1 Happy Planet is proud to import products from Ghana. We feature messenger bags in three sizes made from recycled plastic. To find out information about our source in Ghana please link to trashybags.org or continue reading.
Ghana's drinking water, yogurt, ice cream, and milk come in plastic sachets. Many of these sachets end up discarded in the streets, where they arrive in the sewers. When it rains the trashy sachets cause flooding and standing water, which increases the risk of malaria and other diseases. The solution: hire 150 people to collect and wash the discarded sachets and employ up to 50 more people to sew and assemble the messenger bags. The employees were previously unemployed and/or homeless. Each bag sold in Ghana includes an educational brochure. Each bag sold by My Messenger Bags includes this story of a way to put people and trash to work.
At mymessengerbags.com we believe the way to make the world a better place is to invest in companies that are employing and training people to do quality work. This company is also doing its part to recycle by cleaning up trash and making quality products. Although I have not yet visited the factory, a friend of mine has. She reported a clean, well-run organization with no waste. Although they are not Fair Trade Certified, this company is doing a great job.
If workers require loans for housing, the company provides interest-free loans, which are repaid from their salaries. Currently, the company has up to $5,000 (USD) out on loan to the workers.
There is a hierarchy within the work force; everyone has access to a supervisor. The supervisor can take issues to management if necessary. Occasionally the workers are asked to come up with new ideas for products. Then there is a competition to give the workers an opportunity to vote for their favorite designs. Winners get prizes and the products are then put on sale in the showroom and offered for export.
The company has purchased land on which to build and is working with lenders to come up with a plan for subsidized mortgages and an architect to develop low-cost housing. This new project is still in development.
