Latest news with #Kotex
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
A Sweeping Reform India's Hygiene Sector: The Journey of a Visionary Disposable Hygiene Entrepreneur
In a nation as vast and diverse as India, every now and then, a visionary emerges from the heartland to leave an indelible mark on the global map. Alok Birla, the founder of Swara Baby Products Pvt. Ltd., is one such name. Hailing from Satna, a quiet town in Madhya Pradesh, Alok's journey coming from a middle-class family to becoming one of the biggest contract manufacturers of Hygiene Products in India is nothing short of extraordinary. Birth of an Entrepreneur Alok's father worked for the Birla group, managing the factory of Universal Cables in Satna, but Alok chose to carve his own path stand and create an independent business. As a young man with big dreams Alok applied his business acumen in various fields before making a decision to move to Pune in the year 2002. The defining moment came during a visit to China with a close friend, where a sanitary napkin manufacturing machine struck the cord! He immediately arranged for the machine to be imported to India, laying the foundation for a venture that would reshape the hygiene industry. Setting up the manufacturing facility close to New Delhi, the next challenge Alok faced was to find clients. With confidence and a 'never-say-never' attitude he approached everyone no matter how big or small. This determination won him a noteworthy breakthrough – he cracked a deal with Kimberly Clark USA (KCL). The multinational KCL hired Alok's Company as an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) for its Feminine Hygiene brand ' Kotex .' This made Alok's company the first-ever OEM globally for KCL's Kotex in the Southeast Asian market — a landmark feat for an Indian entrepreneur. From Women Hygiene to Baby Care Following his success with Kotex, Alok's attention turned to baby care. In 2009, he struck another major deal — this time with Hindustan Unilever (HUL) for the popular baby diaper brand ' Huggies .' By now, his reputation in the disposable hygiene segment was solid, but his ambitions were far from over. When HUL and KCL parted ways in 2016, Alok saw it not as a setback, but as a fresh opportunity. With over a decade of industry experience, he had a deep understanding of products, the market, and supply chain. Alok had a vision for the Indian market - He knew what products to tap; it was just a question of executing his idea. That was the birth of Swara Baby Products! Swara Baby Products: Built in Madhya Pradesh, Trusted Across the Globe Returning to his roots in Central India, Alok pinned down Indore City to establish Swara's state-of-the-art manufacturing unit. With global exposure and a visionary business acumen, he built an international-quality facility — a rare sight in any Indian industrial zone. The first product off the line was Baby Pull-Up Diapers, a segment that was booming. Alok's vision with Swara Baby Products Pvt. Ltd. is to be the first-choice contract manufacturers of hygiene products globally. He has a reputation of stringent quality control and extreme attention to detail. This made Swara the preferred manufacturing partner for leading brands such as Huggies, Amazon, Himalaya, and MotherCare, Reliance, Cipla, Patanjali among many others. The real milestone came in 2019, when Procter & Gamble (P&G) — makers of Pampers — selected Swara as their exclusive OEM partner. To this day, Swara is the only third-party manufacturer P&G has worked with globally. Diversification and Global Expansion Not one to rest on his laurels, Alok tapped the adult hygiene segment in the same year, adding another layer to Swara's portfolio. Within a few years, Swara Baby Products became a one-stop OEM for baby care, feminine care, and adult care — manufacturing for almost all the major brands in India. The next phase was global outreach. With its MNC-level work culture, ethical sourcing, and world-class R&D, building relations with international clients was smooth. Swara attracted attention from Middle Eastern and African markets, bagging partnerships with global chains like Carrefour and Lulu. Sustainability and Innovation: Tree-Free Diapers & BIS Certification Innovation has always been the bedrock of Alok's philosophy. Through years of exposure, experience and the itch to learn, he along with his team of experts have developed some high performing, radical products. In 2024–25, Swara launched India's first Tree-Free Diaper Technology , cutting down the usage of wood pulp in a diaper by 93% producing a lightweight, garment-like baby diaper. Adding to this achievement, Swara became the first Indian company to receive BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification in the hygiene category — even before multinational giants operating in India. These milestones showcase the company's dedication to quality, compliance and sustainability. Cricket, Community, and a Green Heart Beyond business, Alok Birla is generous and passionate with a never-say-die attitude. A lifelong Cricket enthusiast, he has always been connected with the game in some way or another. In 2024, he got a great opportunity to be associated with Madhya Pradesh Cricket League (MPL) , a brainchild of H.H. Yuvraj Mahanaaryaman Scindia Ji . He owns a team called Rewa Jaguars in the State's Cricket League organized by GDCA extending his support in multiple ways to the Game as well as the State of MP. Alok took his sports participation a notch higher when he proposed a Green Initiative powered by Rewa Jaguars. In 2025, Madhya Pradesh Cricket League (MPL) saw a Green Initiative powered by Team Rewa Jaguars sponsoring plantation of 10 trees for 1 dot ball in the tournament. The result? A staggering 14,000 trees come alive across Madhya Pradesh — supporting the environment and rural farmers. Alok Birla – A Role Model Alok Birla's journey is a shining example of what a focused, resilient, and values-driven entrepreneur can achieve on a national and global level. From humble beginnings to manufacturing for the world's biggest brands, he has remained rooted and driven. Through Swara Baby Products, Alok has planted seeds of numerous projects uplifting and enlightening the people he joined hands with, assisted growth and progress of the hygiene industry, put his country on the global map and created socially responsible business models. Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, a business enthusiast, or someone looking for inspiration — the story of Alok Birla and Swara Baby Products is bound to make you pause, reflect, and explore more. Explore More: Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Buzz Feed
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
17 Back In The Day Experiences That Are Now Obsolete
Recently, older adults of the BuzzFeed Community shared the common but unique experiences from "back in the day" that are now practically obsolete, and as a Gen Z'er, I'm completely fascinated. Here are some once-common practices from the past that, depending on your age, will have you either feeling super nostalgic or incredibly perplexed: "Not having disposable diapers. Cloth diapers were delivered by a diaper service, and they were washed and reused." —Anonymous "In the '50s, a man selling vegetables would drive his truck slowly through the neighborhood, calling out, 'Vegetables!' People would run out of their houses to see what he had, and he'd stop so they could buy." "Cigarettes were in a vending machine, and kids would be sent to the store to buy them for our parents. Also, if you had a penny, you could buy a piece of candy!" —Anonymous "We freely walked on and off campus at our own school and other schools. There were no fences to keep kids inside or other people out. Former students would visit and chat with the principal, and students would walk home during lunch and come back. It wasn't a big deal back then." "In the 1960s, cars didn't have seatbelts. My mom would take loads of neighborhood kids to the beach, and we'd all just hang out in the 'Way Back' (station wagon), talking, laughing, and sliding around." —Anonymous "I live in Kentucky. When we were kids, what we called 'spray planes' used to fly over us, releasing insecticide to kill all the mosquitoes. We'd run outside and wave at the man in the plane, all while the insecticide came raining down." "Girls could not wear slacks to school during the '40s through '60s — dresses or skirts only. We had to kneel to prove our skirts touched the floor, and if they didn't, we were sent home to change clothes. Boys had to wear belts and have their shirts buttoned, except the very top button. Boys could wear jeans, but nothing ragged or torn." —smartwitch66 "When I lived in Wisconsin in the late '60s and early '70s, the fire department would open the hydrants down the streets on hot and humid days to let the kids cool off. Good times!" "Before photocopy machines, they used a device called a mimeograph in schools. A stencil was attached to the drum of the machine, and when the handle was turned, it would spit out a mirror image sheet of paper. The process used an alcohol-based ink. Many times, the teacher would walk out of the office, be gone for 10 minutes, then come back with freshly printed papers. The smell of that fresh ink was heavenly; half the class would huff their paper as it was handed to them. Then Xerox came along and spoiled it all." —Kerry, 60 "In some places where I've lived, pregnant teenagers weren't allowed to attend regular schools because they were thought to be bad influences." "In the '60s, my mom would have to ask the grocery store lady cashier for a Kotex belt, which was kept hidden under the conveyor cabinet." —chillsinger56 "When the new car models came out, it was common to go window-shopping at the dealerships. Even though the salesperson knew you were too young to purchase a car, they'd still let you look around and take brochures home." "Making long-distance phone calls used to cost you by the minute." —Anonymous "Up until the '80s and before cable was available, there was nothing broadcast on TV late at night. At 1 a.m., after late-night shows ended, the stations played an instrumental of 'God Bless America' with a video of a waving flag. Then, white fuzz would appear on the screen for several hours until the morning shows came on the following day." "The number of people who'd smoke in hospitals. It was common in the '70s to see that smoking was allowed in the emergency department waiting area, the hospital cafeteria, and even in the patient rooms!" —Anonymous "Back in the late '60s, we wouldn't wear any shoes during the summer months. We'd walk around barefoot, even in San Francisco! No one even batted an eye." Lastly: "Littering. In the '50s and '60s, eating in the car was a regular thing. Our dad taught us to throw our food wrappers out the window to 'keep the car tidy.' Now, if you litter, it's a pretty hefty fine." —Anonymous, 70 If you're an older adult, what are some everyday experiences from "back in the day" that are now obsolete? If you want a chance to be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post, let us know in the comments, or you can anonymously submit your story using the form below!
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Breaking the cycle: men challenge menstruation stigma in new survey
Young men are not only acknowledging period stigma but are eager to help end it. Image: Vanessa Ramirez/pexels There's a quiet revolution brewing, and it's happening in a space many might not expect - men are stepping into the conversation about menstruation. Yes, you read that right. A groundbreaking survey by Kotex has revealed a surprising shift: Young men are not only acknowledging period stigma but are eager to help end it. For decades, menstruation has been wrapped in silence, shame, and secrecy, treated as a 'women's issue' that men conveniently sidestepped. But times are changing. And this change isn't just about breaking taboos, it's about building a culture of empathy, understanding, and shared responsibility. Menstruation: not just a 'women's issue' For the first time, this year's Kotex P-Word Survey included male respondents. Why? Because menstrual health affects everyone, directly or indirectly. 'Breaking taboos requires a collective effort,' Kutlwano Tshetlhane, head of marketing at Kotex, explained in a chat with "Independent Media Lifestyle". "If we're serious about ending stigma, men have to be part of the conversation. Including young men in the survey helped us uncover their perceptions, knowledge gaps, and willingness to support.' The survey results are eye-opening. Surprisingly, 89% of young men expressed a desire for more education on menstruation, and 77% said they believed they should be more involved in supporting women during their cycles. This is more than just a statistic, it's a cultural shift. "When men actively engage in understanding menstruation, it reframes the narrative. It's no longer a one-sided struggle but a shared responsibility, paving the way for inclusive, stigma-free support." For decades, menstruation has been wrapped in silence, shame, and secrecy, treated as a 'women's issue' that men conveniently sidestepped. Image: Anna Shvets/pexels Why the stigma lingers Despite progress in menstrual education and awareness, 85% of young men still believe that period stigma is a real problem. Why does it persist? Tshetlhane points out that cultural beliefs, shame, and secrecy remain deeply rooted in many communities. 'Education has improved, but it often focuses on biology, not the lived experience. Until conversations about menstruation are normalised at home, in schools, and across society, stigma will continue to thrive.' This highlights a critical issue: education isn't reaching everyone. Boys are often left out of the conversation, making the topic feel awkward or alien to them. But as Tshetlhane noted, 'When young men ask for better education, they're showing curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to learn. That's a window of opportunity we can't afford to miss. 'Rethinking education, two-thirds of male respondents in the survey believe that schools are the best place to learn about menstruation. But how can schools create an inclusive environment that doesn't make boys feel uncomfortable?" The answer, according to Tshetlhane, lies in normalisation. 'Menstruation shouldn't be a separate or secret topic. It should be taught with the same openness and importance as any other health issue. Using inclusive language, relatable examples, and well-informed educators makes a big difference. "When boys see trusted male figures, like teachers or coaches, engaging in the conversation, the awkwardness fades, and empathy grows.' This isn't just about teaching facts, it's about shifting mindsets. Inclusive menstrual education helps raise a generation that sees periods as a natural part of life, not something to be ashamed of. The survey results are eye-opening. Surprisingly 89 percent of young men expressed a desire for more education on menstruation. Image: RDNE Stock project/pexels
