plant-based fibers as eco-friendly materials for RMPs.