1 SDG 1 No Poverty – Ecobana

Group Reflection

Aim2Flourish has delivered an engaging experience by expanding its effect beyond academic borders, allowing us to investigate and critically reflect on Ecobana, a Kenyan firm dedicated to the manufacturing of sustainable sanitary pads. The company’s linkage with global well-being through innovation has provided lasting insights, notably in combating period poverty and environmental degradation. Ecobana was chosen because of its proactive response to social concerns, making it a great subject for learning about the intersections of sustainability, business, and societal effects.

The journey from awareness activities to the production of biodegradable sanitary pads made from banana fibres demonstrates Ecobana’s dedication to sustainability. This creative idea not only solves period poverty, but it also takes into account environmental sustainability and local resource availability. The usage of banana fibres demonstrates a strategic approach to bringing about meaningful change from the ground up, emphasizing the need to solve societal concerns in novel and sustainable ways.

Ecobana distinguishes itself by adhering to the triple bottom line, which takes economic, social, and environmental considerations into account. Reduced plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions help to achieve environmental sustainability goals. Simultaneously, the improved hygienic practises of persons and the introduction of job chances in banana agriculture improve social and economic well-being. The aim of the firm for a circular economy and expansion into other African nations demonstrates a scalable method to make a substantial and beneficial influence on numerous fronts.

Ecobana’s business approach not only improves the environment but also has significant economic implications. The interview with the founder, Keylie Ogola, emphasizes the passion and determination behind the idea, emphasizing the need to adopt organic and natural options. Long-term economic resilience and stability as a result of sustainable business practices demonstrate a full commitment to responsible business. The company’s immediate and long-term environmental and social advantages, such as decreased carbon footprint and female empowerment, add to its positive community effect.

Exploring the Ecobana story has helped us better grasp the complex interplay between business and sustainability. This critical assessment emphasizes the importance of future corporate leaders adopting environmental and social responsibility into their practices. While Ecobana presents a paradigm for creating wealth beyond shareholders, it raises concerns about the adaptability and usefulness of such innovations in a variety of cultural contexts. Future studies should look at the possible barriers and obstacles to internationalizing sustainable concepts, as well as the efficacy of such solutions in economically developed countries.
Finally, the Ecobana case study demonstrates how creative, sustainable solutions may solve urgent social concerns. It inspires firms to pursue a triple-bottom-line strategy that promotes economic development, social well-being, and environmental sustainability. The lessons acquired from Ecobana will surely affect our approach to producing value that transcends beyond financial profits, leaving a lasting impact on the planet we live in as we begin on our future commercial undertakings.

Individual Reflections

Rafaela’s Perspective: Joining this virtual team made me quite pleased and eager at first. We chose an incredible firm for our activities, and communication was easy at first. Things changed as the week progressed and deadlines approached. Communication grew more difficult, and understanding each other became a challenge. Dealing with diverse cultures created extra problems, necessitating greater awareness and adaptability. Figuring out time zones was tough, needing us to be flexible and plan carefully. Although we started well in managing these challenges, the last week showed some problems. Some team members didn’t finish their tasks, so others had to work extra. This imbalance caused strain on how the team worked together and tested our ability to handle challenges. Looking back, this experience showed me the importance of effective communication, especially in virtual teams with varied cultures. It also taught me the value of having a good strategy in place to minimize difficulties and guarantee that everyone contributes equitably. Even though it was difficult, being a member of this team taught me how to adapt and deal with the ups and downs of working together online.

Daniel’s Perspective: When I first heard about this coil project, I did not know what to expect. I was excited to see who I would be working with from other countries, but I did not expect to be able to connect with them so well. From the start, it felt like our team got along well. We fought through some challenges in finding time to meet because of extracurricular activities, but we made sure to get all of our assignments done on time. Originally, we were going to use my selected company, but James offered up another company that was too good of an opportunity to pass up. Ecobana is a very sought-after company in Africa and is making a real impact on women across the country. I am very thankful that I was able to work with the team that I was selected too, and I am certain that this experience will help me in the future. Problem-solving and finishing assignments while multiple of us are living on opposite sides of the planet shows how much work we need to put in to be successful. Even though this was a very positive experience, there are some things I think we could have done better as a group. First off, we could have met earlier in the week. We usually were meeting towards the end of the week which sometimes led to unneeded stress. Another thing that I say we could have done differently would be more in learning spaces when we would meet. I understand that all of us are literally on different timelines and have different lives, but it felt like sometimes we were not as locked into the meetings as we should have been. Overall though, I believe we did work well as a group and I firmly believe in Ecobana as a company and our story as a group.

Jonah’s Perspective: This coil group experience was a really cool and eye-opening experience for me. To be able to collaborate with people I otherwise may not ever see in countries I have not ever visited was truly an interesting experience. An important lesson I learned was to understand that your option/choice may not always be the strongest option. For example, me and Danny proposed to use his father’s company for our project, but our peer James had a much more intricate company in Ecobana that turned out to be a better company to use for the assignment. From a timing standpoint, I do believe we could have been a bit more disciplined with the scheduling of our meetings, but we still managed to have very productive meetings. This issue happened primarily because many of our group members had exterior commitments that they had to attend to during the week, along with time zone differences. I also appreciated how we were able to split up the work and give everyone a fair role in our group, along with everyone having a voice and being able to share their thoughts during our discussions and video calls.

Winny’s Perspective: Joining the coil project was like opening a door to a worldwide classroom. Interacting with fellow students from different places, I learned that teamwork and managing time are super important skills in the real world. A major lesson I took away was about being on time. Making sure we finished our work before deadlines showed me how important it is to stick to the schedule. This understanding is not only about projects, it is a life skill. The Coil project also taught me that teamwork is a real strength. Working with people who had different ideas and backgrounds made our project better. This experience made me understand the strong connection between successful projects and working together.It was such a nice experience. This journey was not only a school thing, it changed how I see the world and how I work with others. It taught me practical life skills that will stick with me in whatever I do next.