Sustainable Action Nepal
Dharti Mata is a social enterprise where local women work to create wonderful eco-friendly sanitary products, carry-bags and other fabric products, sold all over the world.
This enterprise was founded by Claire Lin in collaboration with Mithu Dhital from Hasera agriculture research and training centre in Pathleket, which provides the space for the workshop where Dharti Mata women work to produce ‘Lovelady Pads’.
Silvia and the Dharti Mata sisters
Dharti Mata means “Mother Earth” in Sanskrit. As the name suggests the core values of this organisation are:
< Earth Care >
By reducing disposable menstrual products and switching to Lovelady Pads, you are reducing your environmental footprint on earth!
< Women Care >
With every pad you buy, you help to support the employment of rural Nepalese women and projects in Nepal to promote women’s health and education.
< Health Care >
Cloth pads made by 100% cotton are comfortable, absorbent, and reduce the chance of rashes and infections.
I feel very lucky that I was able to meet and interact with the ladies working at Dharti Mata. They are women who are proud of what they do. Not only they bring an income to their families but they also empower their community.
Moreover Dharti Mata in partnership with Hasera promotes education to school children around menstruation and hygiene.
Women behind Dharti Mata and Lovelylady Pads
This project inspired me because the sanitary products, like the sanitary cotton pads, made by Dharti Mata help protect our planet and reduce waste.
It is important to remember that ‘an average woman uses roughly 11,000 tampons in her lifetime. The time it takes for a tampon or pad to degrade in a landfill is centuries longer than the lifespan of the woman who used it’.
‘Most consumers are also unaware of questionable ingredients in disposable products, or even the fact that manufacturers are not legally required to disclose ingredients in the first place’.
Furthermore Dharti Mata is not only an organisation that produces eco-friendly sanitary pads, but it also employs women from rural communities around the area of Dhulikhel (40 KM east of Kathmandu).
Hasera Reseach Centre (Pathlekehet)
Dharti Mata is an inspirational social business that aims to change the world. We, consumers, can make conscious decisions when we buy products. Choosing reusable pads over single-use-plastic-chemical-treated pads or tampons is a game changer.
Lovelylady Pads at Dharti Mata’s workshop
Dharti Mata’s carry bags
I have been using silicone cups for four years and cotton reusable pads in the last year. I find that the combination of those two sustainable sanitary products help me to feel comfortable and reduce my footprint.
On top of it we, women, can make a huge difference in saving the planet from plastic and nasty chemicals in disposable pads.
In lots of places like India, Nepal, United States, Australia, Europe, Africa there are many women who switched to reusable pads and/or silicone cups.
Lovelylady Pads logo on wall of Dharti Mata’s workshop
I am very proud to showcase this social enterprise in our documentary ‘Sustainable action for Nepal’ as an example of sustainable living and empowerment of communities.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to our crowdfunding for the documentary. We have passed our $3,000 milestone.
If you would like to donate towards the creation of this documentary, follow this link and donate today.
With Love,
Silvia and Martin