BATHURST, Eastern Cape – Leafline, a washable hygiene products producer from the Big Pineapple in Bathurst, is turning pineapple leaves into reusable, biodegradable, toxin-free sanitary products, including adult and baby nappies, that last up to two years.

All the products are made with cayenne pineapple leaves, which, when milled, produce a fibre stronger than cotton.

Leafline founder Candy Androliakos said the idea for the reusable sanitary products came to life whilst working with local women at a care centre.

“One of the older ladies asked me to make her a more affordable option for adult nappies. Despite having never sewn, I decided to try. That random request turned into the founding of Leafline in 2018, but we opened our factory in 2021. We began milling our leaves in 2024. I managed to make the garment itself, but it was missing the absorbent part of a nappy. A friend suggested using pineapple leaf fibre, and that’s where the real breakthrough happened,” says Androliakos.

She said that through corporate sponsorships to schools and institutions, they have benefited over 6,000 girls.

Leafline employs four permanent members of staff and three part-time workers who are elderly and living with disabilities. Together, they produce reusable, sustainable, and cost-effective alternatives to disposable hygiene products.

In pursuit of broader markets, Leafline was enrolled in a five-month Global Export Passport Programme (GEPP) managed by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) in partnership with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC).

“During the programme, participants were required to submit export marketing strategies. I ranked third for my export market strategy. I was pleased with that achievement because it broadened opportunities for Leafline’s expansion. Support from entities like the ECDC comes not only in monetary terms but also provides the much-needed exposure for businesses with niche products such as Leafline,” says Androliakos.

She said the ECDC also helped Leafline acquire two hammer mill machines valued at R50,000 each, and a leaf shredder valued at R80,000. These additions to Leafline’s production line ensure they are ready to provide a steady supply of quality products to local Spars and to their biggest supporters, non-profit organisations such as Rotary and Do Ubuntu, that donate the products to the less fortunate.

Moving forward, Androliakos hopes to expand Leafline’s fibre production and mechanise its pad and nappy embroidery, and spread the word about toxin-free sanitary solutions.

“We do supply to schools through corporate sponsorships, with partners like Rotary, Spar and the Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA). We use social media channels like Facebook and Instagram, and recently began posting on TikTok to market our products.”

ECDC Trade Promotion Specialist, Linda Lubengu, said Leafline’s participation in the GEPP training demonstrates how focused export promotion can elevate women-led, sustainable businesses into competitive players in global markets.