Teen turns waste into pads, fights pollution

A 15-year-old Nigerian student, Raheema Auwal-Panti, has developed an innovative solution addressing both plastic pollution and menstrual product accessibility. Her initiative, PantiPads, established in 2025, utilizes agricultural waste materials such as cassava peelings, banana leaves, and corn husks to produce biodegradable sanitary pads. This approach offers an environmentally friendlier alternative to conventional products.

Auwal-Panti's motivation stems from a desire to mitigate the environmental impact of disposable sanitary products, which often contain plastics that persist for centuries. She also aims to enhance the availability of affordable menstrual products for women and girls facing financial barriers. The project leverages abundant agricultural by-products from northern Nigeria.

The PantiPads initiative gained significant international recognition by being shortlisted among 35 global teams for the 2026 Earth Prize competition. This prestigious award celebrates young innovators tackling environmental challenges. The project's selection underscores its potential to reduce agricultural waste and plastic pollution while promoting sustainable menstrual health solutions.

Currently, PantiPads is in its development phase, with Auwal-Panti focusing on production system learning and forging business partnerships. Her long-term vision includes establishing local manufacturing facilities for larger-scale production and conducting awareness campaigns about sustainable menstrual product choices.