100% Compostable Sanitary Pads from Banana Waste fiber

My solution is the innovation of Cameroon's first 100% biodegradable and compostable sanitary pads made from locally sourced banana stem fiber.This  empower women and girls in low-income rural and semi-urban communities to manage their period in a hygienic and dignified manner.Our product is 70% cheaper than mainstream pads and made accessible to communities via innovative mobile units  by our trained sales agents.The pads also have immense health benefits for its users.In addition,our factory provide a source of livelihood to women and farmers get additional source of income while reducing women's carbon footprint at the same time.

Most mainstream pads sold in Cameroon markets contain toxic chemicals which wreaks havoc to women’s health and the environment when disposed of, and collect in landfills without breaking down.In Cameroon only 14% of women use sanitary pads (the rest use mud,rags,newspapers and leaf of trees).Lack of access to affordable pads is one the leading cause of higher dropout rates among school aged girls.While sanitary pads have been demonstrated to improve women's education, productivity and health, only 14% of women in Cameroon use them. Taboos around menstruation prevent women from being educated about menstruation and the options available to them. Existing pads are expensive, cumbersome and unsafe to discard. As a result they resort to makeshift pads-an uncomfortable and unhygienic practice in the long run.School, career and wages are lost- not just a loss to women and girls but a big loss to entire communities.Sadly, the health of women and the environment have been compromised by taboos linked to menses.

We are serving women and girls from  ages 12-50. That is girls who have reached puberty and women who have not reached menopause. (Adolescents,rural,urban,adult,non-binary).

We start by conducting needs assessment in communities to know the needs of women.

The solution will address the problem by providing low-cost chemical free sanitary pads which is good for the body.Since our product is chemical free,it will provide a rash and irritation-free experience for women and girls.

Then we organize  awareness  workshops  on menstrual hygiene to break myths and taboos surrounding menstruation and also teach them about how to use  sanitary pads and proper disposal methods. 

Environmental pollution will no longer be an issue  since KujaEcoPads are 100% biodegradable and degrade within six months.

To tackle this problem,I laid the groundwork for a simple idea: low-cost pads made using local materials and sold by local entrepreneurs. The pads are made out of materials sourced in Cameroon, notably banana fiber,due to its absorbent properties.
KujaEcoPads is 35% cheaper than locally produced products and 70% less than the international brands – in its first pilot phase-the company has already shaved 15% off distribution costs by cutting out all the middlemen by using innovative models for distribution and marketing. Women and Girls at the Base of the Pyramid are included at all stages of the value chain—as entrepreneurs or employees in production, distributors, health educators, and consumers. In each village or community, a female representative is the selling point of pads. She earns a commission on each sale and returns the margins to KujaEcoPads via mobile money. She is also trained in sales and marketing techniques, and the basic principles of sexual and feminine hygiene.

Banana stem have been considered agro waste in Cameroon for centuries but now,we are spinning it into Cameroon’s first 100% biodegradable sanitary napkins.The manufacturing process is simple and ingenious too. We collect banana stems and ferments the fibers through a drying process.The fluffed fibers then become the core absorbent for sanitary napkins.For the first time, banana farmers are getting paid for their waste stems.

Environmental & Health Benefits: Conventional pads are made from 99% plastic which wreaks havoc to both the environment and women. KujaEcoPads are 100% biodegradable so when disposed of, they degrade within six months -1200 times faster than plastic pads! Since KujaEcoPads pads don’t contain chemicals, they provide a rash and irritation free experience.

Door-to-door sales: We use innovative models for distribution and marketing. Women and Girls at the Base of the Pyramid are included at all stages of the value chain—as entrepreneurs or employees in production, distributors, health educators, and consumers. In each village or community, a female representative is the selling point of pads. She earns a commission on each sale and returns the margins to KujaEcoPads via mobile money. She is also trained in sales and marketing techniques, and the basic principles of sexual and feminine hygiene.An all women –led team is using technology in the production of 100% all-natural, biodegradable sanitary pads made from banana fiber, a natural byproduct of banana farming, which is converted into a soft absorbent pad.This provides a source of livelihood for women.

Chemistry/chemical engineering- 
Our chemical engineer assist us with the production  and testing of  prototype implementations to help answer research questions, evaluate technology through activities such as programme trials, lab tests and user tests in order to determine its suitability and effectiveness and  product development, designing and conducting research programs; applying knowledge of product design, fabrication, assembly, tooling, and materials; conferring with equipment vendors; and soliciting observations from operators.

Environmental engineering- Our Environmental engineer uses the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problem in our company. She is  involved in efforts to turn waste from banana stem extraction into biogas, and to avoid burning for air pollution control. This also addresses global issues, such as unsafe drinking water, climate change, and environmental sustainability.  
Mechanical engineering and hardware-Confirms system and product capabilities by designing feasibility and testing methods; testing properties.-Assures system and product quality by designing testing methods; testing finished- product and system capabilities; confirming fabrication, assembly, and installation processes. Prepares product reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing information and trends.-Provides engineering information by answering questions and requests. Keeps equipment operational by coordinating maintenance and repair services; following manufacturer's instructions and established procedures; requesting special services. Maintains system and product data base -Completes projects by training and guiding technicians. Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

We plan to measure impact by tracking the number of women provided KujaEcoPads at a subsidized rate since they are sold at a discounted rate to NGOs through a subsidy funded by our urban sales.

We plan to measure the amount of plastic pad waste saved and eliminated. Both are determined by the number of units sold since we know the composition and weight of our competitor’s plastic products. 

We plan to measure the extra income given to banana farmers. We plan to buy fiber directly from farming collectives and measure income generated by the amount of fiber purchased. 

We are currently serving 10000 women and girls in the North west region of Cameroon.But with our scale-up plans,we intend to reach 40,000 more women and girls in the next one year in all the ten regions of Cameroon.

In the next five years we aim to reach 1 million women both in Cameroon and neighboring countries like Ghana,Nigeria,Central Africa and Togo comfortably with our product on a monthly bases.

However,within the next year we hope to employ at least 30 women in production and 60 in sales and marketing making it a total of 100.

In the next five years we aim to establish five production units in five geopolitical zones in Cameroon with the aim to enable accessibility of our product and also  provide employment to 1500 people all over the national territory.

Within the next year we aim to increase repeat orders and urban customers to support subsidiaries in rural areas,support 15 to 20 farmer collectives during scale-up,provide subsidized sanitary pads to 10,000 orphans and prison inmates and homeless women in the North West region of Cameroon and expand our sales to all the 10 regions of Cameroon and other African countries, the United States and the European Union.

Within the next five years from now, we aim to establish production units in 5 geographical zones in Cameroon with the aim to enable accessibility,be able to reach 1 million women and girls comfortable with our product on a monthly bases, and employ over 1500 workers all over the national territory to empower more women economically.

In the next five years we aim to eradicate myths and taboos surrounding menstruation in 50 local communities and 100 secondary and primary schools, through empowerment workshops and seminars.

The barriers that currently exist for us to reach our goal in the next one years  are as follows- 

1. Financial constraints- To get  enough raw material from Cameroon and the high capital investment required to setup fully-automated production are our top challenges. We use unconventional materials and want to maintain local sourcing, but there are a limited number of suppliers in Cameroon. We are working diligently to both identify new suppliers and increase the production capacity of our long-standing suppliers. In order to scale-up to fully-automated production and fulfill our surplus demand, we will require a significant capital investment.Our Chief financial personnel  is solely dedicated to raising the required capital through business plan competitions,grants and equity investments.

2. Technical barriers- Financial constraints also make it difficult for to hire experts thus we currently depend on volunteers.

3.Market barriers-Sanitary napkin is a consumer's product with a huge market potential. However,its a little slow for us to penetrate certain villages with very bad roads.

4.Cultural barriers- In the next five years,cultural barriers might hinder us from reaching certain communities, This is because many villages and communities especial Muslim communities already have deep rooted cultures around the use of sanitary napkins. 

Outcome: 10000 women in Bamenda get subsidized pads and see what it is like to have biodegradable sanitary pads and if it positively impacts their life.

Measurement Plan: Running an impact study with women in Bamenda in partnership with our NGO partner and impact study partner to determine whether women are able to spend more time at work or in school and/or they are willing to pay for the product in the future

Outcome: Increased number of repeat orders and increased number of urban customers so that we are able to support subsidies in rural areas

Measurement Plan: Track how many people order more than once from our online store and track sales

Outcome: Support 15-20 farmer collectives while we scale up

Measurement Plan: Calculate the amount of fiber purchased and determine how many farmers were effected.

Outcomes: Increase outreach and marketing in four villages every month

Measurement Plan: This can be mitigated with the use of a four wheel truck  to ease access to hard to reach villages and meet,sensitize and sell pads to women in those areas.

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We have eight full-time staff  and 3 volunteers working in our production units

21 sales agents who act vendors and door to door sales agents and retailers in communities.

We have two contractors who act as distributors in markets and all the places our product is sold.

We have one volunteer chemical engineer and one chemical engineer who volunteer with us.

I am Marie-Claire Kuja , founder/innovator and brought skills such as leadership, machine operations specific to sanitary napkins, managerial skills, community development and empowerment and a passionate about sustainable product design and innovation as well as impacting women. I founded a way to source natural eco-friendly materials for sanitary pads to make a product that not only positively impact women but is also good for the environment. We are motivated by the potential to make a positive difference for women in Cameroon. Our team has business, technical, and local expertise to develop new products and set up manufacturing. We aim to apply this to other absorbent products such as panty-liners and baby and adult diapers. 

Blessing Fomusu brought her business experience in renewable energy, materials and passion for improving the lives of the masses to setting up this new social venture. She also had personal experiences with a family member who was affected by having to face the taboos around menstrual hygiene in Cameroon.

Motom Atigi-Project coordinator: She help the project teams manage resources and information and assist with scheduling and planning meetings and project activities.She also doubles as the operating management and together with me we oversee the smooth  day to day running of the company.

-MANVOCAM Cameroon- The organization is our distribution partner and field agent for our products.-In the rural and urban villages, NGOs purchase KujaEcoPads pads to resell or distribute for free. Through our current NGO partnership, Mandela voluntary Foundation MANVOCAM, we provide menstrual hygiene education and pads to thousands of women in rural villages. 

-Save Life Foundation Cameroon is helping us run the impact study and train the healthcare workers.

-Days for Girls New York Chapter-They provide technical backstopping and product improvements.

-The Hope Foundation Cameroon- Also is our distribution partner supplying  for women in rural areas,clinic,community health centers and hospitals.

KujaEcoPads has a unique business and distribution model. In each village or community, a female representative is the selling point of pads. She earns a commission on each sale and returns the margins to KjaEcoPads. She is also trained in sales and marketing techniques, and the basic principles of sexual and feminine hygiene.

KujaEcoPads is committed to empowering women by helping them better meet their sanitary needs. Our business model is hybrid, as we develop advocacy and education for young girls and women and we make profit from manufacturing and selling sanitary pads in rural  and semi-urban areas. KujaEcoPads has the advantage of being at the same time for profit and non-profit in nature. 

This integrated project includes a center for training and education dedicated to young women from the villages, but also an industrial unit for manufacturing sanitary napkins, employing only women. The pads are made of completely natural materials, are biodegradable and recyclable, and meet international standards for hygiene and comfort.

 

We are having some revenue from the pads we are making currently.

In urban areas we use teams of sales agents to sell sanitary pads door to door Avon style and also to retail stores such as pharmacies, general stores, and supermarkets. Sales agents are also dispatched in innovative mobile sales units, vans stocked with pads, to bring pads to local women and girls. KujaEcoPads sells pads to hospitals, health and micro credit NGOs, who channel the pads through their existing network of community-based women health workers or micro entrepreneurs, making it possible for KujaEcoPads to penetrate the rural market.

We have won a few business plan competitions and grants, we are still applying for more and a couple angel investors to reach out to. We continue speaking to  more investors both in Africa and Internationally. 

We are excited to be part of the Solve community to gain access to mentors and potential investors who can help us scale our production so that we can achieve sustainability as a business and expand our impact.

Secondly,its very difficult to access funding of any sort in Cameroon so whatever we have as grant funding at this time will help us a lot to scale up the production of KujaEcoPads and also hire experts to work with us.

Mentorship is one of the most valuable things I believe I will get through the SOLVE community.

Once this business is sustainable, we can develop our product further while also re-branding for a Pan-African,EU and US markets and also be able to add other eco-products and increase our environmental impact. The Solve community will be able to propel our idea forward faster because of it's association with MIT.

General Wellness-Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth....a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Many women in Cameroon still do not understand the true meaning of wellness so they still use rags and unhygienic clothes during their monthly period. Our partners will help sensitize women and girls on the importance of using natural sanitary pads as path to good health and wellness.

Branding - We want to brand not only for a Pan-African market for EU,USA and the rest of Europe. Plus we want to build a sustainable brand that will capture our customers emotionally and make them have a lasting connection with our product. This will definitely require an expert in branding to help fine-tune our packaging to suit that purpose.

We envision the  amount of carbon dioxide emissions released on an annual basis  from our company to be  zero or negative to contribute to a cleaner environment for all. Only partners win this field will help us achieve that goal.

We also want partners in Income generation and supply chain management

Partnership Goals

KujaEcoPads seeks:

• Partners in disposal, specifically biogas and compost: We will love to turn the waste extracted from banana stems into biogas which can be used at homes especially homes of vulnerable women and Internally displaced women.
• Sales and marketing expertise in distribution and consumer products: We need a much bigger marketing and sales team to take our product to all the villages of Cameroon where most of our customers are. This requires an expert to train this team on proper customer service that will continue to differentiate us from other sanitary pad companies here in Cameroon.

• Branding support for a Pan-African,EU and US markets:Brand is key to any innovation or solution and we want our brand to be able to capture our customers emotionally from the get go. We want a brand that will stand out such as the likes of Coco-cola,Pepsi,McDonald.s etc. For this reason we need to partner with an expert in brand to achieve this goal.

• Digital marketing support to expand outreach across Cameroon: We hope to have a big online presence to give everyone the opportunity to access our product. The world is becoming so fast pace and we want our business to be up to date. An expert in digital marketing will be ideal to help us achieve that goal.
• Investor partners focused on circular economy and sustainable solutions.

• Manufacturing and funding support to scale up operations and production capacity

We will not apply for this prize at this time.

In KujaEcoPads industry, we have a Zero Waste-zero carbon policy and strive to maintain that in all our processes from production, consumption, packaging and disposal of used pads without burning, and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health. This is in an effort to contribute to a safe and greener environment for all.

My team and I will use this prize money to improve on biogas and compost processes in our industry and also to organize more seminars and workshops with women and girls to teach them on the importance of a clean and carbon-free environment.This will help to eliminate women’s carbon footprint as well.

Our all women-led team is using technology in the production of 100% all-natural, biodegradable sanitary pads made from banana fiber, a natural byproduct of banana farming, coupled with innovative models for distribution and marketing. Women and Girls at the Base of the Pyramid are included at all stages of the value chain—as entrepreneurs or employees in production, distributors, health educators, and consumers.

This business model improves the quality of life for women and girls. With affordability and access to sanitary napkins, girls are empowered to stay in school during their monthly period while women also stay at work giving them a means of economic opportunity.

My team and I will use the prize money to scale up operations and production capacity by buying more machines and hiring more women. 

We will not apply for this prize at this time.