How bio-degradable pads from farm waste fuel eco-friendly sanitary revolution

Every month, one in ten schoolgirls in sub-Saharan Africa misses class because of menstruation. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) estimates this adds up to six weeks of lost learning each year. In Kenya, the Ministry of Education reports that more than one million girls are affected monthly.

Despite a government allocation of Sh940 million in 2023, only 22 per cent of the most vulnerable girls received sanitary pads. The rest are often left to manage with rags, old mattress sponges or nothing at all. For many in rural and low-income areas, menstruation is not just a health issue, it is a barrier to dignity, education and equality.

Researchers are now turning to local, sustainable solutions to close the menstrual health gap. What was once considered farm waste such as banana stems, maize husks and pineapple leaves is being transformed into a lifeline for both girls and the environment.

Dr Ann Mburu, a researcher at the Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (KIRDI) says, “We are converting agricultural waste into absorbent menstrual products using simplified technology,” she explains. “Banana, maize and pineapple residues contain cellulose, which makes them ideal for making the absorbent core of pads.”

Dr Mburu notes that girls from poor backgrounds lose an average of four learning days each month due to lack of sanitary pads. “This translates to 48 days a year, significantly affecting their education,” she says.

The solution begins on farms. Agricultural residues such as banana stems, maize husks and pineapple leaves, which are often burned or left to rot after harvest, are now being repurposed into absorbent, biodegradable sanitary pads.

At KIRDI, researchers are also exploring the use of okra mucilage as a natural binding agent and cassava-based bioplastics for the pad’s back sheet. The goal is to produce a fully biodegradable pad that is not only affordable, but also safe for users and gentle on the environment.

READ: Making sanitary pads from grass

Kenya generates millions of tonnes of agricultural waste each year. According to the 2023 Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) report, banana farming alone produces over 2.9 million tonnes of fruit annually, resulting in more than 8 million tonnes of biomass waste. Pineapple waste accounts for around 80 per cent of the plant, while maize farming covers nearly half of the country’s arable land, leaving behind large volumes of stalks, husks and leaves.

Much of this waste is either burned or left to decompose, releasing methane, a greenhouse gas that is 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. By converting agricultural residues into menstrual products, three challenges will be tackled: waste management, period poverty and climate change.

“We have fabricated a small-scale technology that allows micro and small enterprises to process agro-waste fibres into sanitary pads,” Dr Mburu explains. “It is our way of supporting women-led enterprises and ensuring that even local producers can create quality products using simplified technology.”

Some enterprises, including Nyungu Afrika and EcoBana, are already applying this model in real settings. EcoBana, a Kisii-based enterprise, turns banana pseudostems into biodegradable sanitary pads. Its team extracts fibres from the stems, then washes, sterilises and sun-dries them before converting them into soft, absorbent cores. These are then combined with other biodegradable materials to form the final product.

“Our pads are entirely plastic-free, non-toxic and decompose within six months under composting conditions,” says Brian Ndung’u, the company’s Chief Marketing Officer. He explains that EcoBana was driven by a dual mission to reduce plastic waste and improve menstrual health.

“We were inspired by the urgent need to improve access to sanitary pads for girls missing school, while also addressing plastic waste management through sustainable solutions,” he says. The feedback from users has been encouraging. “Many appreciate the comfort, affordability, and the fact that they’re safe for both health and the environment,” he adds.

Still, the path forward presents several challenges. Small enterprises face stiff competition from established global brands, low public awareness of eco-friendly alternatives and difficulties in sourcing raw materials consistently and affordably. “We need financial support, favourable policies, technical partnerships and wider distribution networks to reach more communities,” says Ndung’u.

Plastic-based pads, which dominate both urban and rural markets in Kenya, contribute significantly to non-biodegradable waste. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, most conventional sanitary pads contain up to 90 per cent plastic. When improperly disposed of, particularly in informal settlements, they clog drainage systems, pollute the soil and release harmful toxins when burned.

ALSO READ: Why menstrual cups could be the answer to period waste pollution

Zacharia Lukorito, Director of Standards Development and Trade at the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), emphasises the importance of supporting small manufacturers who are producing reusable and biodegradable menstrual products.

“About 80 per cent of local sanitary product manufacturers are involved in reusables,” he says. “We’ve developed standards for both disposable and reusable pads to support access to safe, high-quality products.”

He adds that KEBS carries out regular surveillance and testing of menstrual products on the market to ensure they meet safety standards. “Where imported products fail to meet standards, we intercept them at ports or remove them from circulation. Standards are dynamic and must evolve with innovation,” Lukorito explains.

Pads developed in KIRDI’s lab undergo testing for safety and absorbency, and the manufacturing machine at the institute’s Common Manufacturing Facility can produce up to 7,600 pads per day. However, affordability, consistent access to raw materials and competition from imported brands remain significant hurdles.

PadMad Kenya, a social enterprise focusing on menstrual education and eco-friendly products, has seen the wider benefits of sustainable innovation. Its founder, Madhvi Dalal, believes that menstrual health goes beyond hygiene. “Menstrual health has so many knock-on effects,” she says. “If you can manage it with dignity, you can have equity in school, at work, and in your community.”

PadMad uses locally grown cotton, biodegradable components and actively includes marginalised women in both production and training. “We work with ex-incarcerated women, teen mothers and others who would otherwise struggle to find formal employment,” Madhvi explains. “It’s not just about the product, but empowerment.”

Madhvi also points to the environmental and cultural consequences of poor menstrual waste management. In some urban informal settlements, girls are forced to dispose of plastic pads by throwing them onto rooftops or into open spaces, a practice that has led to the term ‘flying pads.’ Madhvi says that sustainable alternatives can help reduce this form of pollution and promote safer hygiene practices.

Implementation gaps

Dr Simon Kigondu, President of the Kenya Medical Association and Chair of the KEBS technical committee on hygienic textile products, says menstrual health is now recognised as a multi-sectoral issue. “Kenya was the first African country to mandate free sanitary pads in schools under the 2017 Basic Education Amendment Act,” he says.

While this policy marked a major step forward, Dr Kigondu notes that implementation gaps still persist.

Kenya’s Menstrual Hygiene Management Policy (2019 to 2030) outlines a vision where menstruation is managed safely and with dignity. The policy promotes innovation, education and environmental sustainability across the health, education, trade and infrastructure sectors. However, budget limitations and low public awareness continue to limit the reach of these ambitions.

To meet its 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kenya must reduce emissions by 32 per cent. Projects such as KIRDI’s agro-waste pad initiative, EcoBana’s circular model and PadMad’s community-centred education efforts demonstrate how menstrual health can contribute meaningfully to climate action.