Values + Principles
avoid landfill at all opportunities
We’ve all heard the phrase now; there is no “away” when we throw things away.
One of the most enlightening experiences you can have is to visit a landfill site especially in the middle of summer. You will never forget the smell. Experiencing the rubbish that will stay there forever. The little bits of plastic and broken up bits that will take possibly forever to break down. It’s simply revolting.
Maybe we should not have rubbish bins, maybe our waste should be compostable or recyclable (see cradle to cradle below).
minimise wastage
Simple design with minimal off cuts or waste in production.
re-use as much as possible
onestring can be washed if dirty and used over and over and over ...
repair when broken
The original bags I made have been used for 3 years, and still work even with holes in a few of them. The tulle netting is quite stable and holes don’t spread quickly. It is still recommended you look after your bags and avoid sharp pointy objects to prolong their life.
Repair any small holes if they cause you problems. Yes needle and thread!
recycle when beyond repair
Okay so you've tried fixing and it can’t be repaired anymore? Don't throw it in the bin! It's time to find a new use for it - perhaps it will still serve to protect veggies in the garden. If you really can't find a use for it, don't throw it away, recycle it instead!
While this nylon is not currently recyclable, it is hoped to one day use a material that is perfectly recyclable (see cradle to cradle below). Other materials could also be used right now, nylon tulle is what I have chosen to use for now.
transparency + honesty
onestringbag is not the perfect product - but aims to be honest and transparent about itself. If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me:
ideas [at] onestringbag [dot] com
constant review and improvement in sustainable practice
Apart from the bags helping to reduce a wasteful habit we have developed as we shop, onestringbag aims to become as sustainable as possible. Right now they are not perfect - but they aim to be one day.
no sweat shops
I am making the bags myself at the moment - and since I would not want to be a sweatshop worker, I would not want to treat anyone else that way either. I put “homemade” on the label. The word “handmade” I think is slightly misleading. It suggests a human touch supposedly not found in mass goods.
But even mass manufactured textile products are “handmade” and sometimes “homemade” too. Those are human hands operating those industrial sewing machines too. Just they have to make a lot more “stuff” for a lot less money.
onestringbag is not a registered nosweatshoplabel or fairwear brand, but please start looking for this label and asking for it. Help support fairness in production with the choices you make when you shop.
www.fairwear.org.au
www.nosweatshoplabel.com
cradle to cradle
Cradle to cradle is a set of principles by which we completely rethink the way we make and dispose of things. Go read the book now.
But put simply: either at the end of it’s usefulness to us - an object should either be able to go back harmlessly into the nature cycle (be readily compostable and feed new plant growth) or should be perfectly recyclable (a technical nutrient for an industrial ecology to be made into new objects).
onestringbag is not yet made of a technical nutrient, but I am currently investigating how this might be possible one day.
