I’m not Just a Bag

Posted on Fri Jan 4 2008

By: Ianto Everett in Environment

The plastic bag has become a major target for the green movement this year, and as well as cities such as San Francisco introducing a ban on plastic bags, designers have been knocking out eco-friendly, re-usable bags, emblazoned with slogans such as ‘I’m not a plastic bag’ – or more recently, the parody, ‘I’m just a stupid bag’; but for one Indian based business, the bags they produce mean much more than just replacing a plastic bag.

The Freeset Bags company, who craft carry bags and gift bags made from jute, was established by New Zealand couple Kerry and Annie Hilton with the aim of freeing Indian women from the sex trade.

During a visit to Calcutta, the couple accidently wandered into the red light district in the Sonagacchi district and saw women lined up shoulder to shoulder. So in 2001, the in 2001, the couple bought a building and gave jobs to 20 Sonagacchi sex workers, making bags for a steady income, instead of selling themselves on the streets – and by freeing mothers from the sex trade industry, they are also opening up opportunities for the daughters, passing on the freedom to the next generation.

The women were employed based on need, rather than experience, and were given the necessary skills to make the bags. Today the company employs over one hundred workers and has plans to expand the business in countries such as Afghanistan.

The Hilton’s are also aiming to expand the business in Sonagacchi in order to make a serious dent in the sex trade profits. "I dream of the day when people will walk through Sonagacchi and say: ‘You won’t believe this but this used to be a sex area’," says Annie.

Plastic bags are a blight on the environment, but with a business model like this, it proves that non-plastic bags can be beneficial for an entire community as well as the environment.

Comments

EviesEarth Says:

This is awesome as it addresses humanitarian and environmental issues. There seems to be more of these types of businesses being created over seas. I saw a show a short time ago about the same concept, except they were making shoes.