There are as many opinions about the City of VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 ban on plastic bags as there are old carry-allB次元官网网址檚 stuffed under the sink from last weekB次元官网网址檚 grocery run.
What there isnB次元官网网址檛 a ton of, however, are local entrepreneurs providing solutions that not only help the average shopper, but give back to the community at the same time.
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The first thing Kate Fleming thought upon hearing about the ban B次元官网网址� which took effect July 1 B次元官网网址� was retailers are going to need an alternative to meet the guidelines of the new bylaw.
So she launched , a B次元官网网址渨holesale reusable bag company with a conscience,B次元官网网址� back in April and the first shipment sold out entirely.
Fifteen per cent of the sale of each bag is donated to a local charity, and Fleming first chose Bridges for Women. Karebags will select a new organization every two months, B次元官网网址渟o the love can spread around a bit,B次元官网网址� she says.
| Courtesy Karebags |
B次元官网网址淲hat helps us to stand apart is that weB次元官网网址檙e a local company and IB次元官网网址檝e had the opportunity to actually get out into the community and meet with these small retailers,B次元官网网址� says Fleming, a recent graduate of the bachelor of commerce in entrepreneurial management at Royal Roads University.
Working part-time at the Victoria Women in Need Community co-operative, Fleming is much more at ease in the non-profit realm, and B次元官网网址渇eels foreign in the world of businessB次元官网网址� but Karebags perfectly blends the two.
In a cheerful hue somewhere between sea foam and teal, she has designed four different product lines that range in pricing and fabric styles including polypropylene, cotton and polyester.
B次元官网网址淣o one fabric is perfect and it has to do a little with the customerB次元官网网址檚 preference,B次元官网网址� she explains. B次元官网网址淎s we grow, [weB次元官网网址檙e] making sure we have that end of life plan for the product.B次元官网网址�
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Businesses can choose to have their logo printed on the bags, there are no minimum orders, and special deals are available for trial runs. Fleming was also conscious of her wholesale price to keep in line with the $1 to $2 limit retailers are required to charge customers.
B次元官网网址淚f weB次元官网网址檙e talking about reducing waste and putting the right product out in the marketplace, they need to be tested by the businesses and work for the businesses so theyB次元官网网址檙e not just stored in a warehouse somewhere collecting dust,B次元官网网址� she says.
Fleming anticipates the steps Victoria has taken to eliminate plastics will soon be the norm in cities across the province.
B次元官网网址淭he single-use plastic bag: its time is up.B次元官网网址�
To learn more about Karebags, visit them online at or follow them on and .
