Dec

Jeans2Totes: From old jeans to new beginning, sustainable tote bag by coastal women

Bangladesh is a significant hub for garment manufacturing, with jeans being a particularly high-demand product. However, producing a single pair of jeans consumes over 10,000 liters of water, leading to significant drops in water levels and adversely affecting agriculture. Discarded jeans also contribute to textile waste, a growing concern due to limited waste management initiatives in the country. This project tackles both environmental sustainability and livelihood challenges by empowering climate migrant women in coastal areas to recycle old jeans into reusable tote bags. Despite limited resources and training access, one training session has been conducted, with more required to build awareness around textile waste among the women involved. Initial challenges included resistance due to limited knowledge, but the project has successfully fostered economic empowerment for climate migrant women, reduced textile waste, and promoted sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics in the community.

The “Jeans2Totes” project has made a substantial impact on both environmental and social fronts. Through direct training, 25 women from the climate-affected coastal region of Batiaghata have gained skills to repurpose old jeans into reusable tote bags, providing them with an income source that enhances their economic stability and fosters financial independence. Environmentally, the project has reduced textile waste by recycling over 30 pairs of jeans that would otherwise contribute to landfill pollution. This initiative has promoted sustainable practices, with social media campaigns and workshops reaching over 4,500 people to raise awareness on textile waste, plastic pollution, and the 3R principles—reduce, reuse, and recycle. Additionally, through a unique tree exchange program, the project collected 25 pairs of jeans from community donors, encouraging a shift away from single-use plastics. By providing ongoing training to these coastal women, the project has established a sustainable foundation for future impact, achieving lasting social empowerment, economic advancement, and environmental benefits for individuals and the community as a whole.

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