Business

In many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, around one in ten girls misses school during their period due to the cost of menstrual hygiene products. In rural Ghana, the challenge is compounded by a lack of locally manufactured alternatives, leaving many young women reliant on imported, plastic-heavy products that are neither affordable nor environmentally sustainable.

Kodu Technology addresses both challenges through a single circular model. The company sources banana and plantain stems from smallholder farmers, extracts the fibre, and uses it to produce biodegradable sanitary pads that are certified by Ghana’s Food and Drug Authority and the Ghana Standards Authority.

Impact

Kodu Technology’s circular model directly reduces agricultural waste that would otherwise be discarded, reducing the emissions of greenhouse gas. After fibre extraction, the remaining organic material is converted into compost and returned to farming communities, improving soil health and closing the agricultural waste loop. Hundreds of farmers across Ghana now earn income from waste supply.