Sustainable menstrual products: The challenges ahead

ABSTRACT Taboos regarding menstruation in society have greatly influenced the lives of women. Women and the environment are also affected by the commercialization of menstrual products by the corporate giants that sell these. This exploratory study was undertaken through in-depth interviews to identify the challenges women face while menstruating. It was broadly seen that women were inclined to use traditional or older menstrual products they were used to. Some reasons for the gaps in the awareness and knowledge regarding what have been called sustainable menstrual products (SMPs) have also been identified to represent the themes of Self-concept, Pre-conceived notions, Accessibility, Routines, and Knowledge. We note here that if such gaps in information are addressed, awareness and knowledge about SMPs would increase and lead towards their adoption. Further, we seek to provide future directions for researchers to study some novel menstrual products that are considered sustainable.