The aim is to reduce the waste produced in markets, farms, saw mills etc, reduce reliance on plastic packaging and more importantly create jobs for the youth, women and persons with disabilities. Our core values are sustainability, gender equity and inclusivity, climate action, and plastic waste reduction. Going forward we want to produce sanitary pads as well as other packages like boxes, envelopes, egg crates, disposable cups and plates amongst others.

The product goes through the following processes

Collection and Preparation

1. Collection of plant waste: Gather plant waste materials (e.g. plantain, banana, sawdust etc.) from various sources (e.g., farms, market, sawmill).
2. Sorting and cleaning: Sort and clean the collected plant waste to remove impurities, dirt, and other contaminants.
3. Shredding or chopping: Shred or chop the plant waste into smaller pieces to increase their surface area.

Pulping and Screening

1. Pulping: Cook the shredded plant waste in to break down the lignin and cellulose.
2. Screening: Pass the pulp through a series of screens to remove impurities, such as dirt, bark, or other contaminants.

Refining and Bleaching

1. Refining: Refine the pulp to make it finer and more uniform.
2. Bleaching: Bleach the pulp to remove natural pigments and achieve the desired color.

Forming and Pressing

1. Forming: Form the pulp into a paper sheet using a machine or by hand (like me).
2. Pressing: Press the paper sheet to remove excess water and flatten it.

Drying and Cutting

1. Drying: Dry the paper sheet using heat from a machine or air drying(as we do).
2. Cutting: Cut the dried paper sheet into individual sheets or rolls.

Bag Making

1. Sheeting: Cut the paper sheets into the desired size for bag making.
2. Folding and gluing: Fold and glue the paper sheets to form the bag shape.
3. Handle attachment: Attach handles (e.g., paper, cotton, or jute) to the bag.