GREEN CUP

Menstruation is normal and a healthy part of life and yet girls and women in India go through extreme struggles to manage their period every month. National Family Health Survey 2015-2016 estimates that of the 336 million menstruating women in India about 121 million (roughly 36 percent) women are using sanitary napkins, locally or commercially produced. Conventional sanitary pads and tampons available in the market are loaded with plastic.

These menstrual products are used for at least 4-6 days per month by most women worldwide. This means a huge amount of plastic waste is generated every month globally. After being disposed of, sanitary products that are usually made out of plastic take over 500 years to break down. Over 88% of women resort to shocking alternatives like unsanitised cloth, ashes and husk sand. Incidents of Reproductive Tract Infection (RTI) is 70% more common among this women. Inadequate menstrual protection makes adolescent girls (age group 12-18) miss 5 days of school in a month (50 days a year). Around 23 % of these girls actually drop out of school after they started menstruating. The biggest barrier to using a sanitary napkin is affordability. Around 70% of women in India say their family can't afford to buy them.

Considering all this, EW SELLS bringing up the Greencup challenge in a different way. Now anyone can donate a reusable menstrual product to a poor girl.