3.4 Bio-based fiber innovation for sustainable and safe menstrual products
- Hafizur Rahman
- Researcher,
- Mid Sweden University
- Co-author(s): Per Engstrand, Gunilla Pettersson, Amanda Mattsson, Birgitta Engberg, Staffan K. Nyström, Annelie Ervasti, Louise Berg, and Anna Nordström
- Supervisor (PhD-students/postdocs):
- Menstrual products pose a significant challenge from both sustainability and health perspectives, as conventional solutions rely heavily on fossil-based plastics, chemically treated fibers, and frequent replacement. These factors contribute to substantial environmental burdens while raising concerns related to user safety and resource efficiency. Bio-based fiber materials from renewable resources, therefore, offer an important pathway toward more sustainable hygiene products. This work presents results from a large, interdisciplinary research project focused on the development and evaluation of plastic-free menstrual products made from wood-derived fibers from sustainably managed forests. The project combined fiber material development, product design, laboratory testing, and user-oriented evaluation to assess key performance and safety parameters. Attention was given to absorption efficiency, microbiological safety, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, as well as design aspects related to comfort and extended use. Comprehensive laboratory and preclinical testing demonstrated that the developed wood-fiber-based concepts can meet stringent hygiene and safety requirements while significantly reducing reliance on fossil materials and lowering waste and water footprints compared with conventional products. Beyond material performance, the project also addressed broader system aspects, including user acceptance, educational needs, and contributions to ongoing work toward international standardization of menstrual products. The results provide a robust foundation for continued research on sustainable fiber-based hygiene products. Future work will build on the knowledge generated in this project to explore additional bio-based fiber resources and production concepts adapted to different regional contexts, such as banana tree fibers, with the aim of further strengthening circularity, accessibility, and the global relevance of sustainable menstrual solutions.
- Time of presentation: 10.00