Sanfe, a start-up incubated by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D) for designing and developing products for improving female health and hygiene, recently launched the first reusable sanitary pads made with composite banana fibre that can last up to two years, or around 120 washes. The highly-absorbent, ultra-thin and leak-proof pads prevent rashes.

The Sanfe Reusable Pad is developed by chief executive officer and co-founder Archit Agarwal and chief operations officer and co-founder Harry Sehrawat based on inputs from several IIT-D professors. A patent has also been filed for the design. A pack of two pads is priced at ₹199, according to Indian media reports.

The pads, made up of four layers of different fabrics, can be washed using cold water and detergent after every use.

Polyester pilling is highly wicking and doesn’t absorb the fluid, giving a dry experience throughout the day time. Terry and banana fibres, including viscose and polyester fibres, are highly absorbent, soaking and absorbing all the fluids. Cotton polyurethane laminate is a breathable layer with water-resistant properties making the pads leak-proof.

According to Menstrual Hygiene Alliance of India (MHAI) there are almost 336 million menstruating women in India, of which 36 per cent use disposable sanitary pads summing up to 121 million. India has approximately 12.3 billion disposable sanitary napkins to be taken care of every year, and a majority of these are non-biodegradable. Most of these sanitary napkins are made of synthetic materials and plastic, which can take more than 50-60 years to decompose. (DS)