The circle of it: This company uses local banana waste to create naturally biodegradable sanitary pads that contain no plastic.
Saathi
Summary
Saathi is an Indian company that offers zero-plastic, compostable alternatives to consumer products like diapers, sanitary pads and incontinence pads using plant waste from local banana plantations in Gujarat, India. In addition to creating a circular solution that minimizes waste, the company also focuses on making sanitary pads accessible to women in India and to destigmatize issues around menstruation. The pads are compostable and biodegradable.
Story
Saathi’s founders, Kristin Kagetsu, Tarun Bothra and Grace Kane came together to the founding of the company through different strengths and vantage points. Kagetsu and Kane brought their passions in making products using sustainable and natural products. We were inspired by the idea of improving women’s access to sanitary pads in India. Bothra brought his business experience in renewable energy, materials and passion for improving the lives of the masses to set up this new social venture. Together, they found a way to source natural eco-friendly materials for sanitary pads to make a product that not only positively impacted women but was also good for the environment.
Pic Credit: CNN health (right) and Saathi (left)
“We … wanted to have as much impact even built into our supply chain. So, it benefits farmers in that this is something already… they have to cut down the tree every harvest anyway. And once they cut the tree down, then it’s a waste material, like they need to remove it from the land. So, this is something which we are using. So, we’re purchasing, kind of, their waste material for our use. So, they’re able to get additional income for that. So, not only will they get income for the fruit, which they sell to the vendors, but also, they’ll be getting income for materials they don’t use anymore.. “
Kristin Kagetsu in an interview
Founder(s)
Kristin Kagetsu, Tarun Bothra, Grace Kane
Headquarters
Ahmedabad, India
In business since
2014
Business type
for profit
Impact
The company claims to be a zero waste facility, and everything associated with the pad, including packaging and the pad biodegrades within 6 months (Source)
Technology
creating new supply chain to use agricultural waste, designing and developing a plastic-free and biodegradable sanitary pad
Website
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