Ghana - Startup under 3 years old

Décrivez votre projet en quelques mots

Biocare sanitary pad is a low cost, eco-friendly and sustainable sanitary pad using banana/plantain pseudo stem , bamboo fiber with the addition of ginger to reduce inflammations which may cause depression, fight germs or infections during menstruation.

01.01 Décrivez votre startup en détail

Biocare company limited is the sole applicant for the sole applicant for this project. The main idea of this project is to produce degradable, healthy and clean sanitary pads and also educate marginalized girls in both rural and urban sectors about Menstrual hygiene and poverty. Biocare sanitary pad is a hybrid pad produced by myself and 7 students from science, engineering and marketing department ( CCTU). Biocare sanitary pad is affordable and eco-friendly menstrual hygiene products made using various plant-based and organic products, with no chemicals or harmful materials to women’s health and will decompose way faster than the conventional ones. Biocare sanitary pad is a thick, high-absorbent feminine care product that absorbs blood( heavy flow, light flow and medium flow) into its moisture lock layers. It is leakage free, odorless, aesthetic in appearance, stable, comfortable to wear and hygenic. Biocare sanitary pad is 100% biodegradable and therefore environmentally friendly.

01.02 Quel est le problème principal que vous essayez de résoudre ?

Due to lack of affordable menstrual products, stigmatization and cultural belief surrounding menstrual education in rural areas of ghana, school girls miss on average 5 days of school every month, which is the root caused of gender inequality, child and early forced marriage. •Access to quality, inexpensive, disposable, biodegradable pads does not currently exist . •After harvest, almost 60% of banana biomass is left as waste. Worldwide, about 114.08 million metric tons of banana waste-loss are produced, leading to environmental problems such as the excessive emission of greenhouse gases. •Lack of employment .

01.03 Dites-nous quels sont les principaux avantages et/ou bénéfices de l'utilisation du produit/service fourni par votre startup (au moins 3).

Biocare is affordable, chemicals free, comfortable, high absorbance, and has an antimicrobial and anti- inflammatory properties which helps to reduce skin rashes, bad odor and menstrual cramp because it contains gingerol which gives the pads its minty flavor.

01.04 Veuillez décrire précisément à qui s'adresse le produit/service de votre startup. Quels sont les bénéficiaires visés ?

Girls and woman of menstruating age in both urban and rural areas in Ghana.

01.05 Quand votre entreprise a-t-elle été créée ?

15/05/2021

01.06 Vendez-vous déjà votre produit/service ?

Non

01.07 Combien y a-t-il de propriétaires de votre entreprise en plus de vous ?

7

01.08 Parmi les autres propriétaires, combien sont des femmes ?

6

01.09 Veuillez décrire le profil des autres propriétaires de votre startup (compétences, expérience, etc.).

Isabella Allotey is a level 300 student of food science and post harvest technology who has over two years experience in researching. Cosmos Dawutey is a level 400 student from the mechanical engineering department who has knowledge and experience in designing machines. Faustina Quarshie and Princella Owusu Ansah are from the accounting and computing department , they both has over one year experience in financial services. Myself, am the marketing strategist, I have a experience and skills in selling of products for over 6 years. I am good in identifying problems in the market and finding solutions to them. Sarah Mensah , a level 200 Purchasing and supply management student helps me with the Martketing strategies. We have Mentor’s who are helping the project to succeed. Dr Maurice Apaliya, Dr Sandra Kaburi, Madam Gifty Serwaa Otoo etc.

01.10 Si vous avez un site web, une page sur les médias sociaux (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin...) ou une application, veuillez fournir le(s) lien(s) ici :

01.11 Quel est le secteur d'activité qui décrit le mieux votre entreprise ?

Matériaux (agriculture, pêche, produits chimiques, matériaux de construction, conteneurs et emballages, métaux et mines, papier et produits forestiers)

02.01.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Pas de pauvreté'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.01.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Biocare sanitary pad is a locally sourced product which is affordable. In view of that it is going to accessible to all girls and women in Ghana. With this , is also going to create job opportunities for most women because the project is 70% manual and 30% machinery. Therefore we will employ more women in the production unity and the promotion and marketing sector. This is also going to increase the income for farmers.

02.02.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Faim Zéro'

1 - pas du tout d'accord

02.02.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.03.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Bonne Santé et Bien Être'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.03.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Biocare sanitary pads has an antimicrobial and anti- inflammatory properties which helps to reduce skin rashes, bad odor and menstrual cramp, it contains gingerol which gives the pads its minty flavor.

02.04.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Éducation de Qualité'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.04.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Biocare company limited will ensure proper education on menstrual hygiene management and sanitation, donating to underprivileged girls who drop out from school during their period in most of the schools in the rural areas.

02.05.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Égalité entre les Sexes'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.05.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Employing of women in the manufacturing and the distribution units.

02.06.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Eau Propre et Assainissement'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.06.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

As compared to reusable sanitary pads which needs to be washed before using, biocare is a biodegradable and it will ensure that clean water will be managed every day. Also biocare company limited is ensuring good health for all women and girls.

02.07.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Énergie Propre et Abordable'

2

02.07.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.08.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Travail Décent et Croissance Économique'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.08.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Biocare company limited will provide decent work for all women and will promote the economic growth by employing more women

02.09.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Industrie, Innovation et Infrastructure'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.09.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

We will be having an innovative infrastructure which will help the production process without causing any harm to the environment and the land.

02.10.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Réduction des Inégalités'

2

02.10.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.11.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Villes et Communautés Durables'

3

02.11.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.12.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Consommation et Production Responsables'

6

02.12.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Increasing income for farmers, suppliers, distributors, processors to ensure smooth production patterns and responsible consumptions . Also , using of efficient electrical equipment for production.

02.13.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Lutte contre les Changements Climatiques'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.13.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Reducing plastic waste and carbon emissions through burning of non- degradable sanitary pads.

02.14.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Sous-Marine'

4

02.14.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.15.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Vie Terrestre'

7 - tout à fait d'accord

02.15.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Biocare sanitary pads is a locally sourced product with has no harm on the land . Biocare sanitary Pads has given banana/plantain stem value, which hitherto was agricultural waste. Chemical fertilizer is being replaced with organic manure from the fibre extraction waste to ensure long term environmental and soil sustainability for the general welfare of the communities involved. It also promote environmental sustainability through the cultivation of nitrogen fixing plants to ensure long term fertility of the soil, etc.

02.16.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Paix, Justice et Institutions Efficaces'

2

02.16.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

02.17.01 Ma startup contribue à l'objectif 'Parteneriats pour la Réalisation des Objectifs'

5

02.17.02 Justification de la contribution de ma startup

Biocare company will be having partnerships with NGO’s and other sanitary pad processing companies such as Feytex company limited.

06.01 Un grand nombre de clients utilisent déjà un produit/service très similaire au nôtre.

3

06.02 Notre produit/service représente un type de produit/service entièrement nouveau

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

06.03 Notre produit/service pourrait être décrit comme une nouvelle technologie

5

06.04 Notre produit/service est une amélioration d'un produit ou d'un service existant

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

06.05 Notre produit/service pourrait être décrit comme une extension d'une gamme de produits ou de services

7 - Tout à fait d'accord

06.06 Notre produit/service répond à une demande ou à un besoin qui n'a pas été satisfait par d'autres produits/services.

2

06.07 Notre produit/service est une nouvelle version d'un ancien produit/service

2

06.08 Justification

In Ghana, there is only one company/ foundation who produce biodegradable sanitary pads from plantain pseudostem in Ashanti region of Ghana and is not known to women/ girls in other regions. Our product is an innovative and unique product that is made from plantain fiber, bamboo fiber and and gingerol which has so many health benefit as compared to the one which is not popularly known on the market. From our feasibility analysis, we found out that about 85% of the women in central, western and eastern are interested in our product.

06.09 Analyse compétitive

Our main competitor is RECFAM foundation which produces biodegradable sanitary pads from only plantain pseudostem, whiles biocare is made from plantain pseudostem, bamboo fiber, and gingerol. The uniqueness in our product as compared to RECFAM is the anti microbial properties which help to reduce infections, the fluffy nature of the pad, the natural minty flavor from gingerol which also helps to reduce cramps and menstrual odor. No chemicals was used during digestion of the fiber into cotton. It has high absorbency.

11.05 Menez-vous des actions au sein de votre communauté pour promouvoir le rôle des femmes entrepreneurs ?

I am the founder of a ladies club which intends to educate and train females on how to become an entrepreneur .