Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 2 (Agency) With the distribution of 7.5 lakh menstrual cups, the THINKAL’ project initiated by Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL) has helped reduce an estimated 10,000 tons of napkin waste and 13,250 tons of carbon emissions. Aiming to increase awareness and provide access to menstrual cups, ‘THINKAL’ project is emerging as a catalyst for health, environmental, and social transformation across the country. As on October 31, 2024, over 7.5 lakh women have benefitted from the ‘THINKAL’, an innovative project by HLL Lifecare Limited, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. On an average, a woman uses approximately 15,000 sanitary napkins over her lifetime, at a cost of around Rs 600 annually. “These disposable products contain gels and plastics, contributing to environmental pollution. By distributing 7.5 lakh menstrual cups, HLL’s initiative has helped reduce an estimated 10,000 tons of napkin waste and 13,250 tons of carbon emissions.”
Currently, the project is active in 7 states, including Kerala, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. This initiative is executed in collaboration with various state governments, central public sector undertakings, NGOs, and private institutions, and is implemented by HLL Management Academy, the social education and development division of HLL. The THINKAL project was initially conceived in response to the sanitary napkin disposal challenges faced during the 2018 Kerala floods. In Kerala, the project is being implemented in collaboration with local self-government bodies, NGOs, and self-help groups, reaching women from urban, rural, and semi-urban communities. Through this initiative, two villages in Kerala – Kumbalangi panchayat in Ernakulam and Kallikkad Panchayat in Thiruvananthapuram-have been declared napkin-free panchayats. HLL aims to build widespread awareness of menstrual cups as a sustainable alternative.
As part of this effort, menstrual cups were distributed to women commuters and employees at Kochi Metro stations on International Women’s Day, which received significant public attention. The THINKAL project has also been included in Kerala government’s fourteenth Five-Year Plan. In Kerala alone, nearly four lakh consumers have already benefited from the project. Leading organisations like Air India, Coal India Limited, Indian Oil Corporation, and Tata Elxsi Private Limited are also supporting HLL in executing this project across various regions. HLL’s menstrual cups are reusable, made from FDA-approved medical-grade silicone, and meet international quality standards, lasting up to five years. They offer a safe alternative to disposable menstrual hygiene products, and used cups can also be sterilized by boiling in water. THINKAL Project has also received the prestigious SKOCH award recently, for its notable contribution to environmental sustainability. HLL markets these menstrual cups under the brand name ‘Velvet’ domestically and as ‘Cool Cup’ internationally.