Mumbai, 27 October 2026: What happens when your period arrives unexpectedly while you’re travelling, and finding a sanitary pad becomes an ordeal? For many women, it’s a familiar situation that can turn an ordinary journey into a stressful experience. With the aim of making such moments easier to navigate, Plush, a feminine care brand, has installed 36 sanitary pad vending machines across Chennai International Airport as part of its Map the Gap. PERIOD. initiative.
The initiative focuses on identifying gaps in access to menstrual hygiene products across public and shared spaces, bringing period care closer to women wherever they may need it. From airports and railway stations to workplaces and public transport, the idea is simple: getting your period unexpectedly shouldn’t mean having to search for a sanitary pad.
The installation at Chennai International Airport follows a recent social media conversation that highlighted the anxiety of getting an unexpected period while travelling and struggling to find sanitary pads at the airport. The conversation brought attention to a larger issue: while periods can begin anywhere, access to emergency menstrual products is not always readily available in public spaces.
As part of the initiative, 36 Plush vending machines have been installed across multiple restroom locations within Chennai International Airport. The machines allow women to access sanitary pads conveniently during their journey, without having to look for pharmacies or retail outlets. Designed for ease of use, each machine dispenses a sanitary pad upon insertion of a ₹10 coin.
Through Map the Gap. PERIOD., Plush is also encouraging people to flag public spaces where access to period products remains limited. These inputs help the brand identify locations where vending machines and other emergency period-care solutions could make a meaningful difference.
Commenting on the initiative, Ketan Munoth, Co-Founder, Plush, said, “I’ve heard so many stories of women getting their periods unexpectedly while travelling and panicking about where they’ll find a pad. That’s why our partnership with Chennai Airport is especially meaningful. Airports are spaces where thousands of women are constantly on the move, often far from home. Through Map the Gap. PERIOD., we want period care to be as accessible as any everyday necessity. The installation of 36 machines is an important step in that direction, but this is only the beginning. We’re already working towards bringing the initiative to more public spaces, with the hope that one day, getting your period unexpectedly won’t mean having to search for a pad, because period care will simply be there when you need it.”
The Chennai Airport installation builds on Plush’s efforts to extend emergency period care beyond traditional retail spaces. Through its partnerships with Workafella, IntrCity SmartBus and Bangalore Trekkers, the brand has been working to make menstrual hygiene products more accessible across workplaces, public transport and outdoor settings.
At Workafella, emergency period-care vending machines have been installed across coworking spaces, including locations in Chennai. The collaboration with IntrCity SmartBus has brought emergency period-care support to women travelling across the southern region, while the partnership with Bangalore Trekkers has introduced emergency pad pouches to help women access period care during treks.
- Raja Kishore, Airport Director, Chennai International Airport, said, “Plush, the female wellness brand, has collaborated with the Airports Authority of India and Chennai International Airport to support women’s wellness and hygiene needs while they are travelling through the airport. This initiative addresses an important, often unexpected need faced by women during travel by providing easy and convenient access to essential menstrual hygiene products. As part of the collaboration, 36 Plush machines have been installed across the restrooms at Chennai International Airport, offering women greater accessibility, convenience and comfort throughout their journey. The initiative is a step towards making menstrual hygiene more accessible and ensuring that women can travel with greater peace of mind.”
For Plush, the larger objective behind Map the Gap. PERIOD. is to encourage a shift in how public spaces approach menstrual hygiene. By identifying locations where access to sanitary pads is limited and working with partners to address those gaps, the brand aims to make emergency period care a more accessible part of everyday infrastructure.
Because periods can happen anywhere, and access to period care should, too.
About Plush
Plush is a modern feminine care brand focused on making periods and intimate care more comfortable, accessible and stigma-free. With thoughtfully designed products and relatable communication, Plush aims to make everyday period care a more comfortable experience for consumers.
