While most Americans understand that carrying a reusable tote
instead of using plastic bags is an eco-friendly choice, few can
imagine the impact those plastic bags have on the
environment. According to a recent article in
the
Guardian, these plastic bags created such a dire situation in
India that the government outlawed their use.
True to Terralina’s philosophy of start-to-finish eco-friendly
products and packaging, we created a gift box that aids a group in
India committed to the environment, eradicating the millions of
plastic bags littering the streets and giving jobs to local women.
The grocery bags used were collected from Delhi
, India , where they had become a litter liability - clogging the
drainage system during the rainy seasons and posing a health
hazard.
Once the bags are collected, they go through a non-toxic cleaning
method, followed by an extraordinary process where they are
stripped and pressed to create a vibrant color without additional
dyes or inks. Our new gift packaging, a green
and purple open square box, is then made from these
bags. This 100% post-consumer recycled and
reusable gift box proves that one person’s trash can truly be
another’s treasure, and that going green isn’t as insurmountable a
task as once believed. Each Terralina gift box
is special due both to its beauty and its poignant socially
conscious message.
In addition to helping rid Delhi of its severe waste crisis, the
collection of these bags has created jobs for local home-bound
women, who previously were unable to hold a full time job while
watching after their children. The profits from
the purchase of the recycled materials are used to fund projects in
the poorest communities of India and help to feed between 400 and
600 families daily.
Years ago, we set out to create skincare products that not only
contained natural, safe and effective ingredients, but were also
available in packaging that reflected our eco-friendly philosophy.
These reusable gift boxes of 100% post consumer
recycled grocery bags are an exciting venture for Terralina and
true to our vision. 
While we don’t propose that every American start a crusade to
outlaw the use of plastic bags, we feel it’s incredibly important
that this Earth Day, each of us analyze our individual carbon
footprint and examine areas of our lives that can be adjusted to
improve the environment. If litter from the
streets of India can be made into a beautiful gift, just imagine
the endless opportunities to turn trash into treasure that lay
ahead…
So now we pose this question to you: in what ways can you
turn trash into treasure this Earth Day – and beyond?
For more information, please visit www.terralina.com .
