With the city Corporation deciding to trash plastic bags, residents are stocking up on paper and cloth bags for a hassle-free shopping experience.
“I have started carrying jute and cloth bags. Although we are not sure how many shopkeepers will follow the rule, I have decided not to accept plastic carry bags from them. If there is a law, we are bound to follow it,” says singer Rajalakshmy.
Since recyclable and reusable bags are the need of the hour, an exhibition and sale of bags, Go Green Expo, organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, which is currently on at Sree Chithira Thirunal Park, East Fort, is attracting footfalls.
Teeming with entrepreneurs selling cloth sling bags of different sizes, jholas, totes and purses made of old saris and fabric leftovers, multi-coloured, sturdy, colourful paper grab bags ...the expo is creating a new trend in bags. Homespun entrepreneurs are bagging orders by the thousands from commercial establishments.
For instance, Divya Sreekumar’s Zodiac, her paper bag manufacturing unit, has grown by leaps and bounds over the last three years, with Divya herself handling the marketing and other aspects of business. “I had a steady job. But I wanted to do something on my own, a venture that would benefit the society at large. Now I employ 30 women and I am also contributing my bit towards the environment,” says Divya. Hotels, boutiques, lifestyle stores, government establishments and many other institutions are her regular clients. “I have taken an exporter’s licence and got my first international order recently!” she smiles.
The expo has also given a space for newbie entrepreneurs of all kinds. Craft ‘N’ Cotton, a cloth bag-manufacturing unit at Muttada, showcasing colourful cloth bags in the shape of strawberries, balls and purses, have been made by five homemakers-turned-entrepreneurs, Geetha Devi, Renju O, Pushpa CK, Meera P Rajan and Uma.
“When the plastic ban was announced we wanted to do something about it and that’s why we attended training class conducted by the Corporation,” says Geetha.
Product range
Colourful bags in various shapes and sizes are meant to cater to different kinds of customers. Titli, a venture begun by Praveen P and Santhosh Kumar, has bags ranging from tiny ones to carry flowers and the like to temples to roomy ones to carry vegetables and groceries. They already run Kaagaz, a paper bag brand, with products targetting a wide range of customers.
Levelcross, a green initiative, has sturdy big bags made of unbleached cotton, jholas, pouches and slings. “We have 35 kinds of cloth bags. Although we are based in Malappuram, we now have a store in Sasthamangalam. We are now working on a model meant to purchase fish,” says Visakh, who works with the venture.
Looks like these entrepreneurs, the Corporation and environmentalists are finally on the same page. Simeact Tailoring and Craft Centre, Poonthura, Karunya, a Kudumbasree unit at Santhivila, and Pioneer from Kovalam, are some of the small units determined to help residents to dump the plastic bag. “We were given training by Kalliyoor panchayath. We recycle fabric pieces to make bags and so our bags come with myriad prints and in different colours,” says Marykutty, a member of Karunya, which has been regularly supplying bags for events organised by Department of Tourism.
Consumers are assured that the eco-friendly bags can take on the plastic bags. “Many wonder whether the paper bags are strong enough. I personally use these bags regularly. Now I’ve got bulk order from schools for our big brown bags to disburse books and uniforms when schools reopen,” says Divya.
Meanwhile Corporation officials are gung ho about their efforts to find replacements for plastic bags. They say that the expo has boosted the confidence of carry bag manufacturing units.
“We organised this expo with an objective to tell the people, especially vendors, that alternatives are available for plastic carry bags. Looks like the message has reached them and many shops have placed orders with these units. The Corporation will soon open a cloth and paper bag manufacturing unit. Our strength is the support of residents’ associations,” says Anoop Roy, health inspector with the Corporation.
Check out
* At Thanal’s stall, shop for stylish bags or drop off an old synthetic sari, pay Rs. 10 and get a cloth bag in return; Uphar, an NGO, teaches people how to make paper carry bags. Exchange an old sari for 10 cloth bags
* Go stylish with colourful jute and cloth bags from Sanchi
* Kottayam-based BagMaster has on display a paper bag-making machine and also gives instructions on making the bags.
