Large banded handwoven bag handmade from recycled juice packs with clasp closure

Handwoven from recycled juices box from the Philippines. It is a woman's co-operative of more than 500 women from Pasig City, Philippines formed in 1999. Their objective is to recycle non-biodegradable items, such as juice boxes into attractive, profitable products including colourful handbags and accessories. The co-operative currently provides a livelihood to 200 families, helping to generate much needed income for basic living expenses and education. 

Working with other local community leaders, the co-operative campaigned for for households to separate their recyclables and sell to the co-operative. The local council provided pushcarts and weighing scales and, as well, established an Ecology Centre. 

They organize 15 pushcarts that visit households to collect used food and beverage packaging that would otherwise clog water bodies, drainage systems and landfills. They sanitize these materials and transform them into over 20'000 products per month.

Of all the items collected for recycling, the ones that attracted their attention were the colourful juice boxes. These discarded drink containers became the raw material for various bags, finding new life as cheerful accessories. 

Purchasing these fairly traded juice bags and accessories directly supports this co-operative.