A Fair Trade Company Makes Christmas Cards from Garbage in Nepal

Watabaran, a fair trade company has effectively used the city wastes to produce paper products and opened prospects of employment in a poverty stricken country like Nepal.

(PRWEB) October 5, 2005 -- When Bjorn Soderberg, the founder of Watabaran came to Nepal for the first time in 2001, the pathetic civic environment of the capital city Kathmandu disturbed him immensely. Though he had come to work as a volunteer teacher he couldn’t help wondering at the city that was drowned in scrap and litter, rotting dead animals and plastics, strewn batteries and food.

“I saw the magnificent Nepali ecosystem decay in mountain of garbage and clouds of exhausts. I couldn’t just observe this passively. Therefore I gathered my friends and started doing something about it seriously” says Bjorn Soderberg.

Thus, the fair trade company Watabaran was started four years ago in Nepal. Basically, Watabaran produces products such as Christmas cards, business cards, calendars, notebooks, gift boxes and paper bags and sell to companies and organizations. It has been manufacturing Christmas cards especially for companies since the past four years. As a result, it has made its mark in the wholesale market of Christmas cards and is aspiring to extend its market all the more.

Nepal, a country agitated not just politically but in every aspect is a difficult place to earn a living, especially for the poor. In such a situation, Watabaran opens employment opportunities for socially challenged people and on the other hand it utilizes the city wastes and litter to recycle paper. Kundra, an artist in Watabaran says “I would like to run my own company in future to give others the same opportunity that I myself got in Watabaran.”

About the company:
Watabaran, which means environment sustainability in Nepali, is a self sustained fair trade company established by Nepalese and Swedish youth. It recycles paper and strives to create a better environment and employs people from discriminated groups. Further, it provides salaries above average along with other facilities like paid maternal leave, union rights, medical insurance, etc. It exports its products in wholesale to organizations and companies all over the world. It is a company working for sustainable trade. For more information visit our site http://www.watabaran.org or give us a call.

Contact:
Bjorn Soderberg, founder of Watabaran
Watabaran Org Nepal
Handmade paper products and Fair Trade
http://www.watabaran.org

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