Innovation

Shehnaz Enterprises is focused on building innovative and green solutions to provide Sanitary Napkins making Machines. They have emerged as a market leader in this segment. They have built automatic sterilization back release liner sanitary pads making machine, idler automatic sanitary napkin machine, non-idler automatic sanitary pad making machine, NRLM low cost sanitary pad making machine, fully auto anion chip sanitary napkin machine and two header sanitary pad making machine. Shehnaz enterprises has developed low cost machines which are designed those biodegradable sanitary pads.

Shehnaz Enterprises uses technology which are convenient and affordable to use and provide employment to the tribal women. These machines can be used by a single person only who can themselves manufacture the sanitary pads.

The basic model of machine has the power to manufacture 1000 pieces of sanitary pads in a single day. Shehnaz Enterprises has successfully installed more than 1000 machines to the tribal women in the rural. This shows the promotion of sustainable and inclusive industrialization.

Inspiration

After graduating with an engineering degree, Mr. Khan started working to earn a living. During his graduation days, he made a vehicle whose controls could be managed by hands for people who have disabled their legs which he tried listing on National Innovation Foundation Business, where he found Dr. Arunachalam Muruganantham’s article on sanitary pads, he was the inventor of the low-cost sanitary pad-making machine.

Parallelly with the job, he started working on developing a sanitary pads machine inspired by Dr. Muruganantham and how he can develop a business model sustainable for society. Continuing with his job, he started to develop the business. Initially he researched about sanitary pads then made a prototype. "The prototype garnered appreciation which kept me motivated to continue my work & made me believe that there was a future for this idea." He established his first unit in Udaipur city. He started this business with a motto of social service which later turned out to be a sustainable business model. The name Shehnaz enterprise is dedicated to his mother Shehnaz.

Overall impact

One of the topics that receive the greatest attention globally is the practice of sustainable menstruation. To that aim, India is also experiencing steady development as more women transition to cloth pads and menstruation cups, which have little to no environmental effect. This topic is not only getting attention in urban areas but also in rural areas.

Shehnaz Enterprise, located in Loha Bazar, Hathipole, Chamanpura, Udaipur is working towards this issue providing sanitary napkin-making raw materials and machines of superior quality at very affordable rates. Shehnaz Enterprise is working closely with different companies and governments by collaborating with them and providing machines to produce sanitary pads. This helps to uplift the tribal areas by educating the women there about hygiene. The business is also providing employment opportunities to tribal women and making an impact that directly benefits them and society.

Business benefit

Shehnaj Enterprize has been in business for the past 7 years and has a top line of more than 1 crore. They serve rural women's needs and use their business model to address their period hygiene issues. They build equipment that makes both conventional and biodegradable sanitary pads.

The concept of biodegradable pads has helped the organization expand itself significantly over the years and now serves the entire length and breadth of the nation. Private companies like Fiam Foundation, JK Cements, etc., governmental agencies like Nabard, and non-profit organizations like Save the Children, Lotus, etc. are just a few of their clientele. The business also partnered with a number of well-known programs, like the PM Foundation, Bihar Jivika, Rajasthan Ajivika, etc. The business has also exported its ideas and goods, primarily to Bangladesh and Nepal.

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Social and environmental benefit

Shehnaz Enterprise has a business model which caters to various socio-economic aspects of society.

•The company in collaboration with various government projects and various companies’ CSR projects develops the sanitary pad manufacturing setup in the tribal parts of the country. This creates awareness regarding periods hygiene and sanitation in those parts where periods still are taboo.

•They believe in “via women, for women”. This is where the organization employs tribal women, teaches them, and trains them about sanitary pad production using their setup. This acts as a source of earning for those women.

•Since the sales of these pads depend mostly on word of mouth in the tribal pockets, a huge amount of money is saved on marketing and distribution. Therefore, these pads are provided at a much lower price than the general market price.

•Their product line includes both biodegradable and non-biodegradable pads. Normal sanitary napkins have 90% plastic, whereas biodegradable napkins have significantly less or no plastic at all. These pads are free from toxins and chemicals and have no added fragrance. They are safe for both women as well as environment-friendly, as they degrade much faster.’

Interview

Abdul Kadir Khan, Founder