80,000 tons of flexible plastic packaging are manufactured each year in Indonesia. Thanks to environmental activist Ann Wizer, that trash is both the inspiration and material behind a line of everyday items (think credit card holders, mini make-up bags, shopping bags, shoulder totes and laptop holders) fashioned out of consumer waste. All items give new meaning to the term “eco chic,” and a portion of each purchase goes to the XS Project, a nonprofit organization that raises environmental awareness and helps trash pickers—those who source the raw material— and their families.

Indonesian trash pickers are a mostly “invisible” group in the work force, surviving on little more than $35 a month per family.  XSProject buys consumer waste from the trash pickers, giving them additional income, and then trains craftspeople to clean and sew together pieces of the packaging to make new items.

I was absolutely flabbergasted when I watched this video that shows the amount of plastic trash floating in Jakarta’s waterways, and the huge sacks stuffed with non-recyclable plastic that each trash picker was carrying. Please, take a minute and watch:

And now, take a minute and visit the XSProject Shop. Not only are the prices really reasonable, these are really stylish items you’ll be proud to carry. There are three lines – Minis, Classic, and Fresh. I received a Secret Business card holder and a Beauty and the Beast Small makeup bag (my choices from the Minis line) from XSProjectUSA for my review, and now I am telling EVERYONE that they need to buy them!

Secret Business holder, $12.00

Beauty and the Beast Small, $16.00

Check out the Classic and Fresh lines for Totes, Laptop Bags and Sleeves, Pencil Cases, Homework Folders, Lunch Bags, and more. This is a company that needs to be encouraged and supported!  I hope you’ll consider it for your next purchase.