In a city where thousands of ‘rag pickers’ or ‘sweepers’ collect kilos upon kilos of rubbish from households and from the streets every day, how much do Delhiites know about the trash they generate and what happens to it once they throw it in the bin? How much do they know about the destination of those hundreds of wooden carts as also of the people whose livelihood depends on them, or the overflowing toxic landfills that contaminate their city’s air, soil and underground? Not enough. How much do they care? Hopefully, with the help of initiatives like Green the Gap, more and more.

At Green the Gap, we encourage people to think about the issues surrounding waste production, disposal and recycling. We encourage them to rethink their shopping habits, to change their attitudes regarding waste disposal and to make conscious consumer choices.

Green the Gap

Green the Gap, established in 2008 by Delhi-based NGO Swechha, uses waste materials to create a range of high quality attractive products. It does so by creating employment opportunities for disadvantaged people and, simultaneously, benefitting the environment. Green the Gap buys waste from the city’s rag pickers and waste markets and has hired and trained 8 tailors to ‘upcycle’ waste material such as old tires, tetra packs, rice sacks, waste fabric and leather into innovative coasters, notebooks, stationery, handbags, wallets and other accessories and home items.

The highly skilled and experienced tailors employed by Green the Gap belong to underprivileged backgrounds and are employed under Fair Trade conditions. Many have come from large factories in Delhi where both pay and working conditions are often sub-standard. As part of its commitment to trading fairly, Green the Gap not only creates full-time opportunities for economically disadvantaged tailors and craft workers, but also pays them fair wages, provides them with decent working conditions and enables their capacity building. It also guarantees fair prices, uses no child labour or forced labour, ensures transparency and accountability, undertakes good trading practices, and upholds the principles of non-discrimination, gender equality and freedom of association. Green the Gap products are of a very high quality and demonstrate just how much reusable and valuable waste is disposed of in the city.  

Additionally, Green the Gap helps promote and distribute products from other commendable social initiatives, such as Haathi Chaap (which makes great products from elephant dung), Saasha (which works on empowerment of women from rural backgrounds), Lakshya and Jugaar (which work on generating employment and helping street children), Prabhat’s Trash to Cash, Rasa skincare products, Beeja’s carved frames, Prerana handicrafts and Organic India’s tea.

Words into Actions, Actions into Words

Most people may not have the resources or the time to volunteer for a good cause, but Green the Gap gives them the opportunity to make a difference to the environment as also to social change on an everyday basis. When buying from Green the Gap, you become socially and environmentally conscious consumers who support and spread the word about these products and the issues that surround their creation. You are able to make a difference simply through your consumer choices.

In addition, a portion of the profits raised by Green the Gap are used to fund Swechha’s (www.swechha.in) active citizenship programmes and environmental awareness projects. Swechha’s initiatives raise awareness and educate young (and older) citizens on the urgency of action towards the improvement of waste and water management in Delhi and the world. It makes them realise their potential as agents of change and provides them with a platform to be that change.

You can also be a part of this change and of a world where nothing is wasted and everything is recycled. Visiting Green the Gap is just an easy way to start. q

Vanessa Spencer
Senior Programme and Communications Coordinator
Swechha – We for Change Foundation
vanessa@swechha.in.