Plastic bans. [Photo/Care2]When plastic bags ban move by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources was announced on March 14, many Kenyans thought there would be a crisis. In fact, the ban was projected to adversely affect profit margins of companies producing or consuming the bags.
Although many consumers of the product gazed at negative economic projections following the edging out of the relatively cheap commodity, the ban saw the rebirth of companies producing customised bags.
Textile industries grabbed the opportunity to produce alternative carrier bags that are cheap, durable and made from local raw materials. The giant textile industry player, Thika Cloth Mills took the challenge of producing alternative carrier bags and introduced a slot of producing carrier bags that are 100 percent cotton and through outsourcing small-scale stitchers across the country has consequently managed to create jobs for over 230 cottage industries that had previously collapsed.
According to General Manager Tejal Dhodia the buy Kenya, build Kenya slogan has been the driving force behind her over 900 workers who produce high-quality textiles from cotton sourced from over 22,000 farmers from as far as Mombasa, Embu, and Meru and they are now supplying cotton fabrics to small-scale tailors who are in turn making high-quality carrier bags for sale in local supermarkets. Tulips Collection is one among many companies that were reawakened by the ban after three years of no operation.