Tosheka Textiles has established a system to reduce environmental pollution in Kenya caused by plastic bags. They collect clean plastic bags and produce handcrafted bags, accessories, and household products which provides employment for hundreds of women. They have removed two tons of plastic waste from the environment to produce 1,000 bags per month for sale in Kenya, the US, and Germany through retail stores, wholesale, and online. Their goal is to mirror recycling programs that have removed plastic bottles through an incentive system for community collection of bags.

1. Tosheka Textiles
614 N. 32nd street
Phila., PA, 19104
215-387-2742
Herman Bigham
Em: hblj2@aol.com
www.tosheka@toshekadesigns .com

2. In Kenya, the proliferation and disposal of plastic bags is a huge
environmental problem and polluting nuisance to cities and rural
environments causing health hazards and even death to children and
animals. They are consumed daily by the public with no effective means of
being disposed.
Tosheka Textiles has set up a system to dramatically reduce environmental
pollution in Kenya caused by the lack of effective collection and recycling
systems for plastic bags. Our project is called “Creating Recycled Treasures”.
It aims to remove this most prominent and far reaching environmental and
health problem.

3. We have established a replicable system for reuse, recycling and retail
collaboration with major retailers in Kenya to collect clean plastic bags
and produce hand crafted high fashion bags, accessories and household
products for the global market.
We have establish a national program that includes government and
community organized cleanups and collection activities, reuse and
incentive recycling programs. The incentive system will provide monetary
rewards for community based collection and reuse of bags and will mirror
the “system” that has successfully removed plastic bottle waste from our
streets. This system will be funded by retailers, government, business
sponsors and the income generated by recycling.
Our value proposition is established through
our exclusive line of high fashion hand crafted
bags & accessories made with eco- friendly
materials & processes that provide long-term
employment for hundreds of poor woman. Our
customers appreciate the sum of values that
our product & compelling story offers. We can
currently produce one thousand bags each
month from the two tons of plastic waste
removed from the environment.

4. We are beginning to sell our products through retail, wholesale
and on line in Kenya, USA & recently presented our products at
a major trade show in Germany.
Our sales strategy is price driven with different products made for different
market segments and in making a connection of our clienteles’ product needs
with our brand name. We initially targeted the local market of high-end
supermarkets and tourists with disposal incomes and that are fashion and / or
environmentally conscious. We are now securing orders for export to the USA
for spring and summer 2013 and expanding our production to meet this
broader export market.
Our primary target customers are in the moderate-to-upper
moderate income level fashion conscious customers that may
also be environmentally conscious and socially responsible.
These customers access our products from our strategic
partners’ supermarket retailers, hotels, specialty stores and
tourist shops, exhibition shows, our website and online store.