From Landfills to Sustainability: How PadCare Labs reinvents Menstrual Hygiene

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A life-changing visit to a landfill

“In 2018, I visited a landfill and witnessed a scene that changed my life forever I saw waste pickers sorting through mountains of garbage, handling soiled sanitary pads with their bare hands. It wasn’t just disturbing—it was inhumane.” Ajinkya shares with ImpactStories.in.

This harsh encounter marked the birth of an idea. With a background in mechanical engineering from SGGS Institute of Engineering and Technology, Maharashtra, Ajinkya had always been drawn to solutions that blended practicality with social good. But this experience sharpened his focus on menstrual waste, a crisis that had long been overlooked in India.

“Most people don’t realize that every sanitary pad ever made still exists today,” he explains. “The plastic content and super-absorbent polymers (SAPs) take centuries to decompose. Multiply that by 12 billion pads thrown out each year in India alone, and the scale of the problem becomes clearer.”

A team driven by purpose

Determined to take action, Ajinkya built a team of like-minded young innovators. “It wasn’t easy,” he recalls. “We were driven by the belief that we could create a solution that addressed the issue from multiple angles: awareness, accessibility, disposal, and recycling.”

The journey from idea to innovation spanned three years of research and development. “We worked tirelessly, going through countless prototypes and testing phases,” he shares. “We wanted to develop not just any machine but a truly revolutionary one.” The initial PadCare X machines were smaller, designed to process a limited quantity of used sanitary pads, allowing the team to refine the technology with each iteration. Eventually, these early models paved the way for the full-scale PadCare X system, capable of processing up to 1.5 MT of used sanitary pads daily.

The science of transformation: Awareness to Recycling

PadCare Labs provides a comprehensive menstrual hygiene management service that focuses on four main pillars:

• Awareness: “We provide awareness programs around menstrual health and hygiene and work to break the taboo surrounding menstruation,” Ajinkya explains. These initiatives help communities understand the importance of safe menstrual practices and reduce stigma.
• Accessibility: To ensure that menstruators have access to necessary products, PadCare Labs installs the PadCare Vend, a dispensing machine that supplies sanitary pads in case of emergencies. “This adds an extra layer of security and convenience for women, especially in public and corporate spaces,” Ajinkya notes.
• Segregation: “We believe there should be no manual handling of sanitary pads,” Ajinkya states firmly. PadCare Labs ensures source segregation by installing specialized PadCare bins in women’s washrooms. These bins, equipped with odor-control technology, provide a safe and hygienic way to dispose of used pads. Trained teams regularly collect the waste and transport it to a centralized recycling facility.
• Recycling: At the heart of PadCare Labs’ operation is the PadCare X machine, which is capable of recycling soiled sanitary pads by extracting reusable raw materials such as wood pulp and plastic. “Once the pads are processed, the extracted materials are sent to different recyclers for further use,” Ajinkya shares. This unique recycling method reintegrates waste into the ecosystem, contributing to the circular economy.

“Our work isn’t just about technology. It’s about changing how we think about menstruation, tackling taboos, and making sustainable practices accessible to everyone.” - Ajinkya Dhariya

The business model: Sustainable and Service-based

One of the key aspects of PadCare Labs’ success lies in its business model. “We operate on a service-fee basis,” Ajinkya explains. “Organizations pay for the installation and maintenance of PadCare bins, with service fees charged per collection based on the number of bins and the collection frequency needed—whether weekly, biweekly, or monthly.”

At the core of this system is PadCare X, which uses a patented 5D technology to process sanitary napkins, converting them into reusable resources like pulp and plastic. This innovative technology not only reduces waste but also contributes to a circular economy by reintegrating processed materials back into the ecosystem. The PadCare VAP technology allows the bins to store pads without odor or bacterial growth for up to 30-35 days, offering clients flexibility while maintaining high hygiene standards.

In addition to service fees, PadCare Labs generates additional revenue by selling recycled products made from the processed sanitary pads. This circular model reinforces their commitment to sustainability and innovation.

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From innovation to recognition

The impact of PadCare Labs has not gone unnoticed. The startup garnered national attention through its appearance on Shark Tank India, where it secured funding and mentorship that accelerated its growth. “Being on Shark Tank was transformative,” Ajinkya says. “It not only provided financial backing but also validated our mission and brought more visibility to the issue of menstrual waste.”

Beyond Shark Tank, the startup has been honored with multiple awards, including the NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum 2019 and the Design Excellence Award 2021 (CII). Most recently, PadCare Labs was recognized by UNICEF’s "Innovation30" and featured in Forbes Under 30. “Every recognition reminds us that we’re on the right path, but it also highlights the responsibility we carry,” Ajinkya notes.

Impact by the numbers

The statistics alone are compelling. To date, PadCare Labs has served over 800,000 menstruators across 23 cities and conserved more than 249 metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions by diverting sanitary waste from landfills. These numbers reflect not just environmental impact, but a shift in societal norms and practices around menstrual hygiene management.

Addressing challenges head-on

While PadCare Labs has achieved significant milestones, the journey has not been without obstacles. “Educating people and breaking taboos around menstruation is still a challenge,” Ajinkya admits. “Many organizations hesitate to adopt new solutions due to a lack of awareness or budget constraints.”

To tackle this, PadCare Labs places a strong emphasis on education and outreach. “We conduct workshops and awareness programs that not only educate menstruators but also involve stakeholders in discussions about the environmental and social benefits of sustainable MHM,” Ajinkya tells ImpactStories.in. The startup’s comprehensive approach, paired with its innovative solutions, works toward gradually changing mindsets.

Looking to the future

“Our vision is ambitious but necessary,” Ajinkya shares. “We want to scale up our recycling facilities beyond Pune to cities like Bangalore and Delhi, and eventually take this model global.” While PadCare Labs’ services are already available in multiple cities, expanding its recycling infrastructure will optimize transportation, increase efficiency, and support a robust network of recycling facilities across India.

The path forward includes partnerships with corporations looking to meet ESG goals and contribute to the circular economy. “We’re inviting organizations to join us in making a tangible impact,” he says, emphasizing how collective action can drive larger systemic change.

Summary and next steps

Ajinkya Dhariya’s journey with PadCare Labs is a powerful example of how personal experiences can fuel impactful innovation. By addressing a complex issue through a combination of technology, social outreach, and sustainable practices, Ajinkya has positioned PadCare Labs as a leader in menstrual hygiene management. The path to a cleaner, more inclusive future is challenging, but Ajinkya’s commitment to the cause is unwavering.