Research shows starch-based PLA sanitary pads big boon for the environment

In Brazil, a new lifecycle study published in Sustainability Science and Technology has discovered a promising alternative to plastic sanitary products, potentially leading to far reduced sanitary waste. Sanitary pads made with cornstarch are 17 times more environmentally friendly compared to plastic equivalents.

The high concentration of plastic in disposable products is a direct threat to the environment. An estimated 200,000 metric tons of sanitary products are disposed of every year, and the vast majority of them end up in the ocean.

Scientists found that, over the course of one year, using a cornstarch-derived biodegradable material called polylactic acid (PLA) to create sanitary products reduced environmental impact by 17 times compared to the plastic equivalent. The PLA-based pads exhibit lower global warming potential and far reduced toxicity due to the material’s more sustainable manufacturing processes compared to fossil-based plastics.

Even taking into account that the production of PLA contributes to higher land use, the overall renewable sourcing and lower environmental footprint mitigate the environmental impacts, in comparison to disposable plastic products.