MOTHER NATURE PRODUCTS CLOTH SANITARY PADS FOR MENSTRUATION AND MILD INCONTINENCE

Giving back dignity to young women.

It is an unfortunate reality that throughout Africa there are young women who do not attend school or work over their monthly menstruation for one week each month. Many women in South Africa so not have access to adequate sanitary pads over their monthly menstruation.

Statistics reveal that as many as 40% of women in Africa cannot afford menstrual sanitary ware.

Mother Nature’s Pads benefit schools, institutions and businesses in the following ways:

Restore dignity to the girls and enable girls and women to attend school or work. Better attendance results in higher pass rates or better productivity at work.

Our natural pads fit in with all cultural beliefs placed on women/ virgins about suitable sanitary ware.

Financial benefits: In the distribution(by comparison to the on-going burden of expense of the issue of disposable pads) saving charities, businesses and institutions millions of rands. Our pads will save the user for several year’s use.

Example of savings benefit to an institution/ corporation: R20/ pack of disposable pads per women issued with pads per month = R240 p/a meaning an investment in our bucket pack of 10 pads (cost R245 incl vat) per women is paid off in1 year and from there on eliminating the on-going expense of issuing pads.

The pads will reduce the burden of health and waste disposal concerns where disposable pads are often

inappropriately discarded causing blockages or pollution. This is especially the case at rural schools who rely on septic tanks. Blockages are an issue because of the cost of repair.

The pads last roughly 6 years of use if cared for correctly. Issuing 2 to 6 pads per girl is adequate during school or work hours. Another option is to issue our set pack of 10 pads in a small lidded bucket with a bag of salt used for pre-soaking.

Potential Long Term Impact: Results show that the issue of our pads has had a remarkable impact, by improving attendance at school or reducing absenteeism in the workplace. Educators have an opportunity to inform girls about reproductive health, menstruation, puberty and relationships with boys. The young women have been very excited to receive the pads. There has been a reduction in the waste concerns at some schools where blocked sewerage pipes and septic tanks were once an on-going problem.

Testimonial: 09/2011 “We had very good feedback from the schools that we distributed the items to [within South Africa].  Especially the learners in the rural areas were very excited with the sanitary packs that were provided (which of course included 2 of your pads in a bucket with a bag of salt & instructions).” - Jeanelle Connolly - Specialist  |  Consulting – Project Services Deloitte Consulting Pty Ltd. Project: Adopt a School.

Testimonial: 01/2015: “Hi Joanne They were very pleased to receive them. Thanks so much, “ Veneshree – VIA SANTA BOX

Ladies’ Own Washable Sanitary Pads

Directions for use: When: Use over your monthly

menstrual period or as a mild incontinence pad.

How: Secure the pad around your underwear with the snap fastener. Un-bleached cotton with cross stitch to skin.

Change when required. Out and about: Use a little waterproof

bag to store used pads in. Pre-soak pads in a small (lidded)

bucket of cold water (optional: add salt to water). Place all used pads in this bucket.

Clean: Hand wash with a laundry soap bar and/ or delicate machine cycle wash in cold water. Air dry.

Do not tumble-dry or use bleach. Rinse in lemon juice with water to bleach stains.

With correct care the pads can be re-used for a few years.

Introducing Mother Nature Products

Great for babies, great for nature.

Mother Nature Products are proud manufacturers of great green baby products in Cape Town, South Africa. Our user-friendly Nature Nappy System spares the planet, saves money and is chemical free.

Mission To produce natural products which are chemical/ synthetic free and prevent waste on landfills. Our

products are primarily produced locally to create jobs & reduce our carbon footprint. We strive to make our green products durable, repairable, energy efficient and made with

recyclable materials to minimize the environmental impact through manufacture, packaging, distribution, use and disposal.

Contact details: Tel 021 7829117. Email: info@mothernatureproducts.co.za.

www.mothernatureproducts.co.za

We are registered with Proudly SA Vat Registration: 4820255364 Import/ Export Licence: 21043543 BEE Compliance.

Price StructureSanitary Pads 2-pack: 2 Mother Nature washable sanitary pads in a plastic bag with care instructions in English.

Wholesale Price per 1 unit is R49.02 (inclusive of South African VAT) or R43.00 exclusive of VAT. This price is exclusive of shipping costs.

Sanitary Pads 10 pack : Mother Nature washable sanitary pads plus a small lidded bucket plus a small bag of salt and care instructions in English. Wholesale Price per 1 unit is R245.00 (inclusive of South African VAT) or R214.91 exclusive of VAT.

Payment Terms:

Orders are to be paid in South African rands directly to Mother Nature Products cc.

For orders outside of our regular manufacturing quantities, a 100% deposit from the customer is required prior to phase 1 of the manufacturing process unless a tender is secured and a formal supplier procedure is in place.

For international orders a bank guarantee of full payment is required.

100% payment must be settled prior to shipping.

We will agree to ship to a single point main South African city address for free for large quantity orders.

Payment Details: Mother Nature Products cc, Nedbank, Tokai, Cape Town, South Africa, IBAN: NEDSZAJJ, Account Number: 1043071792, Branch code: 104309. VAT Registration number: 4820255364, Company Registration number: 2006/001059/23, Shipping License number: 21043543.

Manufacturing Process:Includes a break-down of the time and requirements over 3 phases of the manufacturing process.

We don’t keep a warehouse full of pads. We have a small quantity in stock for fairly small orders but mostly each order is made up accordingly after we receive payment. Our pads are hand-made by our proud team of seamstresses and a lot of supplies need to be ordered prior to our manufacturing so please ensure you give us time to make up your order timeously.

Phase 1: Takes 4 weeks after receipt of payment.

70% of materials and packaging required are sourced. Our waterproofing is laminated specifically for Mother Nature Products and is tested for durability with each order. This process takes 4 weeks.

Additional experienced seamstresses will be hired on a temporary contract basis for an order exceeding our usual manufacturing quantities.

Additional machines will be hired to complete your order.

Phase 2: Takes 1 week per 2500 pads.

We will manufacture the pads and package them at a rate of 2500 pads per 5 working days but only for large quantity orders; otherwise we operate with our current staff at a reduced lead time per unit. If overtime is required we will absorb that expense.

During this phase the balance of materials will be purchased in time to complete the order.

Phase 3: Completion of the order: Takes an estimated 2 weeks and does not include the actual shipping time.

Once payment is settled we will box and prepare the goods for shipping.

If all goes smoothly the entire process should take no more than 6 to 12 weeks in total (for large quantity orders exceeding 2000 pads). We will keep you informed as to the progress of your order and confirm as each phase is completed.

If any additional information is required please do not hesitate to contact us.

Mother Nature Products issued four pads each to three women living in Imizamoyethu township in Hout Bay, Cape Town. We interviewed all three women three months after we issued the pads. Here is the feedback we received: Our testing team:

Zanele (38 years, domestic worker, single parent, living in a shack)

Ntsiky (42 years, self employed in township, living in a shack)

Nosisa (35 years, manager, living in a house in Hout Bay)

Q: How was your experience using MN cloth pads?

Zanele: They were very absorbent. One pad lasted the whole day.

Ntisky: I used only one Mother Nature pad per day as they are very absorbent.

Nosisa: Yes they are absorbent,  for me to change the pads depended on the flow,

sometimes two, three – four times a day (when I am off to bed).

Q: How was your experience caring for the pads?

Zanele: I hand wash the pads from my bathing water in the evenings using sunlight soap. I pre-soak the pads in cold water with salt as per instructions. No stains – they wash out well but take 2 days to dry in winter.

Ntisky: I wash the pads in the washing machine. They wash out fine.

Nosisa: I wash the pads straight after using them, but if I am at work or out, as soon as I get home I would first soak them, followed by washing as per instructions.

Q: What general feedback do you have to offer about using the Mother Nature pads?

Zanele: The pads work better than the disposable pads I was using and fit better (stay in place). I am saving about R30 per month now.

Ntsky: Very good!

Nosisa: I think they are a good product, especially for people who prefer to use mother nature products, I know when other people use tampons or sanitary pads they experience rash. Thank you, your product is Great!