London, U.K.-based personal hygiene company Planera has created a flushable and biodegradable sanitary pad—a move expected to positively impact  the level of waste the industry produces and fails to dispose of each year.  

Planera’s pads have been successfully and independently tested in accordance with WIS 4-02-06, the water industry specification for flushability testing. The pad breaks down in two parts. First, with the hydraulic action of the toilet flush pulls the layers of the pad apart allowing it to start making its way down the drain line. Then, the 3mm cellulose fibres loosen and break apart. These steps ensure that the sanitary pad disintegrates by the time it reaches the wastewater treatment plant and can be treated along with toilet paper and sewage.

Most UK women menstruate for about 40 years using between five and fifteen thousand products that end in landfill sites.  Conventional plastic pads contain up to 90% plastic. Even if it the plastic is swapped out for biodegradable materials, a biodegradable or organic pad will still either get incinerated, end up in landfills not degrading, or get stuck in waterways. 
 
 
Planera sanitary pads are constructed in three layers. The top-sheet is made with biodegradable plant fibres that is cushioned to be gentler on the skin. It’s naturally absorptive so blood rapidly wicks into the pad’s core.  The wood pulp core rapidly removes the blood from the top-sheet and distributes it across the core. The biodegradable powder then locks the blood as a gel, finally locking it in place before it even reaches the barrier.

Three years of research and development has resulted in the UpFlow Barrier  – a sustainable barrier made up of multiple layers each playing an important role to protect from any leakages and be safe to flush.  The top of the barrier is impervious to blood and the bottom absorbs any sweat during use, reducing humidity. 

Planera was founded by CEO Olivia Ahn and engineer Aaron Koshy who were frustrated with companies forcing their responsibility of waste onto consumers – Planera believes that it is the companies’ responsibility to create disposables for use and disuse.

“Planera was created as both myself and Aaron were immensely frustrated at the volume of landfill waste that sanitary pads generate each year.” Ahn says. “Corporations who produce hygiene products should be taking greater responsibility for how their products are disposed of – putting any hygiene waste in a bin is not the end of its impact on the environment. Sanitary pads are an essential part of  people’s monthly healthcare routine  – at Planera we are helping everyday be easier.”
 
“It is a huge game-changer for the personal hygiene industry to finally have a sanitary pad that can be flushed,” she adds. “Not only does this significantly reduce its impact on the environment, but it also makes sanitary pads easier to be disposed of.”