A Generative AI Paradigm for a Global Crisis: Redesigning the Sanitary Pad Polymer Lifecycle for Environmental and Public Health in India

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | Special Issue 01 | Page : 1570 1591
    By

    Ritam Rajak,

  • Eshani Sadhukhan,

  • Tanmoy Majumder,

  • Piyali Roy Chowdhury,

  • Indrajit Ghosal,

  • Nilanjan Ray,

  • Sudip Basu,

  1. Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (AIML), Moodlakatte Institute of Technology, Kundapura, Karnataka, India
  2. Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Brainware University, Barasat, West Bengal, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Faculty of Management, JIS University, West Bengal, India
  4. Assistant Professor, School of Business and Management, CHRIST University, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
  5. Associate Professor, Department of Management, Brainware University, Barasat, West Bengal, India
  6. Associate Professor, Faculty of Management, JIS University, JIS University, West Bengal, India
  7. Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies, Asansol Engineering College, West Bengal, India

Abstract

The sale of disposable sanitary pads, most of which contain non-biodegradable polymers, especially polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and superabsorbent polyacrylates (SAPs), has led to a souring environmental and population health crisis, especially in India. A linear economic approach of take-make-dispose has resulted in the exponential growth of polymer waste that fully blocks drains, leads to microplastic pollution, and overloads insufficient waste management facilities. Traditional polymers are designed to be permanent their carbon-carbon (C-C) bond backbones and cross-linked molecular structures are not degraded by enzymes or microbes and are almost untenable to recycle and dispose safely. The current study does not address just a problem of waste management but the failure of the material and product design right which is the argument of this article. The article suggests a new Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) paradigm to recycle the whole lifecycle of the sanitary pad by designing material innovation and product circularity with data, and adaptive waste logistics. Using the generative power of AI, the framework will create biodegradable biopolymers, including polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and citric-acid-based superabsorbent polymers and design pads, among others, designed to be disassembled and produced with low impact. Through that, a linear pollution issue can be made to evolve into a regenerative materials economy that is circular. The research provides a policy and industrial roadmap to integrate the concept of generative AI into sustainable development of sanitary products, and integrating the duty to serve the people together with the duty to serve the environment.

Keywords: Generative Artificial Intelligence, Circular Economy, Sanitary Pad Waste, Polymer Composites, Waste Management, Public Health, Sustainable Materials.

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer & Composites (jopc)]

How to cite this article:
Ritam Rajak, Eshani Sadhukhan, Tanmoy Majumder, Piyali Roy Chowdhury, Indrajit Ghosal, Nilanjan Ray, Sudip Basu. A Generative AI Paradigm for a Global Crisis: Redesigning the Sanitary Pad Polymer Lifecycle for Environmental and Public Health in India. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):1570-1591.
How to cite this URL:
Ritam Rajak, Eshani Sadhukhan, Tanmoy Majumder, Piyali Roy Chowdhury, Indrajit Ghosal, Nilanjan Ray, Sudip Basu. A Generative AI Paradigm for a Global Crisis: Redesigning the Sanitary Pad Polymer Lifecycle for Environmental and Public Health in India. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):1570-1591. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=231037


References

  1. Ahmad, A., & Sharma, M. (2024). Menstrual waste behaviour of young adolescents: a study from a gender perspective. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 14(9), 833–842. https://doi.org/10.2166/washdev.2024.120
  2. Amery, F., Mclaren, H.-J., &Padhee, S. (2025). Where is menstruation in global health policy? The need for a collective understanding. Global Public Health, 20(1), 2448272. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2024.2448272
  3. Batra, R., Pilania, G., Uberuaga, B. P., & Ramprasad, R. (2019). Multifidelity information fusion with machine learning: A case study of dopant formation energies in hafnia. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 11(28), 24906–24915. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.9b02174
  4. Batra, R., Song, L., & Ramprasad, R. (2021). Emerging materials intelligence ecosystems propelled by machine learning. Nature Reviews Materials, 6, 655–674. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-021-00309-6
  5. Beyond Plastics, & Just Zero. (2023, January). Model packaging reduction and recycling act. Beyond Plastics. https://www.beyondplastics.org/s/Model-Packaging-Reduction-and-Recycling-Act-January-2023.pdf
  6. Bhatt, P., Pathak, V. M., Beg, M. A., & Singh, A. (2025). Recent perspectives of microplastic analysis from sampling to characterization. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-025-48123-y
  7. Carraher, C., Roner, M., Shahi, K., Barot, G., &Barot, S. (2017). A review of polyolefins. Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part C: Polymer Reviews, 57(4), 353–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/15583724.2017.1367006
  8. Chavan, V. D., & Kulkarni, P. S. (2023). A critical review on technological development of cellulosic superabsorbent polymers and their application. Chemical Engineering Journal, 474, 145512. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2023.145512
  9. Chen, J., Chan, D. Y., Yang, T. T., Parisi, D., Reuvers, B., Veldhuis, T., Picchioni, F., Wu, J., & Koning, C. (2025). Bio-degradable, fully bio-based, thermally cross-linked superabsorbent polymers from citric acid and glycerol. Green Chemistry. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1039/d4gc06323f
  10. Chen, J., Veldhuis, T., Wu, J., & Koning, C. E. (2017). Synthesis of super absorbent polymer using citric acid as a bio-based monomer. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 144, 198–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2017.08.016
  11. Das, P., & Mohapatra, S. (2023). Menstrual hygiene management in India: The concerns and the solutions. Qeios. https://doi.org/10.32388/4GBGQO
  12. de Souza, M. A., &Lirani, D. R. (2024). Photocatalytic degradation of microplastics in aquatic environments: Materials, mechanisms, practical challenges, and future perspectives. Water, 17(14), 2139. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17142139
  13. Ibikunle, A. O. A., Alagbe, E. O., Odusote, F. A., & Ganiyu, S. A. (2015). Performance characteristics of local and imported sanitary pads. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 5(6), 461-465.
  14. El-Saied, H., Al-Otaibi, K. M., Al-Ghamdi, A. Y., & Al-Zahrani, S. M. (2022). Synthesis, characterization, and swelling properties of a new highly absorbent hydrogel based on carboxymethyl guar gum reinforced with bentonite and silica particles for disposable hygiene products. ACS Omega, 7(43), 39002–39018. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.2c05342
  15. European Environment Agency. (2022). Early warning assessment related to the 2025 targets for municipal waste and packaging waste: Italy. Publications Office of the European Union. https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/many-eu-member-states/italy
  16. Foteinis, S. (2020). After-life management of single-use absorbent hygiene products: A review. Waste Management & Research, 38(6), 597–611. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X20916834
  17. Fourcault, A., Scherer, L., &Cucurachi, S. (2022). Life-cycle assessment of menstrual products: A comparison of pads, tampons, menstrual cups and menstrual underwear. The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 27, 1373–1385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-022-02085-7
  18. Geertz, A., Kim, S., Kirk, K., & Harris, A. (2016). Menstrual health in East and Southern Africa: A multi-country landscape analysis. UNICEF.
  19. Huo, Z., Xie, X., & Tong, R. (2025). Machine learning for developing sustainable polymers. Chemistry – A European Journal, 31(1), e202500718. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.202500718
  20. Ibikunle, A. A., Titiloye, M. O., &Omueti, O. (2015). Performance characteristics of local and imported sanitary pads. International Journal of Engineering and Technology, 5(4), 322–326.
  21. Kern, J., Su, Y., Gutekunst, W., & Ramprasad, R. (2025). An informatics framework for the design of sustainable, chemically recyclable, synthetically accessible, and durable polymers. npj Computational Materials, 11(1), Article 23. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-025-01421-x
  22. Kumar, A., & Sharma, P. (2018). Menstrual products and their disposal. Toxics Link. https://toxicslink.org/docs/Menstrual-Products-and-their-Disposal-Report-2018.pdf
  23. Li, X., Liu, Y., & Hou, L. (2023). Machine learning-assisted design of polymeric materials: Recent advances and future trends. Accounts of Materials Research, 5(1), 29–42. https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.3c00288
  24. Liu, Z., Zhang, X., Chen, Y., Zhao, P., & Hou, J. (2025). Using classifiers to predict catalyst design for polyketone microstructure. Organometallics. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.organomet.5c00321
  25. Luo, J., Zhang, C., & Zhang, J. (2024). Sustainable coagulative removal of microplastic from aquatic systems: Recent progress and outlook. Environmental Science & Technology, 58(30), 13625–13642. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c03251
  26. Muench, F., & Wendt, G. (2022). Spotlight on the life cycle of acrylamide-based polymers supporting reductions in environmental footprint: Review and recent advances. Polymers, 14(1), 173. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14010173
  27. National Research Council. (2019). Closing the loop on the plastics dilemma. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25498
  28. Niu, Q., Liu, Z., Sun, J., & Fan, B. (2025). Superabsorbent polymers: Synthesis, applications, and biodegradability. ChemistrySelect. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202502854
  29. Pattanayak, R., Singh, N., & Meena, R. (2023). Recent advancement of bio-based superabsorbent polymers: A review emphasizing biodegradability. Journal of Polymer Research, 30(5), 193. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10965-023-03577-z
  30. Ragaert, K., Delva, L., & Van Geem, K. (2017). Mechanical and chemical recycling of solid plastic waste. Waste Management, 69, 24–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2017.07.044
  31. Kumar, A., & Sharma, P. (2018). Menstrual Products and their Disposal. Toxics Link.
  32. Ramaswamy, S., &Shaukath, A. (2024). Swachh Bharat Mission – A transformative shift in Bharat’s sanitation landscape. BlueKraft Digital Foundation. https://www.bluekraft.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Swachh-Bharat-Decadal-Journey-Report.pdf
  33. Samantaray, P. K., & Little, A. (2023). Emerging trends in machine learning for polymer science. ACS Polymers Au, 3(3), 263–274. https://doi.org/10.1021/acspolymersau.2c00053
  34. Ayrilmis, N., Kanat, G., YildizAvsar, E., Palanisamy, S., &Ashori, A. (2025). Utilizing waste manhole covers and fibreboard as reinforcing fillers for thermoplastic composites. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 44(17-18), 1108-1118.
  35. Ramasubbu, R., Kayambu, A., Palanisamy, S., &Ayrilmis, N. (2024). Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Composites Reinforced with Areca catechu Fibers Containing Silicon Carbide. BioResources, 19(2).
  36. Aruchamy, K., Karuppusamy, M., Krishnakumar, S., Palanisamy, S., Jayamani, M., Sureshkumar, K., … & Al-Farraj, S. A. (2025). Enhancement of Mechanical Properties of Hybrid Polymer Composites Using Palmyra Palm and Coconut Sheath Fibers: The Role of Tamarind Shell Powder. BioResources, 20(1).
  37. Karuppiah, G., Kuttalam, K. C., Palaniappan, M., Santulli, C., &Palanisamy, S. (2020). Multiobjective optimization of fabrication parameters of jute fiber/polyester composites with egg shell powder and nanoclay filler. Molecules, 25(23), 5579.
  38. Palanisamy, S., Kalimuthu, M., Santulli, C., Palaniappan, M., Nagarajan, R., &Fragassa, C. (2023). Tailoring epoxy composites with Acacia caesia bark fibers: Evaluating the effects of fiber amount and length on material characteristics. Fibers, 11(7), 63.
  39. Santulli, C., Palanisamy, S., &Kalimuthu, M. (2022). Pineapple fibers, their composites and applications. In Plant Fibers, their Composites, and Applications (pp. 323-346). Woodhead Publishing.
  40. Sanitation & Hygiene Fund. (2023). Power in her hands: Menstrual equity for all. https://www.shfund.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/SHF%20MHH%20approach%20April%202023.pdf
  41. Schuett, T., Endres, P., Standau, T., Zechel, S., Albuquerque, R. Q., Brütting, C., Ruckdäschel, H., & Schubert, U. S. (2024). Application of digital methods in polymer science and engineering. Advanced Functional Materials, 34(15), 2309844. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202309844
  42. Scott, G. (2015). “Green” polymers. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 122, 118–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2015.10.012
  43. Shetty, A., Kumar, N., &Kasar, P. (2023). A review on challenges in polymer processing for additive and formative manufacturing methods within the framework of sustainability. Polymers, 15(24), 4649. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15244649
  44. Stein, E., & Kim, S. (2009). Flow of funds: The political economy of menstrual privacy. In C. Bobel (Ed.), New directions in critical menstruation studies (pp. 235–256). Palgrave Macmillan.
  45. Sunny, A. R., Sazzad, S. A., Islam, M. A., Mithun, M. H., Hussain, M., Raposo, A., & Bhuiyan, M. K. A. (2025). Microplastics in aquatic ecosystems: A global review of distribution, ecotoxicological impacts, and human health risks. Water, 17(12), 1741. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17121741
  46. TechSci Research. (2025, July). India hygienic product market, by type, by end user, by distribution channel, by region, competition, forecast & opportunities, 2019-2030F. https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-hygienic-product-market/5068.html
  47. TechSci Research. (2025, July). India sanitary pads market, by product type, by distribution channel, by region, competition, forecast & opportunities, 2020-2030F. https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/india-sanitary-pads-market/7472.html
  48. Thakare, S., & Singh, A. (2020). Market landscape for menstrual health and hygiene management (MHM) incinerators in India & South Africa. RTI International. https://gatesopenresearch-files.f1000.com/posters/docs/gatesopenres-197047.pdf
  49. Thomas, N. L. (2016). The development and properties of polyolefin-based packaging films. Comprehensive Materials Processing, 12, 1–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-096532-1.01201-9
  50. van der Zee, M. (2015). Biodegradable polymers: An overview. In Bio-based plastics (pp. 75–104). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13931-5_4
  51. Vasile, C., &Pamfil, D. (2017). Recent advances in management of plastic waste. In Management of microbial resources in the era of climate change (pp. 317–356). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52949-8_13
  52. World Health Organization. (2021). Global strategy on digital health 2020-2025. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/documents/gs4dh.pdf
  53. Yang, L., & Zhang, Y. (2024). The pursuit of advanced polymers for energy technologies: Overcoming data fragmentation with FAIR principles and AI. arXiv preprint arXiv:2505.13494. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2505.13494
  54. Zarrintayebi, G., &Asefnejad, A. (2024). Advances in hydrogel film fabrication and functional applications across biomedical and environmental fields. Applied Sciences, 15(17), 9579. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15179579
  55. Zhu, Y., Romain, C., & Williams, C. K. (2016). Sustainable polymers from renewable resources. Nature, 540(7633), 354–362. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21001
  56. Ghosal, I., Saxena, D., Rajak, R., Gulati, K., &Kaloria, S. (2025). AI-driven sustainable supply chain framework for polymer composite production. Journal of Polymer and Composites, 13(5), 219–235. https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2025/view=225280/
Special Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
Special Issue 01
Received 10/10/2025
Accepted 03/11/2025
Published 13/01/2026
Publication Time 95 Days
300

Login


My IP

PlumX Metrics