After my initial post on#MenstrualSustainability, I was keen to explore not just the product themselves but also where and how they can be accessed. Knowing the quality, material, and benefits of biodegradable menstrual pads is one part of the story, but their availability and outlet presence are equally crucial for creating real impact.
As I began my search for retailers and outlets selling sustainable menstrual products, I quickly realised that the picture is mixed. While India has a growing list of innovative brands offering biodegradable or compostable sanitary pads, such as Boondh, Saathi, EcoFemme, Carmesi, Heyday, Anandi, Noraa, Avni, FabPad, Plush, Sukhi, Bliss Pads, Purganics, Vivanion, Pee Safe, The Woman’s Company and more ,their accessibility varies greatly depending on where you live, price, and distribution network.
Urban Reach: The Easiest Access
In metro cities and towns, these brands are generally easy to find. Large pharmacy chains like Apollo, Guardian, and Wellness Forever often stock Carmesi, Heyday, Pee Safe, and Plush. Many supermarkets and health stores also carry them.
Most importantly, e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Flipkart, Nykaa, BigBasket, and HealthKart make ordering simple and quick, with nationwide delivery for most brands.
Semi Urban Access: Patchy but Growing
In these towns, accessibility becomes inconsistent. A few medical stores may stock select eco-friendly pads if they have local distributors, but often the only reliable option is online purchase. Shipping charges and delivery times can sometimes be a deterrent.
Rural Access: The Biggest Gap
Here is where the accessibility challenge is most visible.
Brands like Anandi (Aakar Innovations), Saathi, and Boondh have made conscious efforts to partner with NGOs, community groups, and government programs to reach rural and low income communities. These collaborations often involve subsidised rates or free distribution during menstrual health awareness drives. However, most other biodegradable brands still lack strong rural supply chains.
Why Accessibility Matters as Much as Innovation
Biodegradable pads promise a smaller environmental footprint and healthier menstrual care, but without physical availability, affordability, and awareness, they remain niche products.
Accessibility is not just about selling in a store; it’s about ensuring that women in every corner of the country can make sustainable choices without financial or logistical hurdles.
If the goal is true menstrual sustainability, the journey must go beyond product innovation to building inclusive retail networks, expanding rural outreach, and making eco-friendly menstrual care a mainstream option rather than a luxury.
Turning the Accessibility Challenge into Action
While the current situation shows gaps, there are real, workable solutions that women can use right now ,no matter where they live.
1. Use NGO & Self Help Group Networks
NGOs such as Goonj, Aakar Innovations (Anandi Pads), and Saathi run menstrual health programs in rural areas, often supplying biodegradable pads at low or no cost. Women can connect with local Anganwadi workers or health workers to find out about such initiatives.
2. Organise Bulk Orders
Groups of women from a neighbourhood, workplace, or SHG can order together from brands like Avni, Sukhi, Boondh, which often offer discounts for group or NGO purchases. This reduces per-pad cost and saves on shipping.
3. Switch to Reusable Options
Where disposable biodegradable pads are hard to source, reusable cloth pads (EcoFemme, Avni, FabPad) and menstrual cups are game changing. A reusable pad can last 3–5 years, and a menstrual cup up to 10 years, saving money while reducing waste.
4. Support Local Women Entrepreneurs
Women in semi urban or rural areas can become local distributors by partnering with brands. This improves access for the community and creates an income source for the seller.
5. Tap Into Government & CSR Programs
Some state governments and corporates are now supplying biodegradable pads through CSR menstrual health drives. Schools, panchayats, and NGOs can apply for these programs to make products affordable and accessible.
A Shared Responsibility
Menstrual sustainability is not just about what you buy, it’s about creating a movement where eco-friendly products are accessible to every woman, everywhere. Even if your local store doesn’t stock them yet, you can:
- Share information about brands and programs
- Organise a group order
- Try reusable products
- Encourage your panchayat or school to partner with an NGO or CSR program
Every small action contributes to a larger change, for our health, for our communities, and for the planet.
Sustainability starts with awareness, grows through access, and lasts through community action. Together, we can make menstrual sustainability a reality for all.
Biodegradable Pad Brands ,Accessibility & Outlet Directory
| Brand | Type | Urban Availability | Semi-Urban Availability | Rural Availability | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boondh | Reusable & biodegradable disposables | Online + select pharmacies | Limited, mostly online | NGO & community tie-ups | Amazon, official site, NGO partners |
| Saathi | Compostable disposable pads | Online + select stores | Limited in smaller pharmacies | Rural outreach via NGOs | Amazon, Flipkart, Saathi website |
| EcoFemme | Cloth pads (reusable) | Niche eco-stores & online | Limited | Active rural programs in South India | EcoFemme website, sustainable living stores |
| Carmesi | Compostable disposable pads | Widely in urban stores & pharmacies | Some pharmacy presence | Rare | Amazon, Nykaa, BigBasket |
| Heyday | Compostable pads | Urban pharmacies + online | Patchy | Rare | Amazon, Flipkart, Nature’s Basket |
| Anandi (Aakar Innovations) | Community-made compostable pads | Rare in retail | Rare | Strong rural distribution via SHGs & NGOs | NGO programs, local SHGs |
| Purganics | Organic cotton pads | Niche health stores + online | Rare | Rare | Amazon, health food stores |
| Vivanion | Herbal biodegradable pads | Online + select stores | Limited | Rare | Amazon, Flipkart |
| Noraa | Biodegradable pads | Urban retail + online | Limited | Rare | Amazon, Nykaa |
| Avni | Reusable & biodegradable pads | Urban eco-stores + online | Limited | Rare | Avni website, Amazon |
| FabPad | Reusable + biodegradable | Urban eco-stores + online | Limited | Rare | Amazon, Flipkart |
| Plush | Organic cotton pads | Widely available in urban chains | Limited | Rare | Amazon, Nykaa, BigBasket |
| Sukhi Pads | Biodegradable pads | Rare in urban stores | Rare | Available in certain rural NGO projects | NGO partners, Sukhi website |
| Bliss Pads | Kenaf plant-based | Online only in most areas | Rare | Limited rural pilots in Tamil Nadu | BlissPads website |
| Be Me Pads | Plant fiber biodegradable pads | Online only | Rare | Rare | Amazon, LBB.in |
| Pee Safe | Organic cotton pads | Widely in urban pharmacies & supermarkets | Some presence | Rare | Amazon, Nykaa, Flipkart |
| The Woman’s Company | Organic cotton pads | Online + select urban outlets | Rare | Rare | Amazon, Nykaa |
I Would like to tag @Rahul001 @Shaunak @Gurukrishnapriya @Manishh @ShreyaMusings @Ssiddharth2000,and interested volunteers to make use of this information for their #MenstrualSustainability project.I shall be sharing more information in upcoming days.
Check Here For my previous post on #Menstrual Sustainability.
Thank you for your time and attention 
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With warmth and purpose
Sonam wangdi
right 
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good,Thank you 
