Wollongong mum Jess Clark has launched a social enterprise called Earth Worthy that is supporting Bangladesh as well as Wollongong's refugee community through COVID-19.
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During Fashion Revolution Week and on Earth Day she put the word out about her new eco, ethical startup.
Earth Worthy sells blankets made by handloom artisans as well as sustainable juke bags made by survivors of the April 24, 2013 Rana Plaza Factory collapse in Dhaka that killed 1134 people and injured 2500.
Mrs Clark lived in Bangladesh for many years and is concerned about the survivors with COVID-19.
Her immediate goal is to donate all profits the new business makes. She is donating 50 per cent of the sale of the first shipment of jute bags back to Bangladesh as well as supporting SCARF in the Illawarra.
Mrs Clark said she was concerned many refugees have fallen through the JobSeeker and JobKeeper cracks.
SCARF chief executive Pippa Rendel said as result of the COVID-19 pandemic traditional sources of funding have been drastically reduced.
"We've had to make big reductions to staff hours at the same time as maintaining support to vulnerable community members as they navigate the challenging and ever changing new circumstances we all find ourselves in, and also shifting our existing programs such as homework help and befriending to remote modes of delivery," Ms Rendel said.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with new social enterprise Earth Worthy.. The funds raised will help us to maintain vital support for local families from refugee backgrounds."
Mrs Clark wants to bring hope to many people via her social enterprise/startup.
People can order Earth Worthy products via the website and specify where they would like the donation of profits to go.
Two Sisters Garage, Bulli and The Happy Fox, Warilla have come on board as local pick-up partners for the business so customers don't need to pay postage.
Mrs Clark may be busy as a mother of four year-old-twins and working as the community development manager of the Waterfront Project at Shell Cove.
But said she has wanted to found a business like Earth Worthy for as long as she can remember.
And now seemed to be a good time to do it and help people at this time of need.
"When I was 10 or 12, I would collect 5 cent coins. People didn't see any value in them and would happily hand them over. I had a little business plan called the '5 cent foundation'. I was going to collect every 5 cent coin and donate them to charity," she said.
"I imagined collection boxes next to cash registers in supermarkets and fast food chains. I had over $100 worth just from friends and family."
Mrs Clark's passion for people and the planet has led her far and wide.
She went from establishing training and employment programs for refugees in Western Sydney, to working on environmental campaigns on the outskirts of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
Now with her new start-up, Earth Worthy, she wants to create good for people and the planet.
"After living in Bangladesh I wanted to find ways to connect Australians with the incredibly rich artistic culture that I fell in love with," she said.
"Most Australians only interaction with Bangladesh is through the 'made in Bangladesh' clothing labels of fast factory fashion.
"With Earth Worthy, I've been able to combine the goal of creating beautiful and truly sustainable products that do not bring harm to the environment in the process."
"It's not about charity. I wanted to find something that would empower people, value their craft and give opportunities to build stronger and more resilient communities".
With Earth Worthy Mrs Clark is working alongside a local Bangladeshi social enterprise that was set up to support survivors of the 2013 Rana Plaza garment factory collapse.
One of those former garment workers is Nupur, a mother of three caught inside on the day the factory collapsed.
After 72 hours trapped in the rubble, rescuers pulled her out and laid her in the lines of the dead, not realising she was still alive.
After recovering in hospital, Nupur struggled to keep herself and her family afloat, but the invitation to participate in the social enterprise came at just the right time.
Mrs Clark said five years later, Nupur is an experienced artisan and entrepreneur, working closely with the organisation to supply overseas orders and enjoying the profits from her own labours.
Earth Worthy, is working closely with Nupur and the team.
"I didn't want to compromise and partner with a company that was 'just making bags', because that's not what Earth Worthy is about," Mrs Clark said.
"By designing and commissioning eco-bags for the Australian market, we can be a part of supporting workers, like Nupur, not with charity but with good business.
"Now, her small team have developed a sense of family as they work an eight hour day, not 12. Along with a minimum wage which has more than doubled in wake of the disaster to around 8,000 Taka per month.
"They receive an attendance bonus, health insurance payment and an equal share in 20 per cent of all the profits.
"They also stop work once a week to take part in two hours of education".
Another of Mrs Clark's passions is helping to protect the environment.
Earth Worthy is helping do that with jute.
The shopping and produce bags Earth Worthy sells are made entirely out of the natural fibre grown prolifically in Bangladesh.
Jute crops only take four to six months to come to maturity, much quicker than alternative natural products like cotton.
And jute-farming actually leaves the soil richer at harvest time.
The fibres are also strong and long-wearing and completely compostable at the end of their life.
"I have poured my heart and soul into this project," Mrs Clark said.
"Juggling work and motherhood to set up this new business is difficult, with many setbacks along the way, including this current pandemic. But I've done it because I believe it's worth it.
"A genuine 'no plastic' shopping bag that is 100 per cent compostable at the end of its life, all while supporting new entrepreneurs in beautiful Bangladesh.
"This is an opportunity to make a real difference and work with incredible people."
Mrs Clark said COVID-19 poses a big threat to people living in Bangladesh.
But they have proved themselves resilient time and again, and we can use our wallets in Australia to support the workers.
Bangladesh is presently in lockdown which means many people cannot work at the moment.
But just before the country wide shut down, Nupur and her fellow artisans sent their first shipment of bags to Australia.
They were designed by Earth Worthy as a genuine 'no plastic' grocery bag.
"By designing and commissioning eco-bags for the Australian market, we can be a part of supporting workers, like Nupur, not with charity but with good business".
Mrs Clark said the blankets are also a great product.
"They are made by really skilled artisans. Their craft has been passed down through the generations," she said.
"They would make a really meaningful gift for Mother's Day. They are so well made they are something they will have and be able to cherish for a long time".
Mrs Clark said she wants Earth Worthy to be a self sustaining business that is profitable in its own right and not reliant on any funding.
"But we are definitely a social business and want to give any money we do make for good. By using a fair trading supply chain everyone is benefiting from the business," she said.
"And we are really focused on an ecological outcome as well. We try and do everything in the greenest possible way.
"One of my big goals is to help rid Australia of plastic bags".
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