The CEO of Linaleli Greeting Cards, Lerato Moteane is passionate about saving and sustaining the environment with her resources. According to her “I am passionate about sustainability, saving and taking care of the environment with the little that I have” She is also passionate about her line of business “as it reflects who I am as a person and what I believe in”. Originally from Lesotho, Lerato has settled in South Africa. She obtained her Bachelor of Commerce Degree from School of Fashion, STADIO, South Africa.
Lerato in this interview with Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable speaks about her Greeting Cards business as it relates to the environment
Excerpts:
You are the CEO of Linaleli Greeting Cards. Seed paper is not a line of business that is known to many; why did you follow that path?
I followed this path because I believe in the importance of sustainably and being as eco-friendly as possible.
Plantable seed paper is biodegradable, how much of environmental protection does your line of business offers?
For every recycled copy paper, 100% of the trees, 31% of the energy and 53% of the water it takes to make new, bleached paper is saved.
What were the initial challenges when you started this business and how were you able to overcome those challenges?
We are fairly new in the business and the biggest challenge has been to secure long-term clients such as those in corporate world ; they are one of the largest consumers of new bleached paper.
What special skills must a youth have to succeed in this type of business?
No special skills are required, just a passion for sustainability and taking care of the environment.
How viable is the business?
In my opinion, it is greatly viable. It is high time people take careful consideration of what they consume, how they consume and how they dispose wastes.
Do you have your eyes on expansion or diversification and in what form?
Yes, we do have our eyes on expansion. You will have to keep your eyes and fingers glued to our social pages for more information on that. However, we have just launched a range of plantable Valentine’s Day greeting cards written in 4 African languages – Sesotho, Setswana, isiXhosa and isiZulu.
What is the future of eco-friendly plantable seed paper?
Seed plant paper is the future; it is paper that meets consumers’ needs, while utilizing the environments natural, human and cultural resources in a responsible way to ensure a better quality of life now and for future generations.
Would you recommend your line of business to more youths in Africa?
Yes, sustainability and waste management should be practiced by all.
Are you in anyway giving back to the community?
We are currently working on a project to educate more youth on the importance of sustainability in South Africa and Lesotho. We are also working on giving them resources to make their own paper from recycled materials.
