An affordable, convenient and eco-friendly sanitary

An affordable, convenient and
eco-friendly sanitary napkin
Around 3 million Women are working in Bangladesh RMG Industry
Which contributes 80% of our total export earning and 13.5% of our
GDP
85% of the total work force in
this industry are WOMEN
Women working in the RMG industry
Turn the wheels of Sewing Machines
Which turns the wheels of our
economy simultaneously
The success of the
RMG Sector is built on
the diligent efforts of
Female workers
But do you know their
side of the story?
Healthcare
ONE COMMON
STRUGGLE
MENSTRUATION
low income
Home
Work
The ill
Menstrual
Practices
By the Garments
workers
95%
Uses Dirty Rags and
Rejected Fabric Scraps
90%
Workers wash rags
without soap and reuse
without proper drying
33% girls
Hide their rags in dirty
places
Why Not?
Ignorance
Living
Condition
Low
Affordability
Working
Condition
Distribution
Channel
Social Stigma
• Hesitation in open
discussion
• Considered as Secret
and Shameful
80% of the RMG
workers do not know
about the healthy
menstrual practices
Ignorance
• Monthly Average
Salary USD 36.88
• Around 66% less
than Living wage
• Delayed payment
• Deduction of
overtime amount
Low
Affordability
• Male dominated
Distribution Channel
• Conservative
Society
• Reserved Attitude
Distribution
Channel
• Long Work Hours
• Forced Overtime
• Low Access to
Sanitation facilities
Scarceness of Water
Working
Condition
No Personal Space
Poor Sanitation
3
Living
Condition
THE OTHER SIDE
OF SEWING
MACHINE
SOAP
PP
FOODS
• Scarcity of Water
• Poor Sanitation
• No Personal Space
Living & Working Condition
Socio-economic Factors
Ignorance
Compromised Income
Use of Rags and
Rejected Fabrics
Lower Wage
Higher
Medical
Expenses
The Evil cycle
of ill Menstrual
Practices
Psychological
& Physical
Problems
Physical Discomfort
Low work productivity
Work
Absenteeism
The Impacts
Psychological Problems
Stress
Anxiety
Low Self Esteem
Lack of Concentration
Physical Problems
Infections*
Abnormal Pain
Complicated Pregnancy
Elongated Period
*More than 50% of the women have
been identified with infection
Economic Problems
Work Place Absenteeism*
Low Productivity
Decrease in Wage
Increase in Medical Expense
*The Most cited Reason for
Absenteeism is Menstrual Pain
The
Impact
Map
Affects Individuals
Their Families
The Industry
The Nation
The Problem
Statement
The Absence of an affordable, available and
hygienic solution to menstruation leads to physical,
psychological, economic loss for the women RMG
workers in Bangladesh
Our Solution
What is
High absorbing
Disposable Sanitary
Napkin with Sanitary Belt
made of Bamboo Pulp
Why Sanitary Napkin
Disposable
Sanitary Napkin
Washable Sanitary
Pads
Menstrual Cups
Tampons
Reuse
Disposable
Water and sunlight
needed to wash and
reuse
Water needed,
complex reuse
procedure
Disposable
Convenience
Highly convenient
to carry
Inconvenient to
carry the used pads
Inconvenient to
carry the used
cups
Highly convenient
to carry
Comfort
Comfortable
Comfortable
Unfamiliar and
uncomfortable
Unfamiliar and
uncomfortable
Cost
High cost
Initially High Cost
Initially High
Cost
High Cost
Disposable Sanitary Napkin would be the best option if
its available for Low Price
The Innovative features of
1
It’s Affordable
8 pads at USD 0.21 only
Local
Sourcing
Local
Manufacturing
2
3
It’s Accessible
Distribution through Info-fairies
Low-Cost Environment
Friendly
Sanitary Napkin
Its Eco-Friendly
Made from local Bamboo Fibers
Informal
Distribution
Why Bamboo?
Health Factors
 Naturally antibacterial, antifungal and anti-static
 300% more absorbent power than normal wood pulp
Environmental Factors
 Reduces pressure on valuable tree resources
 Biodegradable in Nature
 Compost can be prepared from used pads
Economic Factors
 Less competition on its usage
 Grows faster
 Requires less space
Distribution through
Info-fairies
• Pool of trained women health
workers who works as Shurokkha
Distributor
• 18 to 25 years old
• Educate the target market about
menstrual hygiene and Shurokkha
BTL: Personal Awareness Program
Garments Boithok
•
•
Monthly Group discussion among
Garments workers moderated by Infofairies
The objectives of the group discussions
are:
• Make the garments workers
aware of the harmful effects of
Rags and Rejected Fabrics
• Promote the use and benefits of
Shurokkha
BTL: Free Medical Advising
• RMG workers tend not to seek
medical help, even for serious
infections
• Shurokkha will arrange free
medical camps for RMG workers
every three month
• The objective of the Medical
camp would be:
– Conduct a basic Medical Check
up of the RMG workers
– Provide free medical advice on
female health problems
– Recommend Sanitary Napkins
over Rags
Operational Plan: Location
Factory at Savar, Dhaka
Near to Dhaka EPZ (23 km) where
more than 40% of the Garments
Factories are located
Availability of Raw Materials (cotton,
gauge, polyethylene, and elastics)
Operational Plan: Procurement of Raw Materials
Procurement and Transportation of Bamboo
Pulp from Sylhet Paper and Pulp Mills Limited
Collection of Cotton and Gauze from Orion
Group, and Local Pharmaceutical Supplies near
Savar
Collection of Elastics and Polyethylene from
Aukson Garments and other Local Vendors
Manufacturing Process
Pulverization
Core
Formation
Covering
Layer
Production
Sterilizing
Packaging
Management Team
Debojit Saha
Head of Production
and Distribution
Sumayea
Tabassum
Sabrina Afroz
Erina
Head of Marketing
Head of Fiance
Pilot Test at
• Conducted at Wisteria Textiles
Limited, Dhaka
• 30 RMG workers were
provided with one packet of
Shurokkha
Success Story- Comments from
Garments Workers at Wisteria
Textile Limited
“I think I am never going to miss
work for period again, thanks to
Shurokkha! ” -Shompa
“Previously it was difficult for me to
buy sanitary napkin from a male
shopkeeper but friendly info-fairies
make Shurokkha available at my
doorstep”- Amena
Success Story- Comments from
Wisteria Textile Limited
“Before our workers didn’t know
much about any such priduct.
Many of those who knew felt shy
to buy from shops. Now, after the
pilot, our workers work with
comfort. Medical expenses wend
down and productivity went up.”
Sadia Ahmed Oishee
Director
Wisteria Textile Limited
Social benefits of the project
Low-cost, high-quality disposable sanitary napkin with
sanitary belt to the working women of Bangladesh
Awareness among the target group women about
the menstrual health
Employment for unskilled poor living in slums
More confident and productive women workforce
Product Specifications of Shurokkha
Product Specification
Length
260 mm
Width
75 mm
Weight
7 gm.
Absorption Capacity
100 ml
Factory Machineries*
•
•
•
Mini Sanitary Napkin Unit
UV Sterilizer
Sealing Machine
*Sourced from India
Legal Status
The Company will be registered with the Registrar of Companies in
Bangladesh as a Private Limited Company under the Bangladesh
Companies Act 2004.
Key Management
Value-Chain