Trashy Bags, Accra, Ghana, West Africa

The nonprofit creative recycling organization Trashy Bags was founded in 2007 in response to Accra’s problem of plastic water and ice cream sachets (in Ghana, they drink water out of bags) littering the streets. Since then, it has picked up 20 million sachets and sewn them into attractive bags and gifts for sale locally and export abroad.

Trashy Bags creates a very visual statement about recycling, all while employing over 60 tailors and seamstresses, and works on various other projects to support the company and provide, among other goals, low-cost housing, environmental education, and youth job training.