Eco Femme Subsidized Pads
Kathy Walkling and Jessamijn Miedema
Eco Femme subsidized pads are washable, reusable pads which is equivalent of 75 disposable pads.
Eco Femme washable cloth pads are made of absorbent flannel cotton and worn like disposable pads to absorb menstrual flow. They can be washed and re-used for 75 washes with proper care. These pads are priced to be affordable for economically disadvantaged women in India.
Their pads are available in two models: the All-In-One pad resembles a disposable sanitary napkin with wings and the Foldable model is like a handkerchief, dries faster and looks inconspicuous on the clothesline. Both models have been thoroughly tested and accepted by girls and women, alike.
Eco Femme develops partnerships with grassroots organisations to extend reach and impact. Their main focus is on India’s demography, but have made exceptions from time to time to provide pads at cost price in other regional countries for reaching similar target groups.
They have partners in 17 states and 2 Union territories of India. (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Kerala, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim, Nagaland, Tripura, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi and Pondicherry (UT))
The cross subsidy model at Eco Femme allows International sales (at premium prices) to support the Pad for Pad programme which educates rural girls about menstrual hygiene along with giving them an option of using cloth pads.
Pads For Sisters is another not-for-profit programme started by Eco Femme to make cloth pads accessible to economically disadvantaged women who are unable to afford the pads at commercial rates. Under this, pads are offered at Cost Price to organizations/individuals who wish to sponsor or gift pads to women, or at a further Subsidized rate (of about $1) for these women to purchase on their own.
Unsanitary materials like ash, sand, husk, dried leaves and newspaper; Traditional methods like reusable cloth pieces; Disposable sanitary napkins like from Always, Kotex and Whisper; Tampons; Menstrual Cups; Period panties
Goal 3 : Good health and well-being
Eco Femme pads are for all and are available internationally, online and in stores. Their not-for-profit programmes, however, target economically disadvantaged girls and women of India.
