Since mid-August, our women artisans in Shillong have upcycled about 1,000 kg of plastic waste. Now, the focus is shifting from making products to understanding what customers want. Much of the plastic starts in the artisans’ own homes. They bring in what they have collected, and local vendors top up the supply, so sorting waste has become part of daily life well beyond the workshop.
The team has developed nine product categories, including tote bags, sling bags, bottle bags, and pouches. Rather than expanding right away, they are preparing to gather customer feedback at an upcoming exhibition, which will guide future designs and production.
The programme also took a key step toward long-term community ownership by submitting the artisans’ documents to begin forming a cooperative society.
With support from Smart Village Movement, EcoKaari, and Bajaj Electricals Foundation, Resource Reborn is turning discarded plastic into products, skills, and enterprise opportunities.
About Smart Village Movement: The Smart Village Movement is a collaborative process facilitated by the Smart Village Movement non-profit organization with the UC Berkeley-Haas Center of Growth Markets to create a Smart Village ecosystem. In partnership with Government, Academia, Corporations, and Rural Communities, they foster independence and sustainable rural development in Indian villages and other emerging markets. SVM aims to empower rural people through digital technologies and open innovation platforms to access global markets.
About Bajaj Electricals Foundation: Bajaj Electricals Foundation is the CSR arm of Bajaj Electricals, and works in tune with the company’s mission of “enhancing quality of life and fostering environmental sustainability”. Through strategic collaborations with employees and partner organizations, the Foundation implements impactful programmes that drive lasting, positive change in communities. Our mission is to safeguard the environment while uplifting societal well-being, embodying our core purpose: ‘Better Planet, Better Life.’
