From banana fibers to global change. Dominika Kulczyk invests in a social project that will change the lives of millions of women

The average woman uses 11,400 pads, tampons, and applicators in her lifetime. 90% of these products are plastic. It means 150 kg of plastic waste per person. Disposing of menstrual waste is a global issue that has not been widely discussed yet. While fully biodegradable products already exist, they are hard to access. In turn, eco-friendly, reusable products often have a high initial cost and require free access to running water, which is difficult in many parts of the world. Cultural barriers are also a significant factor.

The first domino – Sparsa

Sparsa Project came up with a solution. The name means “touch” or “sensory impression”. As part of the initiative led by the German-Nepalese NGO NIDISI, with support from Kulczyk Foundation, a social enterprise that produces eco-friendly sanitary pads from banana fibers, which were previously considered waste, was established. These fibers are highly absorbent and have antibacterial properties, making them ideal for producing affordable and environmentally friendly sanitary pads.

Kulczyk Foundation specializes in providing those in need with the knowledge and tools necessary to solve their social problems, so they can become independent from others’ support. This is also the case with the Sparsa project.

This sanitary pad factory is ultimately intended to be self-sustaining. The Nepalese project heralds a true revolution, occurring in three areas simultaneously: in its approach to women and their natural needs, in the development of a social enterprise, and its approach to the environment.

"We are doing this for women who must choose between dignity and necessity every month. For those who lack access to basic hygiene products, yet each of us deserves comfort and a sense of security" says Dominika Kulczyk. "We are doing this for our planet—with gratitude for what it gives us. By using agricultural waste instead of synthetics, we transform what is unwanted into something that truly matters. This creates less waste and more good" she adds.

Next cubes – Blueprint

Today, Sparsa is becoming an inspiration for the entire world. On September 30, 2025, the first meeting of the global Blueprint Knowledge Community was held in Nairobi. For four days, practitioners, scientists, donors, and decision-makers from across continents collaborated to map solutions that could change the lives of millions of women and help the planet at the same time.

"We want this project to be the start of something bigger," says Dominika Kulczyk. “We want it to be the first domino that will trigger an avalanche of similar initiatives in various parts of the world. Because too many women still suffer from a lack of access to sanitary pads. And too much waste still pollutes our planet. It's time to change it".

Blueprint aims to create an open knowledge base that will allow organizations and social entrepreneurs to replicate models for producing biodegradable sanitary pads. The initiative combines practical guidance with a global network of experts, supporting gender equality, sustainability, and innovation in menstrual health. So far, solutions using banana fibers have been developed, but other plants are also being tested.

This project is not just about technological innovation. It is about the freedom, dignity, and equality of women who, too often, must choose between their health and daily functioning.

Dipisha Bhujel, the originator of the Sparsa project, tells us more about it: