Small Steps, a unit of Upasana Design Studio in Auroville, is another green initiative to address the environmental problem caused by plastic carry bags.
Launched on April 22, 2007, the Small Steps story, though, is not just about eco-friendly bags, but also of women empowerment. Women from more than 14 villages work to make the ‘Small Steps’ bags.
“We started Small Steps with the local community in the villages to create livelihood and to create awareness towards our small contribution to ecology,” says Uma Prajapati, founder of Upasana Design Studio.
The materials for the cloth bags are sourced locally and women from more than 14 villages are involved in making the bags. The bags are made of 70% cotton and 30% polyester and can carry up to 7 kg.
On a rough estimate, a person carries approximately 25,000 plastic bags home in his life. The focus is on a single act of “not carrying a plastic bag daily home” having a positive impact on the environment and the idea that small steps can drive a big change.
“It is not only about replacing plastic bags, it is also about changing ourselves, learning new values, taking responsibility, loving our mother earth, making a better world. It is our love in action. Auroville becomes the place we practise this love. The departmental store or restaurant or shopping where one can rarely find plastic bags,” says Vidhi Bhargav, coordinator of Small Steps.
Small Steps has now started a simple and bulk use line which is cheaper, and a separator bag for vegetables.
“We have gone online which has added to the sale of these bags. Our cloth bags are popular as ‘petit sac de Auroville’ in Europe,” Ms. Prajapati said.