Beaucoco
We are thrilled to be working with our latest supplier Beaucoco and thought you would like to know a little more about them. All of their product range can be found in the Upcycled and Fairly traded Women’s Jewellery Collection.
Beaucoco- Your Collection
Does your organisation adhere to following principles?
• Fair Trade: Yes• Ethical Trading: Yes• Recycling: Yes• Use of Organic materials: Yes
Please give details as we would like to know how your products make a difference to lives of the producers:
Beaucoco was established in 2007 to design and sell contemporary ethical jewellery made from discarded materials and handmade by disadvantaged groups around the world. We have two groups that we work with at present producing two very different styles of jewellery.
1. Coconut Jewellery
The coconut jewellery is made on the remote tropical island of Rodrigues, 650km east of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. The jewellery is made by a group of disabled creoles who work in a not-for-profit organisation founded nearly 20 years ago by resident Englishman Paul Draper, MBE. The island of Rodrigues suffers from very high unemployment and this organisation offers security to people who have very few other opportunities. The organisation also runs a small school for the disabled children on the same site. Coconut was chosen as the material for the handicraft as this is one of the few resources available in excess on the island. Beaucoco has added sterling silver and semi precious stones to create an exclusive range of jewellery that reflects the natural habitat of this beautiful island.
Making Earrings, Rodrigues, Indian OceanYou can find out more about the producer group and make donations by visiting www.gplslc.free.fr
2: Recycled Plastic Jewellery
The recycled plastic jewellery and bags are made by an NGO based in the slum belt around Delhi. The organisation works with “ragpickers”, the poorest women, who earn money from scavenging the city dumps for things that can be resold. These women have been organised to collect old plastic carrier bags and they receive a premium for unusual and bright coloured varieties. The women wash and stitch these bags into patterns which are heat processed to form a sheet of manmade recycled plastic. The women then make fashion bags from the material and the organisation has enjoyed a good deal of success with this production. By adding some recycled buttons and a little sterling silver, Beaucoco has designed a fun range of jewellery that can be produced from the off cuts of the bag production.
Making the manmade recycled plastic, Delhi India.
Your organisation’s membership:
Does your organisation hold Fair Trade certification, for example, BAFTs, IFAT, SA8000?
No
Does you organisation hold organic certification? For example, SKAL, Soil Association?
No
Do you have any plans to grow further in this area or achieve accreditation?
Yes, in time.
Use of materials within your organisation:
What materials does your organisation use to produce your collections?
Main components: discarded coconut, recycled plastic bags and buttons.
Additional materials: sterling silver, glass and few semi precious stones
How are your materials sourced?
Main component: collected locally by groups.
Additional material sourced in USA.
Does your organisation use environmentally friendly materials for example: recycled materials, organic or manmade biodegrable?
Yes, see above.
Does your organisation use packaging that is made from recycled or sustainable materials that are recyclable?
All packaging 100% recycled or recyclable.
For how long have you worked with eco-friendly principles in mind?
Beaucoco established summer 2007
Has your organisation taken steps to look at its carbon footprint and/or become carbon neutral?
Not at present but it does have a small footprint.
Production processes
Does your company use manufacturers that follow the guidelines set out by the International Labour Organisation and respect the basic human rights of workers?
Yes/ No
Is every worker involved in creating, producing and marketing your label guaranteed a Fair salary?
Yes/No
Do you know where your raw materials are sourced from?
Please give details:
Yes, see above.
How the raw materials are prepared?
Please give details:
Coconut is cut, sanded and polished by hand or light machinery.
Plastics are washed, cut and heat pressed to form sheets of handmade recycled plastic.
How your products are manufactured? Please give details:
All products are handmade.
Has your organisation taken steps to source and produce locally?
Please give details:
One of the main purposes of Beaucoco is to secure work for disadvantaged groups in developing countries.
