- link Copy Url - [ Share on twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Ghanian Shea Butter Non-Profit Collective Shifts to For-Profit Model https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/41426?absolute=1&via=3blnews "link to 3 B L Media's Twitter") - [ Share on linkedin ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/41426?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Linkedin") - [ Share on facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/41426?absolute=1 "link to 3 B L Media's Facebook") - [ email Share via email ](mailto:?subject=Ghanian Shea Butter Non-Profit Collective Shifts to For-Profit Model&body=ESG News from SAP https://www.3blmedia.com/markdownify/node/41426?absolute=1 "Share via email") # Ghanian Shea Butter Non-Profit Collective Shifts to For-Profit Model Nov 8, 2013 2:55 PM ET Campaign: [SAP Supports Sustainable Growth in Emerging Economies](/news/campaign/sap-supports-sustainable-growth-emerging-economies) [Original article by Mary Mazzoni on TriplePundit](http://bit.ly/17jZpjw) Four years ago, [SAP](http://www.triplepundit.com/topic/sap/) and [PlaNet Finance](http://www.planetfinancegroup.org/) joined forces on a multilateral partnership to improve Ghana’s shea butter supply chain. The result was the StarShea Network, a non-profit collective that provided a combination of mobile technology, education and microfinance to rural shea nut farmers and butter producers in Northern Ghana. Now the network has transitioned to an incorporated, stand-alone business, SAP announced yesterday. Founded in 2009 to help 1,500 women manage and grow their shea nut business, the newly named [StarShea Ltd.](http://www.starshea.com/)has grown to a network of more than 10,000 women, and emerged as one of the worldwide market leaders of organically produced and fairly traded shea butter. Harvesting and processing shea nuts is arduous, but women shea nut farmers and butter producers in Ghana often get a low rate of return on their product. A lack of information on commodity markets, limited financing options and poor supply chain traceability means producers are subject to market instability and limited ability to negotiate on price. “Shea is a great example of sustainability,” said Heino Kantimm, SAP’s chief expert on social sustainability and member of the StarShea Ltd. board of directors. “The trees grow naturally in the hearts of West Sahara…but there are huge inefficiencies in the supply chain.” **[Continue reading the original article about StarShea in Ghana on TriplePundit >>](http://bit.ly/17jZpjw)** Original post on [TriplePundit](http://www.triplepundit.com). [![SAP logo](/sites/default/files/Clients/Screen_Shot_2022-05-17_at_7.52.31_AM.png)](/profiles/sap) ### More from SAP ###### [At Davos 2026, Sustainability Was Everywhere, Just Not in the Headlines](/news/davos-2026-sustainability-was-everywhere-just-not-headlines) Feb 6, 2026 1:40 PM ET ###### [A C-Suite Framework for Climate Capability in 2026](/news/c-suite-framework-climate-capability-2026) Jan 26, 2026 1:35 PM ET ###### [10 Years On: Why Some Companies Have Managed To Deliver on Climate](/news/10-years-why-some-companies-have-managed-deliver-climate) Nov 17, 2025 9:45 AM ET ###### [Why COP30 Must Be the Delivery COP for Business](/news/why-cop30-must-be-delivery-cop-business) Nov 14, 2025 9:45 AM ET ###### [At COP30, Leaders Can Define the Next Era of Sustainable Finance](/news/cop30-leaders-can-define-next-era-sustainable-finance) Nov 12, 2025 11:25 AM ET ###### [Eight Ways To Power Your Sustainable Advantage With AI](/news/eight-ways-power-your-sustainable-advantage-ai) Oct 9, 2025 12:00 PM ET ###### [The ROI of Resilience: Supply Chains, Finance and AI](/news/roi-resilience-supply-chains-finance-and-ai) Sep 29, 2025 9:45 AM ET ###### [From Waste to Worth: Data Strategies That Drive Material ROI](/news/waste-worth-data-strategies-drive-material-roi) Sep 26, 2025 2:45 PM ET