Banana Sanitary Pads

Product Analysis

Women's choices in menstrual hygiene products have changed over the past few decades as a result
of comfort, use, and economic considerations. The vast amount of menstrual-related non-
biodegradable waste produced in a nation like India, where women make up nearly 50% of the
population, has serious environmental consequences. Given that the majority of people in the
nation are from low-middle-class origins, observing healthy menstrual hygiene practices with
environmentally friendly products calls for taking into account accessible and highly sustainable
options. Furthermore, women are turning to the market for reusable products for inexpensive and
durable alternatives because period poverty is now more prevalent than ever due to the COVID-
19 pandemic. Therefore, by evaluating the viability and acceptability (FA) of a novel menstruation
pad made of banana fiber in rural and urban environments.

Why Banana Fiber?

In about 9–12 months, banana plants grow quickly. These plants turn into agro-waste when the
banana crop is harvested. These leftover stems are usually burned by farmers, which pollutes the
environment.

Agro-waste is produced on 800,000 hectares of banana plantations in India, which totals 64 million
tons. Banana fields occupy more than 9 million hectares worldwide. Given that it is derived from
the plentiful stems of banana trees, no additional land is needed to produce natural banana fiber.
A natural super absorbent and highly effective at securing menstrual fluid is banana fiber.

Selling banana stems or fibers that were previously discarded as agro-waste allows banana farmers
to make an additional profit on each harvest.
The production room, which houses the fully automated Italian pad production line, has epoxy
flooring and central air conditioning with positive pressure. We adhere to tight manufacturing
process controls at every stage of the production process.
Features:

● No plastics, no harsh chemicals, no artificial fragrances

● Made with biodegradable & compostable ingredients
● Super-soft top layer
● Advanced stay-in-place wings
● Rapid fluid distribution channels
● Wider back to ensure extra coverage
● Leak-proof protection you can trust

Porter Five Force Model

An industry's vulnerabilities and strengths can be ascertained using Porter's Five Forces, a model
that identifies and examines five competitive forces that affect every industry. The structure of an
industry is typically identified using the Five Forces analysis to develop company strategy.

Any sector of the economy can benefit from using Porter's model to better understand industry
competition and increase long-term profitability.

1. Competition in the industry:

The nature of the market is concentrated with the presence of few manufacturers who compete in
terms of prices, quality, and innovation. Some of the leading players operating in the market are:

● P&G

● Johnson & Johnson

● Unicharm

● Emami, Ltd.

● Mankind

● Kimberly-Clark

● Edgewell
 2. Potential of new entrants into the industry

A sanitary pad is one health and hygiene product that women across the globe are using -
to battle period discomfort in the most effective way. In this fast-paced life, alternatives
like tampons and menstrual cups are available. Still, sanitary pads remain the first choice
among women. A new study has found high amounts of chemicals in popular sanitary
napkins sold in India, which are associated with health risks like heart disorders, diabetes,
and cancer. Thus, a few new sanitary napkin brands are emerging with environmentally
friendly options using natural materials like bamboo and banana fibers which are not
harmful.

3. Power of suppliers

The main raw material is banana fiber and it can be sourced from fruits and vegetable vendors or
from rural areas where there is abundant availability of banana stem from where the fibers can be
extracted. This can also lead to women’s empowerment in rural areas.

4. Power of customers

Customers are left with a variety of options for sanitary napkins that have been in the market for
several years. But due to the increase in the health consciousness of people, they are looking for
safe products. Very few brands have claimed that they are 100% natural and safe for menstruating
women. Since the production cost of banana sanitary napkins is low, they can be sold at a lower
price compared to the other products, making them more affordable for the customers.

5. Threat of substitute products

There are already a lot of existing brands in the market. Apart from this, menstruating women have
a lot of alternate products like menstrual cups, tampons, menstrual sponges, washable clothes, etc.
BRISK Model

B (Business Opportunity, Business Model, and Business Plan)

Banana fiber pads are a good opportunity for business because we mitigate the throwing of non-
biodegradable materials into the environment. Using banana fiber will help the company to
become more eco-friendly. Moreover, the product is much more affordable and a highly
sustainable product that won’t be causing any harm to the environment. Based on feasibility and
acceptability findings, BFP is a promising option to satisfy MHM needs in populous nations like
India that is non-invasive, environmentally friendly, and reusable. To confirm these results, longer-
term studies with larger sample sizes are required. It is a cost-effective and environmentally
responsible method of handling waste. People will be inspired to switch to such a product as the
concept of being eco-friendly becomes more and more prevalent in society.

R (Risk Mitigation, Recruit, Relationships)

BPA carries a wide range of dangers. Risks might range from technical ones like questioning the
product's quality to market concerns like acceptance in the market and investment risks. Risks
associated with transportation, supply chain management, and fires, among others, can exist. To
ensure motivation and aligned interests toward organizational success, it is crucial to attract people
who share the vision while hiring the necessary labor.

I (Innovation, Investment, Intellectual property)

The workers make sanitary pads out of banana fibers, which are waste products from banana plants
that are cut down when they are harvested. The pads are chemical-free and made of non-
biodegradable super-absorbent polymers. It is difficult to conduct an economic analysis. The exact
polyethylene and gauze sheeting types are unknown. Polyethylene sheets ranged in price from
$10.00 to $12.59 for 10 ft x 25 ft sheets. [14] Gauze sheets are expensive because gauze is typically
sold for medical purposes and is cut into small squares. This gauze is of high quality and has been
sterilized. Prices for this product are expected to be significantly higher than those for lower-grade
gauze.
The fibers used as the pad's absorbent center are nearly impossible to price. The use of waste
products from fruit trees is a relatively new concept that has yet to gain traction. As a result, the
price per bundle varies depending on the type of fiber and location chosen, as well as the level of
knowledge of the fruit farmers.

S (Strategy and culture, Scalability, Spirit)

Experiment with materials such as cassava leaves, cornstalks, and potato roots. Banana-tree fibers
were victorious. Farmers also get to turn banana-tree trunks, which are usually thrown away, into
a cash crop.

According to a 2011 Nielsen study, only 12% of Indian women use sanitary pads during
menstruation. Many women avoid using sanitary pads because they are too expensive.

In India, most brands range from five to twelve rupees ($0.08 to $0.2) per pad. They can be a
luxury for lower-income families.

According to a 2010 NCAER Centre for Macro Consumer Research study, a person living in rural
India spends approximately 480 rupees (more than $7) per year on health or approximately 40
rupees (60 cents) per month. These Pads intend to sell their product for around 15 rupees ($ 0.22)
online and in urban areas but will distribute them for free or at heavily subsidized rates in rural
areas.

K (Knowledge Capital, Kurtosis, Kaizen)

Entrepreneurs must be quick and decisive to maintain the venture's forward momentum. Each
venture is treated as an experiment, with either a successful outcome or a failure to learn from.
When all foreseeable growth opportunities have been exhausted or a more promising opportunity
arises, entrepreneurs frequently cash out and move on. The global banana fiber sanitary pad market
is expected to grow at a 5.5% CAGR from 2018 to 2028. During the forecast period, the disposable
type segment is expected to dominate the market in terms of revenue share. This is due to factors
such as increased hygiene awareness and rising disposable income levels across regions.

In terms of revenue, Asia Pacific dominated the global market in 2019, accounting for more than
40.0% of the total. This is due to increased hygiene and safety awareness, rising disposable income,
and a growing population, particularly in India and China. Furthermore, the rapidly expanding e-
commerce sector has fueled product demand in this region, as consumers prefer to buy sanitary
products online rather than in physical stores. Due to increased awareness of women's hygiene and
an increase in disposable income, North America is expected to be the second-largest market for
banana fiber sanitary pads. During the forecast period, the region is expected to grow at a CAGR
of 5.2%.

SUBMITTED BY:

Annie Daniel M (2227407)

R Varshini (2227442)

Sherwin Sebastian (2227449)

Sonakshi Kashyap (2227455)