Events

One key challenge that girls and women face in developing countries is the lack of access to menstrual products that are hygienic, acceptable, culturally appropriate, affordable and sustainable. The focus of this project is to apply engineering skills and principles to innovate a technical and social solution to address the issue of poor menstrual health and hygiene in developing countries. We are working to create a biodegradable, compostable sanitary pad containing superabsorbent biopolymer to address these menstrual hygiene needs. With further research into compostable technology, our pads will be developed to be completely biodegradable in a home compost system. We have an ongoing collaboration with Dr. Sunil Khanna from the School of Biological and Population Health Sciences. Dr. Khanna established a program in a small rural community in Maunatlala, Botswana where women struggle with the challenges that come with menstrual hygiene in developing countries. With the help of Dr. Khanna and his students, we plan to distribute 1500 menstrual pads to this community as our beta test site. The pads will be designed and produced in the School of CBEE Polymer Lab. We will utilize 3D printed equipment and assembly line tactics to mass produce our transformative prototype. We will then deliver the menstrual pads to girls and women of the rural Botswana community. The ultimate goal is to empower women in Botswana to manufacture their own pads based on our transformative prototype and promote grassroots systemic changes in menstrual health.