Industry : Agriculture, Food & Beverages
“EcoSaheli” is a breakthrough environmental and microbial biotechnology-based solution designed to tackle India’s rapidly growing menstrual waste challenge. Every year, over 12 billion sanitary pads are discarded in India, most of which contain non-biodegradable plastics, SAP gel and synthetic fibers that take 500–800 years to decompose. These pads commonly end up in landfills, public toilets, drains, rural fields, water bodies or are burned in the open, causing severe pollution, foul odour, toxic fumes, groundwater contamination and long-term soil damage. This issue remains largely unaddressed, especially in rural, peri-urban and low-income communities where safe disposal systems do not exist. “EcoSaheli” introduces a simple, scientific and decentralised alternative through a biodegradable disposal bag infused with a proprietary microbial consortium. Once a used sanitary pad is placed inside, the microbial action begins instantly and accelerates decomposition, reducing the degradation period from centuries to 10–30 days. This makes it a transformative, nature-aligned solution that removes the need for burning, landfilling or deep burial. Our model is low-cost, easy to use, non-technical and can be adopted readily by schools, colleges, hostels, villages, SHGs, government institutions, CSR programmes and households. The business concept is built around large-scale manufacturing and distribution of “EcoSaheli” bags through partnerships with NGOs, Women Self-Help Groups, sanitary napkin manufacturers, panchayats and CSR organisations. “EcoSaheli” aligns with Swachh Bharat Mission, Solid Waste Management Rules, MHM Guidelines and national climate goals. Being a scalable, replicable and high-impact innovation, it creates environmental benefits, women’s dignity, improved hygiene and sustainable livelihoods. “EcoSaheli” is not just a product; it is a complete menstrual waste management ecosystem designed for India’s future.
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Year of Establishment2025