Eco-Bags Products, Inc. opened for business in 1989 with a simple goal; to produce quality bags at great prices so that "Reusable becomes a way of life." We started with the ECOBAGS® Brand Classic String Bag, a simple lightweight, expandable cotton net bag used in Europe for generations, long before paper and plastic bags. We introduced our bags at the 1990 Earth Day celebration on Sixth Avenue in
New York City. The bags were a hit and we sold out in four hours! We understood that single-use plastic bags are wasteful and costly to the environment and citizens and that "bringing our own bags" (BYOB) would make a difference. We imagined the reusable bag movement growing but we didn't know when it would tip. We were called "social change agents" and "pioneers" for bringing a radical concept to market (mostly through the natural products industry.) We believed, as we do today, that bringing our own bags to the store is the first step of many steps toward creating a world with less waste. Today, there are movements all over world, banning and taxing single-use plastic bags, creating a "reusable-revolution." Everyone is beginning to understand that when you "throw away" a single-use plastic bag, there is no "away" and that wanting to live in a clean environment means you need to participate in keeping it clean. Films like "BagIt" are reaching into communities and schools with this message. Local and state governments are crafting legislation. It's time. Everyone wants to participate in "cleaning up the planet one bag at a time.™"
Here's what we're doing now -
ONLINE: Our online store offering all of our classic bags at great prices plus curated products by other manufacturers we think are worth it. WHOLESALE - RESALE/RETAILERS: The ECOBAGS Market-Collection; Ready To Rack classics in retail packaging or, our complete line of bags available with hang tags only. CUSTOM PRINT: From Retail & Brand promotions to organizational or personal events - we custom silk-screen with eco-friendly inks on our ECOBAGS® totes. Choose from different sizes and styles - from drawstring bags to lunch bags, to full size shopping and promotional totes in sustainable fabrics. MADE TO ORDER: From concept to production, we are a custom bag makers, bringing our creative and production team together with your designs and brands, to deliver quality goods produced in socially responsible and certified locations. (SA 8000, SGS, GOTS). RETAILERS NATIONWIDE and WEB E-TAILERS: You can find ECOBAGS® Brand in natural foods, gourmet, eco, grocery and drug stores and online. If you cannot find our products in your local store - please send us the name of the store and we'll reach out and make contact. Send the information to: [email protected], subject line - "contact my local retailer, please"
Eco-Bags Products, Inc. is a certified BCorporation and Woman-Owned Business. We are members in good standing of Green America, The Organic Trade Association, the Green Spa Network, Westchester Green Businesses and The Westchester Business Council. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
ECOBAGS® brand products have always been produced in socially responsible environments, even before "social responsibility" was a buzz term. We were very fortunate to find ethical production partners for our brand, in India, more than twenty years ago. Not only do our partners adhere to local labor laws (no-one under the age of 18 is employed, proper ventilation & working conditions) but they go beyond the minimum by offering extended health coverage, retirement benefits, pension plans (under government programs), vacations and holidays. Additionally, our CEO and Founder, Sharon Rowe, has made several trips to India and, over the 20+ years, has become very close with the partners and their families, creating lifelong relationships. Their children were young when ECOBAGS® began and now, they're either in or graduated from college. With "Social Responsibility" getting so much media play it's important to hold certifications as a socially responsible company, reviewed and recognized by a third party agency. Our organic goods are certified through GOTS and are produced in the same location with the same workers as our our natural and recycled fiber goods, so that the certification for social responsibility is applicable to all work completed. Our factory is also certified with SA-8000, an internationally recognized certification. As we extended production to China, we have policies in place to review and receive certifications to make sure that everything (labor, materials and environment) is in full compliance. To date we have used SGS as our third party certifier on projects. And, for production in the United States we adhere to the same rigorous standards. We feel it would be ironic to create a product that is a step in the right ecological direction with a labor pool that is not well compensated or in a location that is not sustainable. We're a certified BCorporation with a triple bottom line: People, Planet, Profit. Fair Wage
Fair Wage standards mandate that wages and benefits for a standard working week meet, at a minimum, national legal standards or industry benchmark standards, whichever is higher. This higher standard is meant to cover the basic living needs of the employee and allow for some discretionary income. You will find this text, "Fair Wage/Fair Labor" printed on the care tag of all ECOBAGS® brand products. Fair Labor
Fair Labor monitoring investigates social conditions of manufacturing sites including the safety and hygiene of facilities and prohibits excessive working hours, discriminatory practices and child labor. Fair Trade: N/A
Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries and promote sustainability by advocating the payment of a "fair price" as well as adherence to social and environmental standards. Fair trade's strategic intent is to work with marginalized producers and workers in order to help them move towards economic self-sufficiency and stability. The products manufactured by Eco-Bags Products, Inc. are manufactured directly and therefore not purchased or "traded" so this certification does not apply.
