Chu Chu, which means 'plastic' in Burmese started in 2013 with just two workers, and now sells its products in Yangon and across the country (Source: phys.org) Hanoi (VNA) – The Myanmar-basedsocial enterprise "Chu Chu" has turned discarded clothes and rubbishinto attractive handy accessories that drew the attention of many tourists.
Coffee sacks are woven into baskets and oldtyres are refashioned as belts, some of the 60 products on offer at theorganisation's shop in Dala, a short ferry ride from the bustling downtown ofcommercial hub Yangon.
By making things that are good quality, wellconstructed, nicely designed and beautiful, and can be considered useful, itsstaff are trying to change the way of thinking that recycled things are old anddirty.
Chu Chu, which means "plastic" inlocal language, started in 2013 with just two workers. Now it employs 45 localwomen and their products are sold at souvenir shops in Yangon and across thecountry.
Even the shop itself is made from reusedwaste. Plastic bottles cemented together form the walls and a roof made fromold tyres provides insulation and protection during the punishing seasonalchanges. The team suffers no shortage of raw materials.
For the moment, most customers are foreigntourists as Myanmar is still a long way from embracing recycling or recycledproducts, says Managing Director Wendy Neampui.
Myanmar has seen a huge spurt indevelopment over the last few years after emerging from half a century of juntarule in 2011. But the increase in the availability of consumer goods has alsocaused waste levels to skyrocket, clogging city streets, fields andalleyways.-VNA
