EcoSmart Pads

ECOSMART UGANDA LIMITED

EcoSmart Pads are biodegradable menstrual pads made from local sugarcane fiber.

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

EcoSmart Pads are biodegradable menstrual pads made from local sugarcane fiber produced and distributed in Uganda. They are produced by EcoSmart Uganda. They are still in the product development stage and working towards commercialization.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Uganda

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

EcoSmart Uganda is supported by Ka0 in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

A 12 piece packet will cost UGX 1600 (0.42 USD).^{Converted in May 2020}

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Primary competitor in Uganda are AFRIpads.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

Goal 5: Gender Equality

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Women aged 15-49 in low resource environments in Uganda.

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

This product is produced in Uganda and uses locally available sugarcane fibers.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Patented

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

The designers have not yet selected their user provision model.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

None

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Absorbency types

Regular

Absorbent base materials

Sugarcane fibers

Usability Features

N/A

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

The product is made from sugarcane residue. The residue is boiled in water to remove the sugar content and to soften it. Then, the solution is sieved to isolate the fibers, which are then dried and processed into the pads.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Not available

Technical support Technical support provided by

Provided by the manufacturer

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Unknown

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Unknown

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Designer specified performance targets include: low cost, biodegradable in nature, and comfortable in use.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

The prototype has been lab-tested for absorbance at the Micro-Biology lab at Mbrara University of Science and Technology. The manufacturer has applied to MUST Institutional Review Board for approval to test the prototypes on girls and women for feedback on usability. No third party testing has been completed.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

No third-party organizations, only testing performed by the designer.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

The pads shouldn’t be used more than 8-10 hours.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

None

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Study on menstrual management in Uganda., Aug. 2013.

J. Hennegan, C. Dolan, M. Wu, L. Scott, and P. Montgomery, Schoolgirls’ experience and appraisal of menstrual absorbents in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional evaluation of reusable sanitary pads. Reprod. Health, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 1–12, Dec. 2016, doi: 10.1186/s12978-016-0260-7.

G. Miiro et al., Menstrual health and school absenteeism among adolescent girls in Uganda (MENISCUS): A feasibility study. BMC Womens. Health, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 1–13, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1186/s12905-017-0502-z.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

The manufacturer has applied to MUST Institutional Review Board for approval to test the prototypes on girls and women for feedback on usability.

Other information

The product video can be found at this link. EcoSmart pads is an UP Accelerate 2017 alumni and won the 2018 Big Idea Innovation challenge by Makere University.

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and product description

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Uganda

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

EcoSmart Uganda is supported by Ka0 in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

A 12 piece packet will cost UGX 1600 (0.42 USD).^{Converted in May 2020}

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

Primary competitor in Uganda are AFRIpads.

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

Goal 5: Gender Equality

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Women aged 15-49 in low resource environments in Uganda.

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

This product is produced in Uganda and uses locally available sugarcane fibers.

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Patented

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

The designers have not yet selected their user provision model.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

None

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Absorbency types

Regular

Absorbent base materials

Sugarcane fibers

Usability Features

N/A

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Not available

Technical support Technical support provided by

Provided by the manufacturer

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

Unknown

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

Unknown

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

Designer specified performance targets include: low cost, biodegradable in nature, and comfortable in use.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

No third-party organizations, only testing performed by the designer.

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

The pads shouldn’t be used more than 8-10 hours.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

None

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Study on menstrual management in Uganda., Aug. 2013.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

Unknown

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

The manufacturer has applied to MUST Institutional Review Board for approval to test the prototypes on girls and women for feedback on usability.

Other information

The product video can be found at this link. EcoSmart pads is an UP Accelerate 2017 alumni and won the 2018 Big Idea Innovation challenge by Makere University.

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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In context photographs (0)

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors