B2b eco-friendly fashionable bags:

Banners to bags make recycling trendy

Anjalie GARNIER

Banners..Banners and more Banners. Just look around and that is what you see. We Sri Lankans are famous for banners. Not only in the heart of Colombo City but in the outskirts as well. True it's irritating at times but banners have become part and parcel of our daily life.

Some of the recyled bags on sale on March 28(Saturday) Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa

I am not going to talk about how to get rid of them. Instead how to put them to good use. The Cinnamon Grand Colombo has come forward with a novel concept to recycle their promotional banners which is about four to five a month and each costing at least Rs. 6,000.

"We never wanted to dispose of our flexi banners in the conventional way, either by dumping it in a landfill or burning it because those are simply not responsible options. We are very conscious of the role we play in being a model corporate citizen and have always been aware that our actions must walk the talk," explained Cinnamon Grand General Manager Rohan Karr at the media launch to announce this new recycling project after nearly two years of research.

It is a positive development to see banners which are non-biodegradable and something useless recycled to make trendy bags of various sizes, shapes and colours.

The overall concept of the going green project is Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Karr said the proceeds by selling these eco-friendly, trendy bags will go to charity, for children at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital.

Vice Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Professor Munasinghe said "The Cinnamon Grand is the brainchild of the most unique recycling initiative, transforming banners to bags for the first time in Sri Lanka".

Professor Munasinghe shares the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with other IPCC Colleagues and with former US Vice President Al Gore, for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.

Professor Munasinghe said he had no hesitation in recommending this eco-friendly project for an international award.

"This is value added out of waste. Up until now banners were disposed of in an unsound way. They clog drains resulting in the outbreak of fatal diseases like Dengue. Thus we face numerous social and economical difficulties."

Recyling Banners to bags(B2b) has also provided sustainable employment opportunities like employment for retired tailors and the other sewing team. "Innovative projects like this remind us to what extent the private sector can contribute towards the betterment of society. The situation is not hopeless."

Since Sri Lanka imports five containers of bags every month these recycling bags would reduce our expenditure drastically.

Karr said John Keells Holdings Companies have already agreed to supply all their market promotion banners which can be put to good use.

He invited all other corporate institutions to take this exciting project forword for a better tomorrow.

Cinnamon Grand Public Relations Manager Tharika Goonathilake said about 350 trendy bags of varous sizes, shapes and colours will be on sale on March 28(Saturday) at Cinnamon Grand lobby.

It is the responsiblity of all citizens to give a helping hand to this novel project by purchasing some of their bags the proceeds of which goes to charity.