Disclaimer: The kind folks at Bazura Bags (www.bazurabags.com) sent me the awesome items in this post to review. I was not paid to write a post. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

Hi, y’all! How are you on this beautiful April day? Fantabulous, I hope!

I’m sharing my thoughts on Bazura with you today. I hope you enjoy the photos and my reflections on this company, what they’re doing for the environment, and maybe you’ll even want to order something for yourself!

I love what this company promotes and stands for.

Check out this press release (my review follows):

BAZURA BAGS BRINGS ECO-FASHION TO AMERICA
  Stylish Bags & Accessories Handcrafted from Recycled Materials
Toronto, Ontario (June27, 2006) – On the heels of the thriving organic movement, eco-fashion is gaining momentum in North America. Much of the surge of consumer interest is due to the fact that the latest eco-fashion products place equal emphasis on quality and style as they do with environmental benefits.

  Bazura™ Bags (

www.bazurabags.com) is a social entrepreneur that is proving that one person’s trash is another’s treasure. The Toronto-based company has launched a line of high quality bags and accessories handcrafted by a women’s cooperative in the Philippines from colorful discarded juice containers that would otherwise clutter landfills, fields and streets in their community. While the company has a compelling environmental and social story behind the product, Bazura Bags were carefully designed to be chic, high-quality, functional, durable and stylishly colorful.

  The line of Bazura Bags introduced to the U.S. features more than 80 styles that serve many functions. The company’s most popular designs are coin purses, messenger bags, lunch bags and purses. New styles include camera and cell phone bags, key chains, placemats, cosmetic bags and fruit baskets. The fun collage of colors that are the signature of the Bazura line are derived from the attractive labels of the juice containers they are made from. The eye-catching brand labels feature slogans and exotic fruit names like "Sun Glo" and “Zesto.” The recycled juice containers also impart a hint of fresh fruit scent.

www.bazurashop.com. For more information about the company and its social mission, please visit www.bazurabags.com.

About the Company

I’m in awe of Bazura and how they’re taking what most consider as trash and using it to not only create super cool products, but to provide employment and to educate children on how to reuse what’s already available to help preserve our beautiful earth. 

From the Site:

Welcome to Bazura Bags!

For the past 8 years Bazura.Biz has worked closely with a Women’s Co-operative in the Philippines, who collect used juice containers, recycled rice bags and discarded advertising banners. The Co-op then has their members transform this trash into hand bags and accessories.

The collection of this trash helps clean up the environment in and around Manila and through out the Philippines, while eliminating tons of material from local land fills. The use of Bazura’s many Shopping and Tote bags also helps eliminate the use of disposal plastic shopping bags which produce millions of pounds of waste that clutter our environment, clog our landfills and use huge quantities of petrol chemicals in their production. Bazura recommends that everyone switch to environmentally friendly bags.

This past September 2009 the Co-op was devastated by Typhoon Ondoy. Two of their members drowned during the typhoon and scores of the members’ homes were flooded. Many donations from the Co-op’s buyers and friends have been collected and, with great determination and hard work, the women of the Co-op have repaired their headquarters and most of their members’ homes.

Bazura.Biz is very proud to work with and support this marvelous group of women.

Note: Bazura.Biz donates an additional five percent of its total purchases from the Co-operative to their Foundation’s Scholarship Fund as well as continued support of their Disaster Relief Fund.

Woven Key Fob

Cute and fun! Check ‘em out HERE.

Bazura Bags

The MW-2 Stripped Messenger Bag is really cool. This bag can be used for carrying books, personal items, or whatever you wish.

“Aluminum Beverage Bags from Bazura Bags are handcrafted in Vietnam. These bags are constructed using recycled aluminum soda and beer cans. The aluminum is backed with vinyl, then shaped, edged and hand stitched.” – Bazura

Crochet Place Mats

These place mats are fun, colorful, cheerful, and are easy to clean up – just wipe off, dry, and leave on the table or keep packed up for picnics!

Pros

Bazura products have a long list of pros. Below are just a few that impress me.

• eco-friendly
• fair trade
• anti-sweatshop
• train children to recycle
• reduces trash sent to landfills
• encourages environmentalism
• bright, cheerful, fun designs
• creative (re)use of items considered as trash
• “donates an additional five percent of its total purchases from the Co-operative to their Foundation’s Scholarship Fund as well as continued support of their Disaster Relief Fund.”

Bazura products are also perfect for fundraisers!

FUNDRAISERS

“Over the past few years, BAZURABAGS have achieved remarkable success as fundraising items.

Parent associations from both public and private schools as well as environmental groups, seniors residences and youth clubs have organized successful fundraisers using BAZURABAGS.” — Bazura

…and much, much more!

Well, see for yourself.

Read… 

 The Story

Every day, children from the local schools collect   over 50,000 used drink containers, called doy packs, then sell them to the co-op.  The bags are sanitized and the women sew them together into attractive, durable bags.

We estimate that millions of these containers get thrown in the trash everyday in the Philippines. Until we find a way to recycle them, or stop using this material altogether, we would like to reuse as many empty drink containers as possible and, in the process, support fair trade.

The Co-op has recently started  to collect used  Rice Bags and discarded Advertising Banners and transform this trash into beautiful hand bags.

The Women

Unlike most third world factory workers toiling away in sweatshops, these women are entrepreneurs and shareholders. They work for themselves and have a positive impact on their community and, at the same time, they encourage environmentalism.

We are proud to promote their enterprise.”– Bazura

Cons

Hmmm… I always try really hard to think of the pros and cons because I do strive to give honest, heartfelt reviews. I cherish that y’all trust and value my opinion and I desire to keep things that way. The only thing I can truly think of as a con with these products and/or this company (as far as the environment is concerned) would only be the shipping aspect. (But that can’t really even be considered a con because all companies have to ship!) Everything else seems to be green.

Verdict/Grade?

Let’s give Bazura a big, fat…

A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m confident that Bazura is doing all they possibly can to promote recycling and eco-friendly living. And I think it’s wonderful that they provide a wholesome work environment for their employees (anti-sweatshop!) and that they’re teaching children to walk lightly on Mother Earth.

Bravo, Bazura, bravo!

You can contact the Bazura Company HERE or browse their online shop HERE. Read about their shipping policy HERE.

Have you ever heard of Bazura Bags? How do you feel about the eco-friendly process of recycling materials to make bags, place mats, and other cool items? Do you recycle? Would you purchase recycled or other green merchandise? Chime in and share your juicy, green thoughts!