Issue 06/2018
bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1806
bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1806
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Award<br />
And the winner is ...<br />
The 13 th Global Bioplastics Award <strong>2018</strong> was<br />
given to Aakar Innovations for their biobased<br />
sanitary pads for girls and women in rural India<br />
Aakar Innovations Pvt. Ltd. from Belapur, Mumbai,<br />
India developed a fully compostable sanitary pad for<br />
girls and women in rural India. The pads are manufactured<br />
in local decentralized workshop locations by the local<br />
women of the region.<br />
Arunachalam Murugananphan is the social entrepreneur<br />
that made this all happen and received the innovation<br />
award from the President of India. Aakar Innovations<br />
follows in those pioneering footsteps and takes it a step<br />
further by introducing the element of environmental and<br />
social responsibility. Using biobased and fully compostable<br />
materials, Aakar is manufacturing sanitary pads using<br />
rural, low cost manufacturing and also providing jobs to<br />
women in rural villages.<br />
Aakar is a hybrid social enterprise that enables women<br />
to produce and distribute affordable, high-quality, 100 %<br />
compostable sanitary napkins within their communities<br />
while simultaneously raising awareness and sensitization<br />
of menstrual hygiene management. That’s why Aakar<br />
launched a 100 % compostable sanitary pad under the<br />
brand name Anandi.<br />
Anandi is a 100 % compostable sanitary napkin using<br />
biobased compostable polymer film. It uses virgin soft<br />
pine wood pulp containing more than 97 % of cellulose and<br />
hemi-cellulose. The wood pulp as used has pure cellulose<br />
materials with complete uniformity of fibers allowing it to<br />
decompose easily. Activated by an only eco-friendly ozone<br />
treatment process and using compostable bioplastic. The<br />
root sources of the material used is from naturally available<br />
corn starch.<br />
The judges were impressed with the holistic concept,<br />
addressing the social, economic and environmental<br />
elements at the same time. A perfect example of what<br />
sustainability is all about! It is tangible, helping millions<br />
of women in rural India, and shows how bioplastics can<br />
advance the cause of environmental and social justice in a<br />
responsible manner. All bioplastic components are certified<br />
compostable as per EN 13432 or ASTM D6400. A certification<br />
for soil degradability is being awaited and will complete a<br />
truly remarkable story of empowerment, social justice and<br />
environmental responsibility<br />
The prize was awarded to the winning company on<br />
December 4 th , <strong>2018</strong> during the 13 th European Bioplastics<br />
Conference in Berlin, Germany. MT<br />
www.aakarinnovations.com<br />
10 bioplastics MAGAZINE [<strong>06</strong>/17] Vol. 12
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