Disposable Menstrual Pad (pack)

Material Composition Assumptions

A standard pack of disposable menstrual pads weighs approximately 300 grams and contains multiple material layers. The top sheet consists of polypropylene or polyethylene fibers weighing roughly 45 grams, representing 15% of total weight. The absorbent core combines air-laid wood pulp and superabsorbent polymers totaling 180 grams or 60% of the product. A polyethylene barrier layer accounts for 30 grams or 10% of weight. Petroleum-based adhesives, bleached cellulose, rayon, and low-density polyethylene strips comprise the remaining 45 grams or 15% of the pack. These materials undergo intensive processing including bleaching treatments that release harmful dioxins during production.

Manufacturing Geography

Primary manufacturing occurs in China, which dominates global feminine hygiene product production due to established supply chains and lower labor costs. Chinese manufacturing facilities operate on a grid intensity of 555 gCO2/kWh, reflecting the country’s coal-heavy electricity generation mix. This carbon-intensive energy profile significantly influences the manufacturing emissions associated with energy-intensive processes like polymer production and bleaching operations. The concentration of raw material suppliers and processing facilities in East Asia creates transportation efficiencies but locks in higher grid-based emissions compared to regions with cleaner electricity sources.

Regional Variation

Manufacturing Region	Grid Intensity	Estimated CCI Score	Adjustment vs Default
China	555 gCO2/kWh	58	Baseline
India	708 gCO2/kWh	63	+8.6%
Germany	366 gCO2/kWh	51	-12.1%
United States	386 gCO2/kWh	52	-10.3%
Brazil	85 gCO2/kWh	42	-27.6%

Provenance Override Guidance

1. Submit facility-specific electricity consumption data and renewable energy procurement documentation to override default grid intensity assumptions for manufacturing operations.

2. Provide detailed material composition specifications including recycled content percentages and alternative fiber sources to adjust raw material extraction impacts.

3. Document transportation modes and distances from raw material sources to manufacturing facilities and from factories to distribution centers.

4. Supply energy consumption data for specific manufacturing processes including polymer extrusion, adhesive application, and packaging operations.

5. Submit waste management and recycling protocols implemented at manufacturing facilities to account for process efficiency improvements.

Methodology Notes

• The CCI score represents cradle-to-gate emissions for one pack of disposable menstrual pads including raw material extraction, manufacturing, and transportation to retail distribution.

• Scope 3 emissions dominate at 80% due to plastic polymer production and wood pulp processing occurring upstream in the supply chain.

• Functional unit assumes a standard retail pack containing 8-12 individual pads weighing approximately 300 grams total.

• End-of-life disposal impacts are excluded from the core CCI score but represent significant additional environmental burdens lasting 500-800 years in landfills.

• Data gaps include variations in adhesive formulations and regional differences in wood pulp sourcing practices.

• The assessment excludes packaging materials beyond primary product wrapping and does not account for consumer transportation to purchase points.