Team Udaan’s sugarcane waste sanitary pads offer a low-cost and eco-friendly period care solution
Delhi Students Develop Eco-Friendly Period Pads
Ahead of World Menstrual Hygiene Day, Delhi-based all-girls student innovation group Team Udaan has created reusable sanitary pads from sugarcane waste. Led by Anupriya Nayak, the team used sugarcane bagasse, the dry fibrous material left after juice extraction, to build a low-cost menstrual hygiene product.
The project focuses on women and girls in rural and low-income communities, where sanitary pads are often seen as costly or difficult to access. Because of this, many still depend on unsafe alternatives, which can affect health, confidence, school attendance, and daily life.
Sugarcane Waste Becomes Sustainable Period Care
Team Udaan chose bagasse because it is lightweight, fibrous, and naturally absorbent. After several trials, the students worked on cleaning, shredding, and converting the material into reusable sanitary pads that are hygienic, comfortable, and durable.
The idea received support through Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow initiative and was later refined with mentorship at IIT Delhi. The team worked on improving product design, hygiene standards, and manufacturing feasibility.
The innovation also helps address sanitary waste, as many disposable pads contain plastic and take years to decompose. By turning agricultural waste into useful period care, Team Udaan’s project shows how young innovators can combine science, sustainability and social impact to solve everyday problems.
