Our mission is to

CHOOSE To reduce plastic waste

CHOOSE to save the environment

CHOOSE to reuse and recycle

Set up by our friend Carol Hine, my sister Annette and myself as we were appalled at the amount of plastic carriers which were still being used by shops. Now, we know we can’t save the world by ourselves, but we can all do our bit, so we set to with our scheme which we decided to operate through the shops in our area.  

Getting together with Carols ‘Millhouse Makers’ group one day we set to and made some bags to a pattern we found on the internet.  Then we all went ‘off-piste’ and the design has become very freestyle!!  There are bags with pockets, bags with jazzy handles, suede bags, canvas bags, bags of every colour and design, all very individual and all recycled.  

We realised that we all had plenty of ‘bits and bobs’ hanging around to make bags without buying materials and after a short advert in the parish magazine a mountain of ‘bits and bobs’ appeared from the back of cupboards and end of projects!!  Bags started to appear made from offcuts, the unworn patch from old suite covers, old curtains, plenty have been made from recycled valances from a local hotel and have become a very popular ‘bag of choice’!! 

Diane Scott at Hesket Newmarket Shop has been very supportive and has been promoting the scheme and is delighted with the response from customers. ‘Everyone is very impressed with them’, she said, ‘It’s a brilliant idea and saves a lot of waste being created’. She even had a young customer who has a fascination with colours and textures who enjoyed sorting through the selection and found her favourite bag, Diane added, ‘she loves to have a look through the pile of bags every time she comes in’.

 

The photograph above shows a customer with her ‘Bag of Choice’ which she brings back with her every time she shops, she also told us that she ‘buys’ them as presents for her friends.

“They are delightful, so well made and such a great idea”

So far this year we have given away over 200 bags and they continue to be made by our volunteers and used in the local shops.  They are supposed to be given away for free but many folks have generously given a donation which might have been needed for the odd roll of cotton, but it hasn’t! All the money donated so far has gone into the Hesket Newmarket Community Shop fund so it’s been a marvellous community effort – again!

If you have the time and inclination to help with this scheme, please get in touch and join the Bag Ladies – Bag Laddies welcome too!!  With all our reusable and recycled bags, we are doing our bit for the environment and getting one step nearer to zero waste around here.  The area has already proved it is unique so let’s continue by example.

For more details: Philippa 016974 78555 philippamrgroves@gmail.com