Papaya

Most menstrual pads sold in India, including many labelled organic or natural, contain a superabsorbent polymer (SAP) core made from petroleum-based plastic. The organic cotton topsheet is the visible part. The plastic is hidden inside. Papaya, a Maharashtra-based women-owned brand, rebuilt the pad from the inside out. There is no SAP layer. Instead, the middle layer contains a patent-pending plant-based biocoagulant that causes menstrual blood to clot within the pad rather than remain as fluid, keeping the surface noticeably drier without needing plastic absorption.

The full construction: organic cotton and cellulose topsheet, the plant biocoagulant layer, and a biodegradable backsheet that replaces the conventional plastic film. No fragrance, no synthetic dyes, no phthalates. The pad is fully compostable in home soil, not requiring industrial composting facilities, and breaks down within six months. In a category where most brands claiming biodegradability still use synthetic components, that distinction matters.

Three flow variants are available in the personal care section: light, medium, and heavy, in packs of 18 and 36. The packs of 36 bring the per-pad cost close to conventional premium pads, which makes the switch less of a premium decision and more of a straight comparison on materials.

Worth noting: the biocoagulant patent is pending rather than granted. No third-party certification for the organic cotton or the biodegradability claim has been independently verified. The brand's own testing is what is documented. For a buyer who needs certified organic at every layer, that is worth checking before committing.