Most conventional pads don’t disclose their ingredients, and if they do, the list would be filled with petrochemical-based ingredients such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), sodium polyacrylate, artificial fragrances, deodorants, dyes, chlorine bleach, latex, parabens, formaldehyde, dioxins, chloroform, or polyester.
Plastics, artificial fragrances, dyes, synthetic super absorbent polymers and many other chemicals present in conventional pads can make your skin itchy and uncomfortable.
No harsh chemicals, fragrances or dyes that could cause skin irritations, rashes or UTIs
Most conventional pads don’t disclose their ingredients, and if they do, the list would be filled with petrochemical-based ingredients such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), sodium polyacrylate, artificial fragrances, deodorants, dyes, chlorine bleach, latex, parabens, formaldehyde, dioxins, chloroform, or polyester.
Plastics, artificial fragrances, dyes, synthetic super absorbent polymers and many other chemicals present in conventional pads can make your skin itchy and uncomfortable. Extremely sensitive permeable membranes of the vagina can allow the direct transfer of harmful toxins from conventional pads into your circulatory system. Synthetic SAPs can make pads unhygienically long-lasting, which can promote the growth of unwanted bacteria. Plastic can create sweaty and humid environment near your most intimate areas.
We think that your personal care products should let your skin breathe all-day long, so each Sparkle pad is made up of a feather-soft top layer made with bamboo fibre cellulose, a central core made with naturally absorbent cellulose fibre, and a leak-proof bottom layer made with plant starch.
An average menstruator uses around 10,000 sanitary napkins in their lifetime. With only 36% of Indian menstruators using sanitary pads, around 12 billion non-biodegradable sanitary pads are discarded every year. If we do the math and if all of India’s menstruators were to use sanitary pads, it would result in around 500,000 tons of sanitary pad waste per year.
Not only do these sanitary napkins get dumped in acres of landfills where they remain unchanged for around 600-800 years after disposal, but they get picked up by birds and animals, inadvertently polluting the surrounding environments.
Plastic-free sanitary pads made with sustainable, biodegradable and compostable ingredients
An average menstruator uses around 10,000 sanitary napkins in their lifetime. With only 36% of Indian menstruators using sanitary pads, around 12 billion non-biodegradable sanitary pads are discarded every year. If we do the math and if all of India’s menstruators were to use sanitary pads, it would result in around 500,000 tons of sanitary pad waste per year.
Not only do these sanitary napkins get dumped in acres of landfills where they remain unchanged for around 600-800 years after disposal, but they get picked up by birds and animals, inadvertently polluting the surrounding environments. In fact, partially-degraded polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE) from the sanitary pad’s top layer, the bottom layer, or plastic wrappers can even be carried by wind and rain into drainage networks or rivers that eventually flow into the sea. That’s when it will break down into tiny pieces known as microplastics that can get transferred through multiple layers of the food chain, with them maybe even ending up on your plate.
On the other hand, Sparkle pads are made using renewable resources which can help the pad biodegrade quickly after disposal and go back to nature without leaving any toxic residue. Since our pads do not contain plastic or harsh chemicals, you can also compost them in your backyard compost pit.
You might be interested to know that many period brands simply import products from other countries, rebrand them in their own “premium” packaging or get them made by third-party manufacturers, selling them with their own added profit margins.
Our approach is different.
We manufacture our own sanitary pads to make sure we have full control over quality of all the raw materials as well as our finished products.
Manufacturing our own sanitary pads to ensure the highest quality and product safety
You might be interested to know that many period brands simply import products from other countries, rebrand them in their own “premium” packaging or get them made by third-party manufacturers, selling them with their own added profit margins.
Our approach is different.
We manufacture our own sanitary pads to make sure we have full control over the quality of all the raw materials as well as our finished products.
Our factory has been audited by independent third party organizations to verify that our quality management and product safety protocols meet international standards. Besides being US FDA registered, our manufacturing facility is also ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certified.
We follow strict hygiene and manufacturing process controls at every step of our production process. Our production area has epoxy flooring and central air conditioning with positive pressure. Our dust-free production area is equipped with an advanced Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system that is designed to maintain Class 10000 Clean Room environment.
To ensure that our products meet the highest quality standards consistently, we have implemented a rigorous internal quality management system. During every production run, we conduct an on-line quality inspection on the production floor as well as a periodic sample testing of in-depth product quality analysis in our quality assurance lab.
Unlike many period brands that use misleading buzzwords such as “cottony”, “cotton-feel” or “cottony-soft” to describe their polypropylene (PP) top sheet or terms like “gel technology” or “superabsorbent pearls” to represent the petrochemical-derived sodium polyacrylate, we believe in transparently disclosing every part of our pad-making process.
We believe that you deserve to know what exactly goes into making your period products, starting from the origin of all ingredients to the safety, quality, and performance of your Sparkle pads.
We transparently disclose our ingredients and supply chain so you can make informed purchase decisions
Unlike many period brands that use misleading buzzwords such as “cottony”, “cotton-feel” or “cottony-soft” to describe their polypropylene (PP) top sheet or terms like “gel technology” or “superabsorbent pearls” to represent the petrochemical-derived sodium polyacrylate, we believe in transparently disclosing every part of our pad-making process.
We believe that you deserve to know what exactly goes into making your period products, starting from the origin of all ingredients to the safety, quality, and performance of your Sparkle pads.
Therefore, we have taken the decision to transparently disclose our fully-traceable supply chain – right from where we source it in nature to the final manufacturing of your Sparkle pad; this includes certifications of not only our raw materials manufacturers, but also the ingredients used by our raw material manufacturers to make their products.
Before sourcing these skin-safe, plant-based ingredients from our suppliers, we ensure that both their manufacturing control processes, as well as their quality management systems, are certified by independent organizations. To maintain consistency and quality of all of our raw materials, we also conduct periodic plant visits and audits to verify that our suppliers follow the same high standards and accountability that we expect from ourselves.
Banana plants grow rapidly in just 9 to 12 months. Once bananas are harvested, these plants become agro waste. Farmers typically burn these discarded stems which pollutes the environment or they have to pay additional labour to remove them from their farms. In India, around 800,000 hectares of banana plantations generate around 64 million tonnes of agro-waste. Worldwide, there are over 9 million hectares of banana farms.
We use banana stem agro-waste and transform its lignocellulosic biomass into soft and absorbent pulp, utilising this by-product into sustainable raw material for making our Sparkle pads.
Banana farmers earn extra income each harvest from banana stems agro-waste
Banana plants grow rapidly in just 9 to 12 months. Once bananas are harvested, these plants become agro waste. Farmers typically burn these discarded stems which pollutes the environment or they have to pay additional labour to remove them from their farms. In India, around 800,000 hectares of banana plantations generate around 64 million tonnes of agro-waste. Worldwide, there are over 9 million hectares of banana farms.
We use banana stem agro-waste and transform its lignocellulosic biomass into soft and absorbent pulp, utilising this by-product into sustainable raw material for making our Sparkle pads. By sourcing local banana fibre, we not only reduce the overall levels of agro-waste being wasted but also support the circular economy, positively impacting banana farmers, local agriculture, the economy and above all, the environment.
Millions of menstruators miss up to 50-60 days of school or work every year because they cannot afford menstrual hygiene products. Over 200 million menstruators rely on old rags, plastic, or ash during their periods, putting them at the grave risk of contracting infections, rashes, and many other serious health problems.
We firmly believe that every menstruator deserves to bleed with pride, and not miss opportunities based on their lack of access to sanitary napkins. In fact, according to UNICEF, when adolescent individuals are able to procure sanitary napkins, the school dropout rate decreases by 90%.
Working passionately towards bridging the gap between period poverty and menstrual equity
Millions of menstruators miss up to 50-60 days of school or work every year because they cannot afford menstrual hygiene products. Over 200 million menstruators rely on old rags, plastic, or ash during their periods, putting them at the grave risk of contracting infections, rashes, and many other serious health problems.
We firmly believe that every menstruator deserves to bleed with pride, and not miss opportunities based on their lack of access to sanitary napkins. In fact, according to UNICEF, when adolescent individuals are able to procure sanitary napkins, the school dropout rate decreases by 90%. Therefore, having this particular resource can provide menstruators with the ability to fully participate in events, carry out daily activities with dignity, as well as give them the chance to reach their full potential.
That’s why giving has been a central part of our brand philosophy; since Day 1, we have donated over 200,000 sanitary products through our NGO partners in an effort to eradicate period poverty. In addition, we use a percentage of the profits from each Sparkle pad purchase to provide pads and health education to those in need through our partners on the ground.
Still not convinced?
sustainable sanitary pads yet?”
These were the most common concerns:
We understand that you might find the price to be a little bit on the higher side, to begin with.
While we are constantly working toward making our products as affordable as possible by pushing and optimizing our costs as much as we can, we would like to be as transparent as possible with you so that you can make an informed purchase decision as a menstruator:
Sustainable raw materials are 2-3x more expensive than petrochemical-based ones
Typically, sustainable products end up being relatively more expensive compared to their conventional alternatives since natural, bio-based, organic, biodegradable, compostable and/or sustainable ingredients/raw materials are also expensive to source. As they are not often mass-produced, they don’t have an established supply chain like conventional products, which makes their procurement expensive (as well as the end product).
Establishing a fully traceable and ethical supply chain (verified by third-party certifications) adds to the cost
At Sparkle, our first priority lies in delivering a high-quality product for you - we believe that we can achieve this quality only if we start out with safe and top-quality ingredients as well. Just like we get audits conducted by third-party organizations, we ensure that our suppliers and their manufacturing control processes are also certified by independent organizations. To maintain the consistency and quality of all of our raw materials, we also conduct periodic plant visits and audits ourselves, all of which add to the final number.
Strict quality standards and manufacturing facility certifications
We do not compromise on quality. Period. We do not cut corners to make our products the cheapest possible options in the market. That’s just not who we are.
We follow strict hygiene and manufacturing process controls at every step of our production process. Our production area has epoxy flooring and central air conditioning with positive pressure. Our dust-free production area is equipped with an advanced Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system that is designed to maintain Class 10000 Clean Room environment.
Besides being US FDA registered, our manufacturing facility is also ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certified.
Our efforts for making sustainable products affordable for everyone
Our product price (as of now) reflects the cost and value of top-quality raw materials, our sustainable and ethical supply chain, and our determination to provide you only with the best.
We are constantly directing all our energy and efforts into exploring new and innovative raw materials that can make our products more affordable. Our R&D Centre is equipped with eight departments, all of which are hard at work trying to come up with feasible products.
As we grow, we are also aiming to establish a more cost-effective and fully vertically-integrated supply chain that can not only allow us to manufacture high-quality sustainable raw materials that go into making our finished products but also help us reduce our dependency on a highly-volatile supply chain and periodic price fluctuations.
Sparkle pads are trusted and used by thousands of customers – in terms of comfort, performance and absorbency, Sparkle pads are equivalent to or superior compared to conventional pads
Although you may feel like your monthly bleeding resembles the Niagara Falls down there, you might be surprised to know that an average menstruator typically loses only around 30-60 ml of blood (about 2-4 tablespoons) over a period cycle of 4-5 days.
Many commercial brands often claim that their single pad can absorb over 150 or 200 ml of coloured water. As an informed consumer, you should avoid falling into such marketing traps as the characteristics and nature of menstrual fluid is very different compared to blue coloured water.
Conventional pads typically contain superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) derived from petrochemical by-products. If you use pads filled with a lot of unnecessary SAPs, they may dry out your skin by wicking moisture.
Sparkle pads, on the other hand, do not contain synthetic superabsorbents. The absorbent core of our pad is made using a porous fibre network of natural, sustainable and renewable cellulose fibres which lock away (the appropriate amount of) menstrual fluid effectively.
After carefully understanding the multidimensional problems caused by non-biodegradable sanitary pad waste, we designed our pads by taking their entire product life-cycle into account, from selecting their raw materials to the product’s disposal.
Made with a cellulose-based top sheet, a cellulose-based absorbent core, a back film and wrapper made from certified home-compostable material, bio-based adhesives, and non-toxic adhesives, Sparkle pads are not only plastic-free and chemical-free, but they are also biodegradable and home-compostable.
To sustainably dispose of a Sparkle pad, you can compost them at home. This means your Sparkle pads can break down into organic matter and return to soil when composted at home, so you have one less thing to worry about.
Even if Sparkle pads end up in landfills, they can biodegrade at a much faster rate compared to conventional plastic pads made with petrochemicals-based by-products since Sparkle pads are made with large amount of cellulose and other bio-based materials.
When Sparkle pads are properly incinerated, they offer a more sustainable alternative (since they are made from bio-based ingredients) compared to conventional pads (that are made with complex petrochemical-based plastics, fragrances and other chemicals which emit toxic gases when improperly incinerated).
In addition to developing sustainable, biodegradable and compostable products, we have also introduced the GreenCycle Program that focuses on designing effective waste management infrastructure to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. We are working towards creating separate collection and composting infrastructure to make the large-scale composting of absorbent hygiene products a reality.
With the amount of greenwashing going around in the industry, we don’t blame you for doubting any brand that is offering sustainable solutions. What we can do from our side is lay our facts down straight, for you to make an informed decision:
Traceable and Transparent Supply Chain
We believe that you deserve to know everything that goes into making your period products.
Therefore, we have taken the decision to fully and transparently disclose our traceable supply chain - right from where we source it in nature to the final manufacturing of your Sparkle pad; this includes certifications of not only our raw materials manufacturers, but also the ingredients used by our raw material manufacturers to make their products.
We only work with leading industry suppliers who share our core values and comply with the strictest, internationally-accepted safety standards. In addition, we ensure that our suppliers are certified through third-party independent organizations, and we ourselves conduct periodic plant visits and audits to verify if the quality and consistency are the same standards that we hold ourselves accountable to.
Factory Certifications
Sparkle’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility has been audited by independent third-party organizations to verify that our quality management and product safety protocols meet all international standards. Besides being US FDA registered, our manufacturing facility is also ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 certified.
As a sustainable period products brand, we always encourage people to use any period products that can reduce plastic pollution. Reusable cloth pads, menstrual cups, menstrual disks, and tampons are all great options to get you started on your sustainable journey.
With that being said, just like no two period cycles are alike, nor are their menstruators or their choices.
We believe that every menstruator should have as many options as possible in the realm of sustainable period products; while some individuals may be comfortable with inserting a period product inside their body, not all might have the same preference (either due to personal choices, cultural beliefs, family situations, or even medical conditions).
Oftentimes, many menstruators may not be able to hygienically wash or dry their reusable menstrual products in privacy. In such instances, single-use, plastic-free, and biodegradable sanitary pads can offer a more convenient (and sustainable) alternative for those who have such constraints.
We believe it’s important to have a wide variety of choices, and we are passionately working towards expanding our product line so that we can offer more period care options to every menstruator.
Sustainable brands like us are incredibly passionate about the world we live in - for example, as a brand, we personally feel that choosing a plastic-free product is a small change that can make a huge difference towards positively impacting the planet as well as your body.
Our offerings currently are just an alternative for the individuals who would like to explore plastic-free options; it has never been and will never be our intention to shame someone for the type of period products they use. We understand that millions of menstruators face period poverty, where bare minimum access to sanitary products in itself is a luxury.
Since Day 1, our goal has been to bridge the gap between period poverty and menstrual equity by using a percentage of our profits to provide sanitary pads and health education to those in need through our partners on the ground. Simultaneously, we have been working continuously towards making our products as affordable and accessible as possible, so that we can actively be a part of many more menstruators’ consideration phase.