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DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGHLY ABSORBENT AND ANTIBACTERIAL

BIODEGRADABLE SANITARY PAD FROM BAMBOO

Conference Paper · May 2013

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 MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY

NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

2ND NATIONAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND
INNOVATION WEEK, DATES: 13 - 17 MAY 2013

THEME:
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION FOR THE
REALIZATION OF KENYA VISION 2030 AND BEYOND

Subtheme 4: Innovative Technology for Growth and Development.

DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGHLY ABSORBENT AND

ANTIBACTERIAL BIODEGRADABLE SANITARY PAD FROM
BAMBOO

*Ann Mburu and Joseph Kinyanjui

Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI)

P.O. BOX 30650 – 00100
NAIROBI

*Corresponding author, Email: wairimuann012@gmail.com, Tel: 020-6002210/1

 DEVELOPMENT OF A HIGHLY ABSORBENT AND ANTIBACTERIAL
BIODEGRADABLE SANITARY PAD FROM BAMBOO

Ann Mburu and Joseph Kinyanjui

Kenya Industrial Research Development Institute (KIRDI)
P.O. Box 30650-00100
Nairobi
ABSTRACT
On average, a woman uses approximately 15,000 pads over the course of her lifetime. A packet
of 10 pads costs approximately US$1, which is significantly more than the daily income of many
poor parents. In Kenya, unemployment rate stands at 54% and 58% of the population live in
abject poverty hence commercial pads are too expensive for most underprivileged schoolgirls
and young women. Girls who can’t afford the sanitary pads opt for low cost reusable cloth pads
which however, are unhygienic. Some even use crude low absorbent materials such as cotton
wool, tissue paper, rags, leaves that may be dirty and pose health threats. In extreme
circumstances, some girls even collect used pads from dumpsites for use. Due to these
menstruation hygiene management difficulties, 868,000 girls in Kenya miss 3.5 million learning
days, each month. The government, NGOs and other stakeholders have been providing free pads
to some poor schoolgirls. However the provision may not be sustainable in the long run since to
provide pads to post-pubescent poor schoolgirls would cost about $13M USD per year,
increasing at nearly 5% yearly. This research therefore evaluated the feasibility of developing
highly absorbent, antibacterial biodegradable sanitary pads from bamboo plant to bridge the gap
between the cheap and low absorbent unhygienic sanitary protection options and the absorbent,
unaffordable commercial pads. Such an innovation would lead to development of an affordable
quality pad that would enable poor schoolgirls uninterrupted school attendance and improved
overall academic performance.

Keywords; sanitary pad, poor schoolgirls, unhygienic alternatives, bamboo, novel quality pad,
biodegradable pad

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Sanitary protection and poor schoolgirl education

Adolescence is a crucial stage of life and one that is challenging for most girls because of its
physical and psychological changes. One of the major physiological changes in adolescence girls
is menstruation. Today in Kenya menstruation is not only a health concern, but also an
educational policy concern and has become a key factor in the country’s bid to achieve the
Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary
education by 2015 [1]. Lack of access to sanitary protection prejudices poor schoolgirls, since
most of them end up not going to school because they cannot afford to buy the sanitary pads and
fear staining themselves with blood in public.

Research shows that, a girl absent from school due to menses for 4 days in 28 days (a month)
loses 13 learning days equivalent to 2 weeks of learning in every school term. In a year (9

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months) a girl loses 39 learning days equivalent to 6 weeks of learning time [2]. This is a clear
indication that a girl child is a school drop-out while still in school. Though the government has
subsidized the sanitary pads to make them affordable and issued a policy for schoolgirls to be
supplied with free sanitary pads, it remains a mirage since the pads still remain expensive for the
poor girls [3]. As reported by the Daily Nation on Monday October 3, 2011 the government
needs Sh 1.6bn annually for the supply of sanitary towels to poor girls. The intervention has been
spearheaded by National Sanitary Towels Campaign (NSTC) in Kenya through Rotary with the
Girl Child Network (GCN), the Ministry of Education (MoE), Proctor & Gamble (P&G), and
other stakeholders since 2008 [4].

1.2 Sanitary pads selection

The selection of sanitary protection is very much a personal decision based on user preferences
and cultural acceptability. It is also influenced by the girl’s exposure, water supply and
affordability options. However, the following factors should be considered while selecting the
sanitary pad [5].
 Cultural acceptability of the product/traditional practices
 Affordability versus the resources available to the girl.
 Readily available materials/products.
 How comfortable/soft the materials are.
 How easily/quickly they dry in the case of reusable pads.
 Absorbency of the materials for light or heavy flow days.
 Washing, drying, storage and disposal options, including access to water supply.

1.3 Sanitary protection options and associated potential risks

There are two major options for sanitary protection which include the disposable commercial
pads and reusable cloth pads. The disposable pads are mostly preferred owing to the high
absorbency and comfort they give to the user compared to the reusable pad. However the
disposable pads are usually very expensive and unaffordable to the majority poor girls and
women in Kenya.

The disposable pads have also arguably been regarded as a health threat to the users. This is due
to the questions about the safety of using many of the commercially available products that have
been manufactured through chemical processes such as chlorine bleaching which releases dioxin
as a byproduct. Additives such as fragrances and deodorants, absorbency agents and wet-strength
agent often, poly-sorbate, urea formaldehyde which can also cause allergies and skin reactions
are also used to enhance the properties of the pad. [6] [7]. The effects of dioxin are bio-
accumulative and may stay in the body for 20 years after exposure, given that an average woman
uses approximately 15,000 pads over the course of her lifetime.

Because of potential risk factors associated with the disposable pads, some women have opted
for reusable sanitary pads as an alternative. The reusable pads are cheap and are more
environmentally-friendly than the commercial pads. However, they are unhygienic if not washed
thoroughly before and after use and often leak due to poor absorbency [8] [9]. Users also need to
have access to water and soap for washing the pad after each use which becomes a challenge to
the marginalized poor schoolgirls.
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Figure 1 illustrates a comparative analysis of the available sanitary protection options and the
anticipated highly absorbent, antibacterial disposable pads alternative to be developed.

Sanitary protection options

Reusable Cloth Crude means e.g. rags,

Conventional pads
Commercial pads
pads leaves, tissue papers,
e.g.Always,
e.g. Always
book pages

Advantages: Advantages: Advantages:

 Absorbent  Cheap  Free.
 Comfortable  Re usable  Easily available
Disadvantages:  Safe-Chemical free Disadvantages:
 Expensive Disadvantages:  High risk of
 Unsafe  Unhygienic contamination
 Not Eco-friendly  Inadequate absorbency  uncomfortable
 uncomfortable
 Water and soap required

Better Alternative:
Highly absorbent, antibacterial disposable
pads from locally available bamboo plants

Figure 1: Sanitary protection options and a better alternative pad to be developed (adopted and
modified from [8]).

2.0 PROPERTIES AND USES OF BAMBOO

Bamboo plant (BAMBUSA VULGARIS) is a perennial, giant woody grass which is a fast growing
species and high yield renewable resource. Bamboo fibres possess the following properties.
i. Antibacterial, Antifungal & Antistatic; contains a natural and unique agent called
“bamboo kun” which is a shield against pathogens
ii. Highly Comfortable Silky Feel; have a cooler feel and also prevents stickiness in warm
conditions.
iii. Absorbs and wicks water 3-4 times better than cotton and reduces body odor; bamboo
fiber is filled with multiple micro-holes and micro-gaps.

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 iv. Bamboo is environmentally friendly and sustainable; bamboo is 100% biodegradable and
can grow 3+ feet in one day, short harvesting cycle (2 to 3 years), the growth and use of
bamboo do not require deforestation.
Bamboo pulp has wide prospects in the field of hygiene materials such as sanitary napkins,
masks, mattresses and food packaging bags due to its antibacterial nature. Bamboo materials
include bandages, surgical cloths, nurses wear and so on. Bamboo fibre has a natural effect of
sterilization and bacteriostasis and therefore has incomparably wide foreground on application in
sanitary materials such as sanitary pads and absorbent pads [10].

3.0 DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL ANTIBACTERIAL AND BIODEGRADABLE PAD

An initiative to make available quality sanitary pads at low cost prices to the schoolgirls and
women is necessary. This can be realized by designing, developing and producing sanitary pads
using locally available materials from bamboo plant, aimed at providing a long term viable
alternative to the current practices.

Bamboo plant fibres would be an ideal substitute for wood pulp used in making sanitary pads
since the fibres possess desirable properties that can be harnessed into sanitary pads making. [11]
[12]. Sanitary pads made from bamboo fibres would also be more environmentally friendly than
the commercial pads because they would contain fewer chemicals.

The pulp is extracted from the plant culms. Opening and loosening of the bamboo structure is
one of the key factors leading to successful fibre extraction. The procedure involves a series of
chemical processes including soaking, boiling, washing and softening. Mostly mild alkaline
solutions like sodium carbonate is commonly used for this purpose since alkalis help break the
pectins in the ribbons without attacking the cellulose in the fibres [13]. Once the fibres are
extracted they are taken through the sanitary pad making procedure. The fibres are weighed and
pressed in a mould which is then sealed with a nonwoven fabric. The pad is then sterilized and
parked (http://newinventions.in/video.aspx).

4.0 IMPACT OF THE NOVEL BAMBOO PAD TO GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Innovation and development of a sanitary pad from locally available bamboo plant would offer
poor schoolgirls and young women with a quality and affordable sanitary protection option. The
poor schoolgirl’s education and overall academic performance, which is threatened by persistent
monthly drop outs owing to lack of proper and affordable sanitary protection can also, be
secured. Such an innovation would also eliminate the menace left by the non-biodegradable
commercial pads on dumpsites Production of the bamboo based sanitary pad would also lead to
creation of employment opportunities to the youth.

5.0 CONCLUSION
With unemployment rate standing at 54% and 58% of the population living in abject poverty it is
evident that Kenyan schoolgirls from poor families need an affordable, hygienic and sustainable
alternative solution to manage their menstruation days. This would ensure that the 868,000 girls
in Kenya do not miss 3.5 million learning days while avoiding school due to menstruation.
Commercial pads are unaffordable to majority of schoolgirls owing to their high cost. Alternative
reusable pads and crude means on the other hand have been presented as unhygienic. Following

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 the excellent absorbency, antibacterial, softness and biodegradability properties of bamboo
fibres, a novel alternative pad can therefore be developed.

6.0 RECOMMENDATION
Development of a sanitary pad from locally available bamboo plant, which would possess
superior performance qualities, affordable and biodegradable is highly recommended. Such an
innovation would be sustainable since the bamboo plant is perennial and regenerates faster once
harvested, hence no need for deforestation The Innovation and development of the novel pad
from locally available bamboo plant would be a milestone towards realization of vision 2030 and
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) whose deadline is 2015, which emphasizes on
universal primary education, gender equality and environmental sustainability.

REFERENCES

[1] Stella C. (2012), Menstruation and Education: How a lack of sanitary towels reduces school
attendance in Kenyan slums.
[2] RBA (2011), Financial Sector Regulators put smiles on girls’ faces by distributing free
reusable sanitary towels to two Kwale schools available at
http://www.rba.go.ke/index.php?option=com_newsarticle&view=newsarticle&n=25/
Accessed 24 Jan. 2013.
[3] Nakuru Women Empowerment Programme (NWEP) (2012), Sanitary pads and educational
support project Report.
[4] ZanaAfrica (2011), Sanitary pads; problem, solutions. Available at www.zanaa.org/why-we-
exist/why-sanitary-pads/ Accessed 24 Jan. 2013.
[5] Sarah, H., T, Mahon & Sue, C (2012), Module three; Menstrual hygiene – sanitary Protection
materials and disposal.
[6] DeVito M.J., Schecter A, (2002), Exposure assessment to dioxins from the use of tampons
and diapers, Environ Health Perspectives 110(1):23-8.
[7] World Health Organization (WHO) (2010): Dioxins and their effects on human health Fact
sheet N°225 May 2010.
[8] Crofts T. (2010).Will They Cotton On? An Investigation into Schoolgirls Use of Low-.
cost Sanitary Pads in Uganda, WEDC, Loughborough University, UK
[9] Scott, L., Dopson, S., Montgomery, P., Dolan, C. & Ryus, C (2009). Impact of Providing
Sanitary Pads to Poor Girls in Africa, Saïd Business School, Oxford University, Oxford
[10] CTITI, (2003). The end use of bamboo fibre. Available at www.
Swicofil.com/bambrotexenduses.html.
[11] Xu L, Wang M. (2004). Bamboo fibre and determination of its properties. Dyeing Finishing
J 28:31 – 34.
[12] Xu X. (2004). Study on degumming & refining processes and related technology of bamboo
bunch fibre [dissertation]. Donghua University.
[13] Jiajia F.,Gibson ,S. N., Carla,S.,Massimiliano C., Endry N. P.,Chongwen Y., Artur C.P &
Georg M. Gübitz (2012). Bio-processing of bamboo fibres for textile applications: a mini
review. Biocatalysis and Biotransformation.
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