Globally, period poverty remains a widespread problem. The World Bank estimates that 500 million people who menstruate worldwide lack access to menstrual products and the facilities needed to manage their periods. In developing nations, such as Bangladesh, the lack of supplies poses threats to women’s health, education and environmental safety. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) National Hygiene Survey reported sanitary pad usage among women and girls at roughly 17% to 29%. Lacking clean, sustainable supplies, many resort to old clothes or dirty cloths, missing school and work every month. With no easy way of disseminating products due to social taboos and costs, period poverty limits schoolgirls’ chance to learn simply because of their gender.

Bangladesh, where period poverty remains widespread, is working to change this reality. Protecting both the environment and women’s health, the nation has introduced menstrual product vending machines, and reusable cloth pads are reshaping menstrual health management. Two organizations helping to fight period poverty are Freedom Sanitary Napkin and Fresh Anonna. Freedom has installed more than 100 vending machines across universities, colleges and public spaces, and Fresh Anonna has brought machines to schools and madrasahs, alongside education programs that challenge social taboos and expand access.

Instant Access and Stigma Reduction via Vending Machines

Periods are a monthly bodily occurrence and one that is often stigmatized, especially in rural Bangladeshi communities. According to the World Bank, more than 70% of Bangladeshi youth believe menstruating girls should avoid activities such as going out, cooking or eating certain foods. Placing menstrual product vending machines in schools helps normalize the bodily function. Dhaka University and Eden Women’s College are among the institutions installing automated dispensers, which provide low-cost products to students who need them.

Access is not the only benefit; these dispensers are also cost-effective. Pads cost around 10 Bangladeshi taka (about $0.08), eliminating the need to buy expensive packs. The dispensers also avoid the social taboo of purchasing products in busy marketplaces or from male shopkeepers, offering a discreet method of access. Placing the machines inside restrooms, away from public view, also helps lower period-related absenteeism.

Long-Term Affordability through Reusable Pads

Menstrual product vending machines address emergency needs but pose a risk to the environment. Standard single-use pads generate large amounts of plastic waste. A plastic pad can take 500 to 800 years to decompose in a landfill, while one person can use up to 16,000 disposable products in their lifetime. Sustainable, reusable pads help reduce lifetime waste, and continuously purchasing single-use items is financially out of reach for many households.

Organizations such as EcoVation Bangladesh, through initiatives like “Project MyPad,” transform textile waste into washable cloth pads that can be used multiple times. In rural communities, workshops teach women how to make their own products; sewing together multi-layered products that can be washed and reused. The financial relief is immediate. A single set of reusable pads lasts up to three years, replacing hundreds of disposable items and drastically lowering household expenses. Women also learn imperative information about the menstrual process and key ways to handle their time of the month. These programs protect both physical health and monthly budgets.

A Dual Strategy for Gender Equality

Women lift economies; addressing their needs and struggles remains imperative in the fight for poverty reduction. Focusing on both women’s health and sustainability, Bangladesh prioritizes eco-friendly solutions, accessible through a widespread network that uplifts girls across regions. Scaling up menstrual product vending machines in Bangladesh provides high-tech, immediate relief in urban schools and factories, while reusable pads deliver an economical alternative tailored for rural communities.

– Maya Tung

Maya is based in Summit, NJ, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pixabay