Waste Not, Create More

Written by Caroline / 30 June 2009 / Read Caroline's latest blog entries.

After the inspirational examples from Darpana and Conserve about reusing plastic bags that the Climate Solutions Project is supporting, as well as Haathi Chaap's innovative paper from elephant and camel dung, we've found dozens more waste product solutions to share!

In Kenya, artists in the slums are making the most incredible necklaces out of rolled paper. They were a huge hit in Ahmedabad when I went to visit Darpana's amazing work there, both with the women, and with the amazing children there. We're working to see how we could train Indian women to make the same necklaces - though maybe they are already? Have you seen these anywere?

Artists in Madagascar are making incredible art - including my favorite baobab trees - out of old oil drums. The Passer'ailes Artist Community is cooperating with French fair trade agencies to distribute their products equitably, with artists making fair wages.

In Indonesia, XS Project is working with ragpickers and artisans to create incredible bags out of juice packaging, as well as toothpaste tubes. You can watch their video online about how everything is made in Indonesia. Ann Wizen works with people from the slums to train them to make basic bags that are affordable for even those creating them (a major problem in such crafts), while designer artisans are creating high end products like these bags, building confidence and skills so that all artists can move upwards in their careers. XS project has the same two simple missions that so many of the organizations do:

• Maximize the amount of waste we can take out of our surroundings and prevent it from polluting the environment.
• Maximize the creation of sustainable livelihood.

The Dutch Designer Lindt van der Poel is making designer handbags in Bali out of woven magazines under the mark of byLin, and won last year's Retail Design Award at the International Trade Mart. On her site, she says: "Her exclusive products are fair-trade and handmade by native handicraftsmen under her daily supervision. The small quality driven production meanwhile has attracted customers from all over the world." See more of her products online.

In Hong Kong, Cobaelle is also weaving newspapers into beautiful bags and purses.

And, in a slightly more practical vein, we found the amazing solar water heaters made of plastic bottles in China to be incredibly inspiring. Treehugger has compiled dozens of neat plastic bottle re-creations online, worth checking out too.

Do you know of more? Can you share? We're always keen to learn of more innovative waste solutions.