Since her first menstruation, Sushma Sah, 24, has experienced discomfort when using a readymade pad. She stumbled across an opportunity that would transform her life. She got the chance to participate in a pad-making training program conducted by Sabal Nepal. The training allowed her to share her knowledge and hands-on experience with making pads out of materials such as cotton and flatina cloth. The training made her realise that, while she was simply uncomfortable using readymade pads, many women and girls were unable to access them due to financial constraints.
She also learned that there was no rule requiring them to use commercial pads. "We could make our own reusable ones from simple materials, including old cotton clothes," she says. "This revelation inspired me to advocate for this knowledge and empower other women." Driven by her newfound purpose, she approached the local government in Siraha Municipality and asked for permission to conduct free reusable pad training in rural areas so that other women would not have to struggle during their menstrual cycles.
However, she faced a challenge because menstruation is often regarded as a taboo subject, shrouded in shame and secrecy. Although the authorities listened to her proposal, they declined, stating that they would notify her if a suitable opportunity became available. They eventually connected her with an NGO, which launched her career as a trainer. "I conducted my first training session for 30 women, teaching them how to make reusable pads. That day, I realised I had the potential to be a good trainer, which fueled my desire to continue doing this work," she says. "I started coordinating with various local governments in my district and successfully trained over 150 young girls and women."
As she continued, another thought occurred to her: what if she started a business producing reusable pads?This thought lingered until 2022, when her friend Manashree Newa shared a Facebook link to Creasion Nepal's CLIMATE SMART Entrepreneurship program. "I applied, and to my delight, I was accepted into the program. "Over the next three months, I received mentorship from Narayani Gaha, who guided me through the process," she adds. "I had to compete against 20 other ideas, and only six were chosen to receive a seed fund of 125,000 NPR for a startup. I was thrilled to be one of the six selected.” With the guidance of a mentor, her skills honed and she became a successful businesswoman at such a young age. The seed fund allowed her to bring her idea to life.
Registering her business, however, was not straightforward. As it was the first of its kind in the district, the officers had to conduct a study to ensure everything was in order. “After a week, I received a phone call informing me that my registration was approved—all my documents were valid and genuine,” she says. "That is how I became the first woman in my district to start a reusable pad business," she explains. "I not only trained others, but also my mother, who now runs the business independently. Furthermore, I am proud to be the first woman in my family and among all of my relatives to own a business." What began as a personal struggle with discomfort has evolved into a mission to empower women and girls by breaking taboos and developing a long-term solution for menstrual health.
They recently received funds from the provincial government, allowing them to expand their business. Almost two years into our journey, they have received positive feedback on their products and reached a significant milestone in her business, reflecting the strong demand for their products in the market. In addition, she believes that reusable cotton pads provide significant climate resilience and benefits. Cotton pads decompose within a year, whereas disposable pads can take hundreds of years.
This minimizes long-term waste and pollution. This product contributes to the reduction of plastic pollution and the environmental harm associated with plastic waste by using cotton rather than plastic. She also claims that reusable pads reduce the need for continuous production of single-use items, thereby conserving natural resources and lowering the environmental footprint. "The manufacturing process for disposable pads emits significant pollution and consumes significant resources. "Reusable cotton pads mitigate this by reducing the frequency of production and overall waste," she says. “On top of that, this product helps address climate change by reducing waste, lowering plastic pollution, and conserving resources.”
