By Dylan Bettencourt
- Leafline, a small Bathurst company in the Eastern Cape, makes reusable adult and baby nappies from discarded cayenne pineapple leaves.
- Leafline has recently graduated from a government export programme and finished in the top three out of 15 participating companies.
The idea for Leafline came from an unexpected place.
Founder Candy Androliakos said an older woman at a care centre asked her to make a more affordable adult nappy.
“I had never sewn before, but I decided to try, and that request led to the founding of Leafline in 2018,” she said, News24 reported.
Leafline is based in Bathurst in the Eastern Cape. The company makes reusable, biodegradable sanitary products from discarded cayenne pineapple leaves. The product range includes adult and baby nappies.
The nappies last up to two years and contain no toxins.
Cayenne pineapple leaves are a byproduct of pineapple farming. When processed, the leaves produce a fibre that is stronger than cotton. Leafline uses that fibre to make a soft, absorbent and breathable fabric, which it turns into washable, reusable incontinence and sanitary products.
The company carries the Proudly South African label. Leafline employs four permanent staff and three part-time workers, including elderly people and people living with disabilities.
The company recently graduated from the Global Export Passport Programme, a five-month initiative run by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition alongside the Eastern Cape Development Corporation. Leafline’s export strategy finished in the top three out of 15 companies in the programme.
Trade promotion specialist Linda Lubengu said: “The programme doesn’t just teach exporting, it turns plans into action.” Past participants are already selling in Namibia and Mozambique.
Pictured above: Leafline products made from cayenne pineapple leaves.
Image source: Leafline/Facebook
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