At a recent press conference, Miss World 2017 Manushi Chhillar was joined by Miss World 2016 Stephanie Del Valle and Miss World 2014 Rolene Strauss when she announced the first biodegradable and 100% compostoble menstrual towel in South Africa reports The Juice.
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Part of the Nelson Mandela Centenary celebrations, the reigning Miss World Manushi Chhillar said it was her background as a medical student that helped her identify the need for menstrual health education in India and that helped her come up with this idea and eventually bring it to South Africa as well.
The product will be made with banana fibres says Manushi. “It’s the start of women equality, because Nelson Mandela was one of the first people who believed that menstrual hygiene was one of the three things that caused inequality between men and women,” she said.
The product, which has been designed to decompose within a few days, will be produced by machinery created by India-based Aakar Innovations reports Eyewitness News.
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Aakar Innovations CEO Jaydeep Mandal says that the pads, once available, will cost up to R15 per pack and the machinery used to make the products will be operated by women living in villages.
The first machine to produce these pads will be used in Nelson Mandela's hometown, Mvezo, as part of the celebration of his centenary.