ORIBAGS INNOVATIONS (U) LTD

Using agricultural wastes to manufacture hand-made paper bags, printing paper and jewellery
Sustainable Agriculture
Kampala
Uganda

Oribags Innovations, established in 2008, is a social and environmental enterprise that manufactures hand-made paper bags, printing paper and jewellery from agricultural wastes. It recovers waste paper and natural fibres in an environmentally-friendly way to transform them into products for the local market. Agricultural waste is collected and purchased from local farmers and other groups. The raw material is processed at the incubation centre of the Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI). At present, the products are marketed locally and primarily sold to supermarkets and small craft and gift shops. The paper bags provide a better alternative to the environmentally-hazardous polythene bags used in packaging. These include gift bags, boxes and stationery products in over thirty (30) shapes, sizes and prints. 


Oribags Innovations has also been featured in national and international media.

TV2 Africa http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoymJQgOHS4

Urban TV Uganda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxnaFPHTAWk

BBC News Africa https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKB2a9YMFU0

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
Oribags empowers the local communities economically by sourcing agricultural wastes from farmers and providing skills training on using the waste to make eco-friendly products (paper-bags and jewelleries).

  • Empowering women and youth by providing training in paper making, jewellery manufacturing and entrepreneurship skills.

 

  • Producing eco-friendly paper bags as an alternative to the environmentally hazardous polythene bags.

 

 

  • Creating employment for the local communities in the production process.
  • Increasing the additional income of the farmers by purchasing agricultural wastes from them.

Partners

Oribags Innovations is a private enterprise initiated by a research institution and local NGO to manufacture hand-made paper bags, printing paper and jewellery from agricultural wastes including wheat straw, elephant grass and other natural fibres. Oribags offers an eco-friendly alternative to polythene bags and empowers women entrepreneurs.

Oribags Innovations Ltd. is responsible for waste collection, processing and marketing the products.

Uganda Industrial Research Institute provides processing facilities and technical support as well as marketing support.

Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association supports the initiative in terms of networking, mentoring and entrepreneurship training.

Local farmer groups provide raw materials and benefit from skills training and outreach programmes.