Ethical trading policy

EcoBags Limited is a family run company specialising in the design and supply of custom made, logo printed re-usable bags.

We require our manufacturers to adhere to the principles set out below.

"EcoBags", as a company, has a strict policy to only work with one dedicated (exclusive to UK) "Manufacturing Partner" for each of the material types used, thereby ensuring that we can be sure of traceability and quality of product.

The "manufacturing partner" of our high quality jute bags is based in Kolkata, with Envirobags (NWPP) being made in Fuzhou.

We are proud to be able to say that the directors of EcoBags Limited take theses principles very seriously – they are not just set down on paper for effect – and indeed have conducted a full review in Kolkata with our "Manufacturing Partner" with a view to working with the Fairtrade Foundation to establish guidelines & rules for the Jute industry, which is currently unregulated.

"Ecobags" Principles:

  1. Employment must be freely chosen and not "tied", with any worker free to leave if they so desire.
  2. No child labour to be used at any stage of the production process, this includes growing of the plants used for processing into bag material fibres; Harvesting of said plants, processing of the harvested plants to produce Fibre for material production; Milling of the plant fibre to produce the material for bag production and in our dedicated Factory Units in Kolkata and Fuzhou.
  3. Wages paid are to be fair and represent a realistic living Wage.
  4. Working conditions are to be safe, hygienic and offer a comfortable environment, being well lit and ventilated.
  5. Working hours to be reasonable with good breaks available. We were delighted to be able to see the facilities available to workers in the factory in Kolkata, here they not only have access to a large external " Green Field Site" where they are able to play Cricket and relax, but also have use of a TV room here they are able to watch whatever they like – usually cricket ! There are also adequate toilet & shower facilities, aswell as a Temple to allow for praying at set times of the day.

In summary, "EcoBags" are committed to ensuring that all bags we supply are ethically made and this is one of the reasons we are not the cheapest, because we pay top rates to our "Manufacturing Partners" to ensure that their workers are paid good wages and work in comfortable environments.

Jute bags are by far & away the major part of the "EcoBags" range, which is why we focus much of our time on this portion of the business.

We are delighted to work so closely with our "Manufacturing Partner" in Kolkata who celebrated their Diamond Jubilee in 2008, having been established by the current MD’s Father in 1948, the year after India gained Independence from the British Empire.

They have grown to become the only Jute House in Kolkata who can say that they deal with every type of Jute product throughout almost every country in the world.

They are committed to:

  1. Working with "EcoBags" exclusively in the UK.
  2. Working with us & the "Fairtrade Foundation" to establish guide lines for the establishment of Fairtrade rules to govern the Jute Industry (thus far an unregulated industry)
  3. Working towards ISO 9001 accreditation for their Jute Bag Manufacturing in Kolkata.