Ukraine's pro-Russia separatists have been fighting government troops in the country's east for more than a year now, and while the situation is still very much in flux, one tangible sign of progress has emerged in the last few months: Ukrainian companies are starting to sell to Western companies again.
That's thanks in large part to software giant SAP, which in March 2016 announced its "Source from Ukraine" initiative, which aims to "support the economic reconstruction of Ukraine by increasing procurement spend with Ukrainian companies while simultaneously promoting sustainability and innovation," per a press release.
The IT sector was the focus of the selection process, with industry leaders such as Softserve, Unicsoft, and Luxoft among the first to be selected, per the release.
The initiative has since expanded to include products such as candles and tea, and Releaf Paper, the world's first manufacturer of paper made from fallen leaves, was one of the first to be added to the list.
"By doing so, SAP not only contributes to the economic recovery of Ukraine but also promotes social change and sustainability," the release notes.
Releaf, for example, produces candles out of recycled coffee grounds, whileMol'far Tea focuses on sustainable tea production, per the release.
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