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Personal hygiene products like menstrual pads contribute significantly to the pressing global environmental challenge of plastic waste. This issue highlights the ecofeminist critique of development, which often relies on reducing both women and nature to objects manipulated by economic forces, perpetuating a cycle of ‘maldevelopment’. This issue is particularly acute in the global south, where the growing use of these products is not matched by waste management solutions.

This thesis aimed to investigate the challenge of menstrual waste, examining how personal care companies worldwide communicate the sustainability of their products on their websites, and what challenges and benefits does the promotion of sustainable menstrual products present in low-income countries.

The study is divided into two parts. The first part used Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) to assess the sustainability claims and material choices of a global selection of menstrual pad companies. Findings revealed a lack of emphasis among leading companies on waste considerations related to their products. In contrast, smaller local companies tended to focus on biodegradable materials such as bioplastics, engaging more with sustainability questions.

The second part of the study drew on a survey with sanitation workers in Kisumu, shedding light on the challenges they face dealing with menstrual waste, and how this poses challenges for sanitation systems in low-income countries. The findings highlighted the need for further research into the environmental impact of disposable menstrual product materials and the effectiveness of ‘sustainable menstrual pads.