Report on Melanin Palace: An Enterprise Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Melanin Palace, a startup skincare company founded by Nyna Kumi Butler, exemplifies a business model deeply integrated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, the enterprise produces organic, ethically sourced skincare products rooted in Afrocentric traditions. The company’s operations and mission directly contribute to several key SDGs, including Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).

Operational Framework and Mission Alignment with SDGs

Fostering Cultural Awareness and Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10)

A primary objective of Melanin Palace is to educate consumers on pre-colonial African beauty traditions, thereby fostering cultural reconnection for people in the diaspora. This mission directly addresses SDG 10 by promoting social inclusion and celebrating cultural heritage.

• The brand was established to counter Eurocentric beauty standards that contribute to systemic inequalities.
• It aims to instill self-acceptance and cultural pride, particularly among Black women, contributing to their social and psychological well-being.
• The name “Melanin Palace” itself is a recognition and celebration of diverse skin tones and their associated history.

Product Profile and Commitment to Responsible Production (SDG 12)

Melanin Palace currently specializes in whipped shea butter, a product that reflects a strong commitment to responsible consumption and production patterns.

1. Natural Formulation: The product is formulated with minimal ingredients, using raw shea butter and natural essential oils (e.g., sweet orange, lavender, vanilla) distilled from plants. Artificial fragrances are explicitly avoided. This aligns with SDG 12’s target for the environmentally sound management of chemicals and wastes.
2. Ingredient Transparency: The company prioritizes clear labeling so consumers know the origin of each ingredient, promoting informed and sustainable consumption choices.
3. Health and Well-being (SDG 3): By providing a plant-based, organic product, the company contributes to consumer health, avoiding potentially harmful artificial additives.

Ethical Sourcing and Socio-Economic Impact

Empowering Women and Promoting Economic Growth (SDG 5 & SDG 8)

The company’s supply chain is a core component of its contribution to sustainable development.

• Source Material: The raw shea butter is sourced directly from Burkina Faso, one of 21 African nations where the shea tree grows naturally.
• Economic Empowerment: In Burkina Faso, the shea butter industry is known as “women’s gold,” providing a critical source of income and economic liberation for women. This allows them to support their families and educate their children, directly advancing SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
• Local Entrepreneurship: As a participant in the Spark Savannah accelerator program, Melanin Palace also contributes to local economic growth and demonstrates a model for sustainable entrepreneurship.

Conclusion: An Integrated Approach to Sustainability

Melanin Palace serves as a case study in how a small enterprise can meaningfully contribute to global sustainability targets. By embedding principles of ethical sourcing, gender equality, cultural preservation, and responsible production into its core business model, the company actively advances multiple Sustainable Development Goals. Its focus extends beyond commerce to include education, empowerment, and well-being, demonstrating a holistic approach to sustainable development.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The article highlights a woman-owned business, Melanin Palace, founded by Nyna Kumi Butler. The business model directly supports women’s economic empowerment, both for the founder and for the women in Burkina Faso who produce the shea butter. The article states that shea butter is dubbed “women’s gold” because it provides “economic liberation, allowing them to feed, clothe and educate their children.” Furthermore, the brand’s mission to promote self-love and acceptance among Black women addresses gender-specific social pressures.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The article focuses on the creation of a startup business, Melanin Palace, which contributes to economic growth through entrepreneurship. Nyna Kumi Butler’s participation in the Spark Savannah accelerator program exemplifies the support for innovation and small enterprises. The sourcing of raw materials from Burkina Faso also supports the local economy and provides income for the producers, contributing to “decent work” for women in that region.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• Melanin Palace’s core mission is to challenge “Eurocentric beauty standards” and address the “self-hate period” that many Black women experience. By creating a brand that is “rooted in Afrocentric beauty practices” and serves as a “beautiful recognition of your tone, your skin,” the business actively works to promote social inclusion and reduce inequalities based on race and ethnicity. The article emphasizes that the brand is “inclusive” and aims to help people “be happy, be proud of who you are.”

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The company promotes sustainable practices by offering an “organic, ethical inclusive skincare line.” The products are made with natural, plant-based ingredients, such as raw shea butter and essential oils distilled from plants, while avoiding artificial fragrances. The founder’s goal for transparency—”that it has only one or two ingredients on the label, and you know where everything is from”—directly relates to responsible consumption and production patterns.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Targets for SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

1. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
   • The article showcases Nyna Kumi Butler as a female founder and entrepreneur, demonstrating leadership in the economic sphere.
2. Target 5.a: Undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources…
   • The sourcing of shea butter from women in Burkina Faso, where it is a form of “economic liberation,” directly supports this target by providing women with access to and control over economic resources.

Targets for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

1. Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises.
   • Melanin Palace is a startup that was selected for an “accelerator program run by Startup Savannah,” which directly supports entrepreneurship and the growth of a small business.
2. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value.
   • The business provides employment for its founder and supports the livelihoods of the women producers in Burkina Faso, contributing to productive employment.

Targets for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

1. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity… or other status.
   • The brand’s mission to counteract “Eurocentric beauty standards” and encourage self-love and pride among Black women is a direct effort to empower and promote social inclusion for a group often subjected to specific cultural pressures.

Targets for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

1. Target 12.1: Implement the 10-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production Patterns.
   • The business model, which is based on “organic, ethical,” and natural products with transparent labeling, aligns with the principles of sustainable consumption and production.
2. Target 12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles…
   • The company’s goal is to educate consumers about the product’s natural origins and history, ensuring “you know where everything is from.” This promotes consumer awareness of sustainable products and lifestyles.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Indicators for SDG 5 (Gender Equality)

• The existence of a woman-owned business (Nyna Kumi Butler’s Melanin Palace).
• The sourcing of raw materials from women producers, contributing to their “economic liberation” (the women in Burkina Faso).

Indicators for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

• The creation of a new startup business (Melanin Palace).
• Participation in a business accelerator program (Spark Savannah).
• Generation of income for raw material producers in a developing country (shea butter producers in Burkina Faso).

Indicators for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)

• The development of products and marketing campaigns that challenge prevailing beauty standards and promote inclusivity (“rooted in Afrocentric beauty practices”).
• Customer testimonials reflecting a positive impact on self-perception and cultural connection (e.g., Rudy King’s feedback).

Indicators for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

• The number of products offered that are organic and use natural, plant-based ingredients.
• The practice of transparent labeling, where consumers “know where everything is from.”
• The use of ethically sourced raw materials (shea butter from Burkina Faso).

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: savannahnow.com