If you’re planning to start a sanitary napkin production business in emerging markets—such as Africa, South America, or Southeast Asia—one of the first and most critical questions is: What raw materials do I need for my production line?

Choosing the right raw materials directly affects product quality, production cost, and market competitiveness. For beginners, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the variety of materials. But don’t worry—WOMENG Intelligent Equipment, with 8+ years of experience supporting hygiene product entrepreneurs in emerging markets, has compiled a complete guide to sanitary napkin raw materials. We’ll break down the core materials, their functions, selection tips, and procurement advice tailored to your market.

Whether you’re using a semi-automatic or fully automatic production line, the basic raw materials remain consistent. The key is to choose materials that are cost-effective, locally available, and meet local consumer needs—not just pursue high-end options.

These are the essential materials that make up the main structure of a sanitary napkin. Without them, production cannot proceed. We’ll explain each material’s role, suitable types for emerging markets, and selection criteria.

Function: The top sheet is the layer that directly contacts the skin—its main job is to be soft, breathable, and quickly transfer liquid to the absorbent core. Non-woven fabric is also used for side wings (to fix the napkin to underwear).

Suitable Types for Emerging Markets: Spunlace Non-Woven Fabric: Soft, skin-friendly, and breathable—ideal for markets where consumers value comfort (e.g., urban areas in Southeast Asia). It’s moderately priced and widely available.Hot-Air Non-Woven Fabric: Lightweight, fluffy, and cost-effective—perfect for budget-conscious entrepreneurs or rural markets in Africa. It has good liquid permeability and meets basic needs.Selection Tips: - Choose a weight of 25-35g/m² (thick enough for durability, thin enough to save cost). - Avoid overly thick non-woven fabric—it increases material cost and reduces breathability (not suitable for hot climates). - For markets with high humidity, choose water-repellent non-woven fabric for side wings to prevent leakage.

Function: The absorbent core is the "heart" of the sanitary napkin—it absorbs and locks in liquid to prevent leakage. It’s made of two key components: wood pulp and super absorbent polymer (SAP).

Suitable Types for Emerging Markets:Wood Pulp: Choose bleached softwood pulp (high absorbency, fluffy texture) or local hardwood pulp (cost-effective). For emerging markets, local wood pulp is preferred to reduce transportation costs.SAP (Super Absorbent Polymer): Opt for food-grade SAP with a water absorption ratio of 300-500x (absorbs 300-500 times its weight in water). It’s small in volume but high in absorbency—adding SAP can reduce the thickness of the napkin and save wood pulp cost.Selection Tips: - Ratio of wood pulp to SAP: For basic sanitary napkins (rural markets), use 80% wood pulp + 20% SAP; for high-absorbency products (urban markets), adjust to 60% wood pulp + 40% SAP. - Buy SAP in bulk to get lower prices—WOMENG can recommend reliable SAP suppliers in your region.

Function: The bottom sheet is the outermost layer of the sanitary napkin—it’s waterproof to prevent liquid from leaking onto underwear.

Suitable Types for Emerging Markets: - LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) Film: Thin, flexible, and cheap—ideal for most emerging market entrepreneurs. It has good waterproof performance and is easy to process. - Breathable PE Film: Slightly more expensive but has breathable holes—suitable for markets with higher consumer demands (e.g., Brazil, Indonesia’s urban areas).

Selection Tips: - Choose a thickness of 0.02-0.03mm (thin enough to save cost, thick enough to avoid tearing). - Ensure the film is non-toxic and odorless—meet basic health standards (WOMENG can help test material safety if needed).

Function: Medical-grade hot-melt adhesive is used to bond the layers of the napkin (top sheet, core, bottom sheet) and to fix the napkin to underwear. Release paper protects the adhesive before use.

Suitable Types for Emerging Markets: - Hot-Melt Adhesive: Choose low-temperature hot-melt adhesive (melting point 100-120℃)—saves energy and is easy to use on semi-automatic lines. - Release Paper: Opt for silicone-coated release paper (affordable, easy to peel off). Avoid high-cost coated paper unless your market requires premium packaging.

Selection Tips: - Use medical-grade adhesive to avoid skin irritation—critical for building consumer trust. - Buy adhesive in 20kg buckets (easy to store and transport in remote areas).

These materials are not essential for basic production but can improve product quality, appearance, and market competitiveness—especially if you target mid-to-high-end markets.

For emerging markets, focus on cost-effective and practical packaging:

• Single-Piece Packaging: Plastic bags (cheap, widely available) or aluminum foil bags (moisture-proof, suitable for humid regions like Southeast Asia).
• Bulk Packaging: Corrugated cartons (sturdy, easy to transport—choose 3-ply cartons for local transportation, 5-ply for long-distance shipping).

Tip: Add simple printed labels (product name, production date) to packaging—no need for fancy designs; clarity is enough for rural markets.

If you produce sanitary napkins with elastic side wings (more comfortable and fit), use polyester elastic thread—affordable, durable, and easy to process. It’s a small investment but can significantly improve product competitiveness.

Embossing film is used to add patterns (dots, stripes) to the top sheet—improves product appearance and helps fix the absorbent core. It’s optional but recommended if you target urban markets with higher aesthetic demands.

Sourcing raw materials in emerging markets can be challenging—here are 4 practical tips to save cost and ensure supply stability:

1. Prioritize Local Suppliers: Buy wood pulp, non-woven fabric, and PE film from local or regional suppliers (e.g., in Africa, source from South Africa; in Southeast Asia, source from China, Thailand, or Indonesia). This reduces transportation costs and delivery time.
2. Start with Small Orders: As a beginner, don’t buy large quantities of raw materials at once—order 1-2 months of stock first to test the market and avoid inventory waste.
3. Choose Universal Materials: Avoid specialized raw materials (hard to buy and expensive to replace). WOMENG’s production lines are designed to work with universal materials, making procurement easier for you.
4. Ask for Supplier Recommendations: WOMENG has established partnerships with raw material suppliers in 20+ emerging markets—we can connect you with reliable suppliers to save your time and avoid scams.

At WOMENG, we don’t just sell production lines—we support your entire business journey. For raw materials:

• We provide a customized raw material list based on your production scale (e.g., 500pcs/h semi-automatic line vs. 1500pcs/h fully automatic line) and target market.
• We recommend local suppliers to help you reduce costs and ensure supply stability.
• Our production lines are optimized for emerging market materials—even if local materials are slightly uneven, the equipment can still produce high-quality napkins.

In addition, we provide free training on raw material inspection—teaching you how to check if materials meet production standards (e.g., non-woven fabric thickness, SAP absorbency) without professional equipment.

Fill in the form below to get a free customized raw material list for your sanitary napkin production line, or contact our WhatsApp team for one-on-one procurement advice. We’ll help you choose the right materials, connect you with reliable suppliers, and ensure your production starts smoothly—even if you’re a complete beginner!