EWS Sale
The EWS Sale is a yearly upcycling program that aims to reduce waste and increase the appeal of upcycled, creatively reused, and repurposed products among consumers. This EWS Sale diverts stuff from the landfill. Plenty of items that were once en route to the landfill are reclaimed by some very creative people.
Impact: Reduce waste by Reusing and Repurposing
We’ve become so used to things being mass manufactured that we buy things as quickly as we throw things away. Upcycling is reusing discarded objects or materials to create a product of a higher quality or perceived value than the original. Upcycling reduces cloth and textile waste by reusing deadstock or gently used fabric to create new garments and products.
We are upcycling existing resources to reduce the use of any new raw materials in the production process. Aside from minimizing the volume of discarded materials and waste being sent to landfill each year, it also reduces the need for production using new or raw materials which means a reduction in air pollution, water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and often conservation of global resources.
EWS Sale Programme Structure
The Core Programme includes an Artisans Training Programme, EWS Upcycling Programme, Green Points, and the Upcycling for the Underprivileged initiative. The Artisans Training Programme improves the level of craftsmanship of the local artisans and provides creative insights to repurpose old stuff into usable products.
EWS Upcycling Programme
The EWS Upcycling programme diverts stuff from the landfill. Plenty of items that were once en route to the landfill are reclaimed by some very creative people. The Project also helps rural, tribal, and local artisans especially women to improve their livelihood through upcycling.
Upcycled Handmade Scrunchies are made from strips of gently used fabric that we collect from people. Each scrunchie is lovingly crafted from premium quality fabrics and due to the upcycled nature of this product, they are offered in unique prints where each one is prettier than the next.
We collect pieces of denim clothing from people that do not fit and we give them a new identity under our repurposed denim products collection. We re-use the denim clothing we collected to make the backpacks, tote bags, shoe bags, etc under the upcycling programme.
We make available premium quality repurposed products for people to buy during fundraising events. To increase the appeal, we highlight the product’s past identities because these are the beginning of their unique product biographies. Highlighting the repurposed product’s stories is a model for pushing pro-environmental behaviors without stressing their pro-environmental benefits.
Upcycling for the Underprivileged Initiative
We have been upcycling and donating the products to create a combined impact by reducing waste, conserving natural resources, and at the same time benefiting the underprivileged sections of society.
Upcycled Scrunchies Gifted to Marginalized Women
We gifted upcycled scrunchies to specially-abled women. We collected gently used fabric from people, upcycled them, and made scrunchies. We have upcycled over 4000 scrunchies and have been gifting them to marginalized women.
Upcycled School Bags made for Underprivileged Children
We collected pieces of denim clothing, upcycled them, made school bags, and gave them to unprivileged children. The school bags are made from high-quality pieces of denim and will help children living in vulnerable conditions to keep their belongings, especially those related to the school, secured from being lost or damaged.
Green Points
Green Points are tokens of trade generated by a computation algorithm. One green point is equivalent to $1 USD. The idea is to use technology for binding upcycling activities, services, and product purchases inside the EWS Project. Consumers can use Green Points to buy items from the EWS Product Catalogue.
Green Points are awarded to artisans who supply or contribute items to the EWS Catalogue. Consumers can also pay for upcycling services through green points. Participants can use green points to buy seeds from the EWS product catalog and pay for the service to set up an organic kitchen garden in the home. Participants can make compost from kitchen waste like fruits and vegetable scraps, supply their homemade compost to the foundation, and earn green points. In addition, Green Points are awarded as rewards to Project Participants under different projects of the foundation.