Transforming Plantain Pseudostems to eco-friendly Menstrual Pads
Written By Stephanie Boadu
•April 26, 2024
If there is a feminine product that the woman has had to bond with grudgingly, it is the menstrual product which comes in different forms. Over the years, pads have proven to be of such exceptional comforting reliance to the young girl and woman.
Materials engineering once again proves its ubiquity in every sphere of our lives through the ingenuity of students in the Materials Innovation Hub(MIH) in the innovation of the menstrual pad product from plantain fibres. The team headed by Jude Kpare Yineti and under the supervision of Dr. Eric Anokye Asare, engineered the making of the dubbed “plad” through the conversion of plantain pseudostems which happens to be an abundant agricultural waste in Ghana.
The conception of the plad started in 2021, beginning with a team of final year students who are the founding members of Materials Innovation Hub. Due to the high absorbent properties of the plantain fibre, its adaptability into a pad was recognised to be highly viable. Thus plantain pseudostems were collected, dried and a number of processes carried out on it to then create the finished product—the plad.
As the global consciousness shifts to environmental sustainability, the innovation of the biodegradable plad is a momentous feat. Unlike traditional pads made from synthetic materials, the plad naturally breaks down over time minimizing its environmental footprint. Also, if large scale produced, the plad can serve in catering for the many girls and women who are unable to afford this essential feminine hygiene product.
The plad project has gone on to win first place at the TEKCONFAB23 and third place at the BSUIII Academia-Industry Research and Innovation Conference. The plad was also presented by the MIH team at the Prototypes for Humanity 2023 event and was received with great traction and rightfully so.
Image: Plad prototypes
The plad product combines environmental sustainability, affordability and innovation. The abundance of plantain waste as an agricultural resource makes plad a cost-effective solution, increasing accessibility for women and girls, especially in the Ghanaian community where there's an increasing number of women who cannot afford the traditional pads. This project represents a groundbreaking innovation in menstrual hygiene, demonstrating the potential of sustainable materials in challenging traditional approaches. By addressing multiple needs, the plad plays a crucial role in promoting menstrual equity, environmental stewardship, and progress in feminine care.
Stephanie Boadu
Stephanie Boadu is a truly talented writer and poet who is passionate about engineering and science in general. As a Materials Engineering student, she focuses on bridging the gap between eloquent writing and engineering, which are two fields that seem miles parts. Stephanie seeks to do this by telling stories that combine the facts and science behind engineering concepts with the exquisite flow of creative writing that reintroduces these concepts from a more fulfilling and refreshing perspective.