Dewathang s Zero Waste Craft Group Case Study

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Ophelia Lane
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1 Dewathang s Zero Waste Craft Group Case Study Karma Dema & Taylor Cass Stevenson The Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative 2016

2 Background Waste generation is an increasing problem in the small Himalayan country of Bhutan, now one of the world s fastest developing economies. Increased access to, and consumption of, plastic-packaged and synthetic goods has resulted in the mass dumping and burning of materials that are harmful to both humans and the natural environment. The import of synthetic foreign products, like handbags, also undermines the local crafts industry and, with it, age-old traditions based in waste prevention and reduction. In an effort to raise awareness about the ecological, health and economic problems associated with nondegradable goods consumption and disposal, the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative (SJI) established a Zero Waste Program in The program s most successful outreach strategy has been in the training and establishment of a Zero Waste Craft Group in Dewathang, which creates attractive products from waste materials as a means of drawing attention to complex waste issues. The craft group conducts waste reduction awareness and craft trainings throughout Bhutan, also practicing waste reduction, like material segregation at source, in their own homes. Approach The Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative s Zero Waste Project, under the direction of US waste reduction and crafts development specialist Taylor Cass Stevenson, began its work by investigating Bhutanese crafts and traditions that already serve to reduce and prevent waste. This enabled them to identify craft traditions and products that could be revived in a contemporary context with reused materials. The team also identified commonly used products that are typically imported and made from non-degradable materials, and that could easily be replaced by products locally crafted from reused materials. See the appendix for product samples. Taylor and SJI coordinator Tshering Dukar began working in 2013 to apply reused materials to traditional craft techniques, while conducting trainings with the local population and assessing interest in the establishment of a craft cooperative. Women were interested, but were hesitant to commit the time needed to learn the techniques without promise of a viable market for the goods. In 2014, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, renown Buddhist leader, ordered 200 plastic bottle shoskom baskets from SJI. This provided the incentive that local women needed to master plastic bottle weaving techniques, and resulted in the establishment of the team s 10 founding members, initially earning them about 200,000 ngultrum (almost $3,000 USD) over a period of six months. Five additional women then joined the group. The group is primarily comprised of unemployed women in need of supplemental income. All but one knew how to weave prior to joining the group, but rarely sold their woven goods. Two of the women are moderately fluent in English, though most did not receive much schooling and none studied higher education. Since 2014, the women have been trained extensively in reuse weaving techniques, sewing, product development and pattern making, shoe repair, color selection, marketing, book keeping, waste reduction and the health hazards of waste dumping and burning. In 2015, SJI s Zero Waste Coordinator Cheku Dorji worked with the group to establish by-laws, which have helped formalize the group and ensure regular group meetings and monthly financial contributions for materials purchases and self-help group loans. The women currently work out of their homes, and sew on machines that are housed in the homes of three group members. They sell their work in Dewathang, Samdrup Jongkhar and Thimphu, and maintain a shared bank account in Dewathang. 2

3 Outcomes In addition to receiving extensive media coverage, the group has successfully established sustainability and now operates independently of the Samdrup Jongkhar Initiative. Their products have received national recognition and are popular both in Bhutan and among tourists. The craft group and their products also provide SJI and the local community with an attractive means of delivering waste-related education. The group trained artisans in Pemathang, Bhutan, leading to the establishment of another zero waste craft group in Bhutan s SE region. In addition to embodying the values of zero waste, the women have become the community s primary advocates for waste reduction issues, encouraging people to bring their own cups to community events and bring their own bags to the market. Craft group members and their children can frequently be seen collecting waste materials from roadsides for their crafts, drawing attention to the community s tendency to litter rather than utilize dust bins. They also collect materials from the market, neighbors and institutions. Their plastic bottle products are so popular that they have transformed the local recycling industry. Increased demand for green plastic bottles compelled local scrap dealers to raise the price for green bottles from 10 ngultrum/kg to 20 nu/kg. The group s activities also led to the establishment of a new local scrap dealer, who collects the group s remnants (bottle tops and bottoms) to sell in India. Since receiving sewing training in 2015, the group began repairing clothing, bags and other goods for the local community. They have also started sewing products, like kids backpacks, which they largely make from used clothes collected from the community. These practices not only reduce consumption of imported goods and labor, but they reduce the consumption of products made from non-recyclable synthetic material. The group s plastic bottle baskets have nearly replaced the use of imported, non-recyclable market baskets in Dewathang town (where the group is based), which sell for roughly the same price. About 6 months after the introduction of the bottle bags in the local market, SJI coordinators documented ratio of market bags in use along Dewathang s main road, over a period of one week. One can assume that as consumers imported products begin to wear out, people will increasingly purchase zero waste products. Colorful bags locally woven with imported, non-recyclable plastic strips Non-recyclable colorful plastic woven bag imported from Thailand Plastic bottle bag Number observed

weaving, which is still a vibrant industry, with those from various zero waste craft products.

4 A Dewathang boy carries his lunch in a bottle bag The craft group conducts workshops throughout Bhutan Sustainability To assess the economic viability of the group s zero waste products, SJI compared hourly earnings from the traditional practice of kira weaving, which is still a vibrant industry, with those from various zero waste craft products. In the table below, it s apparent that zero waste craft production is more profitable than kira weaving, assuming that the market for such products is maintained. 4

5 Product Raw material cost* Hours taken Selling price Earnings per hour Plastic bottle shopping bag Shoskom basket Plastic wrapper products Plastic bottle lunch box Traditional half kira textile *All monetary units in Bhutanese ngultrum Challenges and Recommendations Assuring harmonic relations within the group is challenging, especially when money is involved. Finding a central space for the women to work together as a group would build cohesion. Finding and maintaining markets is difficult in Dewathang, leading the women to slow their production. Then, when a large order is made, the group is unable to meet demand for their products. The women should be encouraged to maintain a large inventory of products. 5

6 Appendix: Products Wristlets and small purses 6

7 Wristlet Children s animal bag Hand purse 7 Side bag

8 Shoskom nesting baskets 8

9 Wristlet 9

10 Market Basket Side Bag 10

11 Cushions made from monks robes with plastic fill Cushions made from used clothing collected from the community 11

12 Clothing collection day Local monks help collect and wash plastics The group can fill custom orders, like these woven bottle windows for the local monastery s material storage facility 12

13 13

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