Design, Development, and Performance Evaluation of Biodegradable Sanitary Napkins Using Natural Fibers
Karthi Krishna1, Dr. K.R. Nandagopal2
1PG Scholar, Department of Textile Technology, K S Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu – 637 215.
2Associate Professor, Department of Textile Technology, K S Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu – 637 215.
Abstract
Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) plays a crucial role in women’s reproductive health, personal hygiene, and social well-being. The increasing environmental concerns associated with synthetic sanitary products have led to significant research interest in biodegradable and sustainable sanitary pads. Conventional sanitary napkins are generally manufactured using petroleum-based polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and super absorbent polymers (SAP), which exhibit excellent absorbent properties but create severe environmental pollution due to their non-biodegradable nature (Review: Sanitary Pads—Composition, Regulation, and Ongoing Challenges, 2025).
The present study focuses on the design, development, and performance evaluation of eco-friendly sanitary napkins fabricated using natural fibers including bamboo fiber, banana fiber, and cotton fiber. The research investigates structural design, absorbent core engineering, material selection, manufacturing methodology, fluid management behavior, comfort properties, antimicrobial performance, and biodegradability characteristics.
The developed sanitary napkins were evaluated using standard testing procedures such as absorption capacity analysis, strike-through time, rewet testing, tensile strength measurement, air permeability testing, pH evaluation, microbial resistance analysis, and biodegradation studies. Experimental results indicated that bamboo and banana fibers possess superior absorbency, moisture management, breathability, and biodegradability compared with conventional synthetic materials. Herbal antimicrobial finishes using neem and aloe vera extracts significantly improved microbial resistance and hygiene performance.
The findings demonstrate that biodegradable sanitary napkins developed using natural fibers can effectively replace conventional synthetic sanitary products while reducing environmental impact and improving menstrual hygiene sustainability.
Menstruation is a natural biological process experienced by women during their reproductive age. Proper menstrual hygiene management is essential to maintain reproductive health, prevent infections, and ensure psychological and social comfort. Poor menstrual hygiene practices can result in skin irritation, urinary tract infections, reproductive tract infections, and emotional stress among women and adolescent girls (A Study of Environmentally Friendly Menstrual Absorbents in India, 2021).
Sanitary napkins are the most widely used feminine hygiene products because of their convenience, comfort, and ease of disposal. A sanitary napkin is a multilayer absorbent structure designed to absorb menstrual fluid, prevent leakage, maintain surface dryness, and provide comfort during physical activities.
Commercial sanitary napkins typically consist of:
Top sheet,
Distribution layer,
Absorbent core,
Barrier layer,
Adhesive backing.
Most disposable sanitary napkins are manufactured using synthetic polymers such as polyethylene and polypropylene along with super absorbent polymers. Although these materials exhibit excellent fluid absorption and retention characteristics, they contribute significantly to environmental pollution because they are non-biodegradable and remain in landfills for several hundred years (Development of Ecological Absorbent Core Sanitary Pads, 2023).
1.2 Environmental Impact of Conventional Sanitary Napkins
Conventional sanitary napkins generate a substantial quantity of plastic waste globally. Studies indicate that a single woman may use approximately 10,000 to 15,000 sanitary products during her lifetime. Since most commercial sanitary napkins contain up to 90% plastic materials, they create serious environmental problems such as:
Landfill accumulation,
Soil contamination,
Water pollution,
Microplastic generation,
Toxic emissions during incineration.
Incineration of sanitary waste releases harmful gases including dioxins, furans, and volatile organic compounds that negatively affect human health and environmental quality.
These environmental challenges have encouraged researchers to develop biodegradable sanitary products using natural fibers and sustainable materials (Exploring Biodegradable Fibers as Sustainable Alternatives for Sanitary Napkins, 2025).
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The major objectives of this research are:
To analyze the structural and functional requirements of sanitary napkins.
To design and fabricate eco-friendly sanitary napkins using natural fibers.
To evaluate absorbency and fluid management properties.
To investigate comfort and breathability characteristics.
To assess antimicrobial performance and biodegradability.
To compare developed sanitary napkins with commercial products.
2. Literature Review
Several researchers have investigated biodegradable sanitary napkins using natural fibers.
A study on environmentally friendly menstrual absorbents reported that bamboo fibers exhibit superior absorbency and moisture management due to their microporous structure (A Study of Environmentally Friendly Menstrual Absorbents in India, 2021).
Research on banana fiber sanitary pads demonstrated that banana fibers possess excellent fluid retention capacity and acceptable comfort characteristics for menstrual hygiene applications (A Novel Banana Fiber Pad for Menstrual Hygiene in India, 2021).
Studies on biodegradable sanitary products concluded that natural fibers significantly reduce environmental pollution and improve product compostability (Exploring Biodegradable Fibers as Sustainable Alternatives for Sanitary Napkins, 2025).
Another investigation on herbal-coated biodegradable sanitary pads revealed that antimicrobial finishes using neem and aloe vera extracts effectively reduced microbial growth and odor generation (Development of Biodegradable Eco-Friendly Herbal Coated Sanitary Napkin, 2023).
Researchers also reported that absorbent composites containing natural fibers and super absorbent polymers improve liquid retention and leakage resistance (Affordable, Biodegradable, and Environmentally Friendly Sanitary Napkins, 2022).
The literature review indicates increasing global interest in sustainable menstrual hygiene products because of environmental awareness and women’s health concerns.
3. Materials and Methods
3.1 Materials Used
The sanitary napkin was developed using the following materials:
The porous microstructure of bamboo improves capillary liquid transport and moisture management.
3.2.2 Banana Fiber
Banana fiber is extracted from banana pseudo-stems and contains high cellulose content. It exhibits:
High tensile strength,
Good liquid retention,
Structural stability,
Biodegradability.
The hollow lumen structure enhances fluid absorption and retention performance.
3.3 Structural Design of the Sanitary Napkin
The developed sanitary napkin consisted of five functional layers:
Top sheet,
Acquisition-distribution layer,
Absorbent core,
Tissue wrapping layer,
Impermeable back sheet.
The sanitary napkin was ergonomically designed to provide:
Proper body fit,
Leakage prevention,
Flexibility,
Comfort during movement.
Wing structures were incorporated to improve napkin stability and reduce side leakage.
Figure 1: Multilayer structural design of the sanitary napkin illustrating the functional components responsible for absorbency, fluid distribution, leakage prevention, breathability, and user comfort.
3.4 Manufacturing Process
3.4.1 Fiber Preparation
Natural fibers were subjected to:
Cleaning,
Drying,
Mechanical opening,
Carding,
Chemical treatment.
Chemical treatment improved hydrophilicity and antimicrobial properties.
3.4.2 Web Formation
The absorbent layers were fabricated using:
Air-laid technology,
Needle punching,
Thermal bonding.
Air-laid technology improved:
Fiber distribution,
Absorbent uniformity,
Porosity,
Fluid management efficiency.
3.4.3 Layer Assembly and Compression
Different layers were sequentially assembled and compressed to achieve:
Structural stability,
Uniform thickness,
Improved absorbency.
Heat sealing and ultrasonic bonding techniques were used to secure the layered structure.
Figure 2. Schematic representation of the manufacturing process of sanitary napkins illustrating raw material preparation, web formation, absorbent core development, layer assembly, compression, sterilization, and final packaging stages.
4. Performance Evaluation
4.1 Absorption Capacity
Absorption capacity refers to the quantity of fluid absorbed relative to dry weight. Bamboo fiber exhibited superior absorbency due to its microporous structure and capillary action.
4.2 Strike-Through Time
Strike-through time measures the rate at which liquid passes through the top sheet into the absorbent core. Lower strike-through time indicates:
Rewet analysis determines the quantity of absorbed liquid returning to the surface under compression. Lower rewet values indicate:
Better fluid locking,
Improved dryness,
Enhanced hygiene performance.
4.4 Tensile Strength
Tensile strength evaluates the mechanical durability of the sanitary napkin during handling and use. Banana fibers improved tensile strength because of their high cellulose content and strong fiber structure.
4.5 Air Permeability
Air permeability determines breathability and thermal comfort. Natural fibers demonstrated:
Better ventilation,
Reduced humidity accumulation,
Improved thermal comfort.
4.6 Antimicrobial Performance
Herbal antimicrobial finishes significantly reduced bacterial growth and odor generation. Neem extract exhibited excellent antibacterial activity due to its bioactive phytochemicals.
4.7 Biodegradability Analysis
Biodegradability was evaluated using soil burial testing. Natural fiber sanitary napkins showed:
Experimental results demonstrated that bamboo and banana fibers significantly improved:
Absorbency,
Moisture management,
Breathability,
Comfort,
Biodegradability.
Bamboo fibers exhibited excellent liquid acquisition because of their microporous capillary structure. Banana fibers demonstrated superior liquid retention and structural stability due to their hollow lumen morphology.
The developed sanitary napkins exhibited lower strike-through time and reduced rewet values compared with conventional products. Herbal antimicrobial treatments effectively inhibited microbial growth and improved hygienic performance.
Soil burial studies confirmed substantial degradation of the developed sanitary napkins within a short duration, demonstrating their environmental sustainability.
6. Conclusion
The present research successfully investigated the design, development, and performance evaluation of biodegradable sanitary napkins using natural fibers. Bamboo and banana fibers demonstrated excellent absorbency, fluid retention, breathability, comfort, and biodegradability.
The incorporation of herbal antimicrobial treatments further improved microbial resistance and hygiene characteristics. The developed sanitary napkins effectively fulfilled the functional requirements of menstrual hygiene products while significantly reducing environmental impact.
The study confirms that eco-friendly sanitary napkins can serve as sustainable alternatives to conventional synthetic sanitary products and contribute to improved menstrual hygiene management and environmental protection.
References
A Study of Environmentally Friendly Menstrual Absorbents in India, 2021.
Exploring Biodegradable Fibers as Sustainable Alternatives for Sanitary Napkins, 2025.
Development of Ecological Absorbent Core Sanitary Pads, 2023.
A Novel Banana Fiber Pad for Menstrual Hygiene in India, 2021.
Antimicrobial and Biodegradable Sanitary Pads, 2022.
Affordable, Biodegradable, and Environmentally Friendly Sanitary Napkins, 2022.
Review: Sanitary Pads—Composition, Regulation, and Ongoing Challenges, 2025.
Development of Biodegradable Eco-Friendly Herbal Coated Sanitary Napkin, 2023.
Founder & Editor of Textile Learner. He is a Textile Consultant, Blogger & Entrepreneur. Mr. Kiron is working as a textile consultant in several local and international companies. He is also a contributor of Wikipedia.
