Botanica Natural Products, the Limpopo-based manufacturer of Ecocert certified organic products ingredients for cosmetics, has been named a finalist in the category, Most Innovative, for the 2015 SA SMME Awards, which recognise top performing South African entrepreneurs.
Nurturing economic growth
The small business sector is a key driver of growth in our country. To acknowledge and appreciate the important role the sector plays in promoting job creation, wealth and prosperity in the country, the Africagrowth Institute, in partnership with major SMME support agencies and key private sector institutions, has organised the 2015 competition.
Honouring the winners
According to the company, the red carpet will be rolled out for the finalists in all five categories, at a gala dinner 4 June 2015 at NH The Lord Charles Hotel in Cape Town, honouring the top performing SMMEs in various industries. Winners of the awards will gain exposure in local media, as well as an opportunity to network with champions in business, top innovators and master-drivers of South Africa’s development.
Bits on the business
Botanica Natural Products has become well-known in the past 12 months for developing a method of extracting beneficial elements from the Bulbine Frutescens, a traditional medicinal plant, for use in the cosmetics industry. According to Seed Initiative, the plant is cultivated and processed organically at the company’s indigenous location in rural Limpopo, and its commercial use provides employment opportunities in the marginalised area. The local community further benefits through an access and benefit sharing agreement.
