Today I sat in a friend's car and found that her macbook was kept in a very unique laptop case. It was made from water sachet bags with a nice zip. The inside of the case was lined with african fabric and cushioned with soft materials. It was remarkable. I asked where this was from and she mentioned Trashy bags. So I did a little research into the business.
It was started by a british international, Straut Gold, and his local business partner. The vision was simple, to gather as much plastic waste (mainly from water sachets and Fan Milk Products) and make as many innovative luxury and casual use products as possible. They have hand bags, shopping bags, pencil cases, backpacks and so many more products.
The designs are made here in Ghana.
source: intro
The process is picking/gathering the waste material from streets and dumps. Hand washing the gathered waste thoroughly in 3 stages. Drying the plastic waste in the sun. Then sewing them into usable sheets of plastic material. This is then crafted into one of the many designs made by the team. A single bag could contain up to 70 sachet bags; implying they have cleaned up the mess of about 70 Ghanaian whiles creating value for people.
source: process video
The company has employed over 60 Ghanians and has a show room in Dzowulu, with their factory in Madina. (yet to visit these places myself)
I really think this is a commendable venture. Cleaning the streets and recycling the products to create awareness and also give value to the abandoned trash.
I hope more recycling conscious initiatives like Trashy Bags flood our Ghanaian market. Until the culture of littering our streets is curbed. . . . we would need more of such companies to keep raising awareness and picking up the trash that some of us so carelessly drop on our streets.
Looking forward to getting a Trashy Bag product soon!!