BanaPads Social Enterprise produces comfortable sanitary pads from natural agricultural waste materials. They are low-cost, 100% biodegradable, safe and hygienic, and made locally, following international standards. The objective of this enterprise is to reduce absenteeism of schoolgirls in rural and poor communities while creating a women’s entrepreneur network through which the pads are distributed and sustainable independent micro-businesses are established.
The enterprise has won a SEED Africa Award in 2013. The 2013 SEED Awards in Ethiopia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania and Uganda were supported by the European Union, which is made up of 28 Member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies.
SEED was founded by UNEP, UNDP, and IUCN at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. It is hosted at Adelphi Research, in Germany. SEED identifies and supports promising small scale social and environmental enterprises around the globe, which while working towards a greener economy also tackle poverty, marginalisation and social exclusion. SEED provides these enterprises with know-how and networks, taking the lessons learnt at local level up to decision-makers to promote evidence-based policy making. For more information please write to info@seed.uno or visit www.seed.uno.
