Flushable Pads - Launching Soon!!
What Are Flushable Sanitary Pads?
Flushable sanitary pads are menstrual pads designed to break down safely in water after disposal, unlike conventional plastic-based pads that remain intact for years.
They are made using plant-based, biodegradable materials and are engineered to disintegrate under controlled water movement, similar to toilet paper - reducing long-term waste and plumbing damage.
In simple words:
They protect your body, your bathroom, and the planet.
Why Flushable Pads Matter in India
1. The Menstrual Disposal Taboo
In many Indian homes, menstruation is still surrounded by silence, shame, and secrecy. Disposing a used pad often means:
- Wrapping it multiple times to hide it
- Sneaking it to the bin
- Fear of being seen by family members or neighbours
- No clear disposal option, especially in shared homes, hostels, schools, trains, or public toilets
This discomfort forces many users to make unsafe or stressful disposal choices, not because they want to but because discreet alternatives don’t exist.
Flushable pads offer privacy and ease, reducing the emotional burden tied to period disposal.
2. Dignity for Sanitation & Waste Workers
A large portion of India’s menstrual waste is handled manually by sanitation and waste workers.
This means:
- Direct contact with soiled pads
- Exposure to pathogens
- No choice or consent in handling intimate waste
- Added stigma, especially for women waste workers
Designing products that reduce manual handling of menstrual waste is not just an environmental decision - it’s a dignity issue.
Flushable pads help limit direct exposure by keeping intimate waste within closed sanitation systems, when disposed responsibly.
3. India’s Menstrual Waste Problem
- India generates over 12 billion disposable pads every year
- Most pads contain plastic layers that take 500–800 years to break down
- A large portion ends up in landfills, open dumps, or water bodies
Menstrual waste is still poorly segregated, especially in homes, schools, hostels, and public toilets.
4. Plumbing & Sanitation Challenges
In reality, pads are often thrown into toilets due to lack of disposal options
Conventional pads don’t break down and this leads to:
- Choked pipes
- Sewage overflows
- Damage to septic tanks
- Higher maintenance costs for households and municipalities
Flushable pads are designed to reduce this damage when disposed responsibly.
5. A More Practical Sustainable Option
In India, not everyone:
- Has access to waste segregation
- Can compost
- Can use cups or reusables comfortably
Flushable pads offer a realistic middle path - eco-considerate, hygienic, and easier to adopt at scale.
Are Flushable Sanitary Pads Safe?
Yes - when they are properly designed, tested, and certified.
What Makes Them Safe?
Flushable pads go through scientific testing to ensure they:
- Absorb effectively during use
- Maintain structural integrity while worn
- Disintegrate only after disposal in water
- Do not release harmful fibers or toxins
- Do not clog standard plumbing or sewage systems when used as directed
Standards & Testing Followed
Globally accepted tests include:
- Slosh Box Disintegration Test
Assesses how the pad breaks down under mechanical agitation in water.
- Material biodegradability tests
- Absorbency & leakage performance tests
- Skin safety & irritation checks
Responsible manufacturers follow flushability frameworks aligned with wastewater safety norms, not just marketing claims.
Who Makes Flushable Sanitary Pads in India?
Flawsome
Flawsome has developed India's first flushable sanitary pads, built specifically for Indian waste systems and usage realities.
What sets Flawsome apart:
- Plant-based, biodegradable materials
- Designed for controlled disintegration
- R&D supported by Indian textile and testing institutions
- Focus on plumbing-safe design, not just biodegradability
- Made keeping Indian homes, hostels, and sanitation infra in mind
Flushable doesn’t mean careless - it means engineered responsibly.