Anupriya Nayak, a young innovator from Delhi, along with her all-girls student team Team Udaan, has developed reusable sanitary pads using sugarcane bagasse, the fibrous waste left after extracting juice from sugarcane. The innovation aims to address two challenges together: limited access to affordable menstrual hygiene products and the growing environmental burden of disposable sanitary waste. The project gained attention ahead of World Menstrual Hygiene Day 2026, with the team focusing on creating a low-cost, sustainable alternative for women and girls, particularly in underserved communities.
Turning Agricultural Waste Into A Menstrual Health Solution
The idea behind Team Udaan’s innovation emerged from the need to make menstrual hygiene products more accessible while reducing dependence on conventional disposable pads. Led by Anupriya Nayak, the student team explored sugarcane bagasse, a commonly discarded agricultural by-product, as a possible material for developing reusable sanitary pads.
Sugarcane bagasse is the dry fibre that remains after extracting juice from sugarcane. Instead of allowing this agricultural waste to remain unused, the team worked on converting it into a material that could contribute to menstrual care solutions. The initiative reflects a growing interest among young innovators in finding sustainable alternatives using locally available resources.
The students’ approach focuses on making menstrual products more affordable, reusable and environmentally conscious. According to reports, the team developed the pads with the intention of supporting women who face challenges accessing regular menstrual products due to cost or availability.
Addressing Menstrual Access And Environmental Concerns
Menstrual hygiene remains a major public health concern in India, especially in communities where affordability, awareness and availability continue to affect women’s choices. Many girls and women still face barriers in accessing safe menstrual products, which can impact education, health and daily activities.
At the same time, disposable sanitary products contribute significantly to waste generation because many contain plastic-based materials that are difficult to break down. Researchers and environmental advocates have increasingly highlighted the need for alternatives that balance hygiene, affordability and sustainability.
Team Udaan’s work attempts to connect these two issues by using agricultural waste as a resource for menstrual care. The students’ innovation has also drawn attention as an example of how young people are approaching social challenges through science, design and entrepreneurship.
The project was developed by Anupriya Nayak and her team during their student years, with reports highlighting their efforts to refine the product and explore ways to expand its reach. Another report noted that a venture linked to Nayak’s work, Menstrumate, has expanded its operations across multiple states and countries, reflecting the broader potential of youth-led solutions in the social innovation space.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Innovation often begins by looking differently at everyday challenges. Anupriya Nayak and Team Udaan’s effort highlights how young minds can combine environmental responsibility with social impact by transforming an overlooked agricultural resource into a potential solution for menstrual health challenges.
However, sustainable menstrual care solutions must go beyond innovation and ensure affordability, safety, awareness and accessibility for the communities that need them the most. Encouraging conversations around menstrual health while supporting responsible, inclusive innovations can help build a society where periods are treated as a normal health issue rather than a source of stigma.
What role do you think young innovators can play in creating solutions for everyday social challenges? Share your thoughts with us.
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