Cornwall's own jute bag supplier's first year

Well we've just turned one and it's been a great first year. We've kept a fairly low profile concentrating on the transparency of the business and getting the right environmental and ethical issues sussed from the start. For those who don't know Go Jute was born because one of the major UK jute bag suppliers let us down big time on a number of ethical levels as well as losing interest in our 'just as' important smaller clients - so we set up Go Jute to know exactly what our product is about and to make sure anybody could have branded jute products. With an ethics marque due in the first quarter of 08, a 100% carbonzero status arranged by Leap Media and Co2balance directly with our suppliers in India. With a traceable offset through investment in renewable energy community projects in Kenya (lighting and bio-gas).

Our customer service hasn't been great as far as we are concerned but we're addressing that rapidly with the appointment of our ace new design and marketing manageress. And she'll be full time and able to respond rapidly be it costs, deliveries, order update, samples or media and ethical/environmental statements). But don't worry Gary will carry on his brilliant work with sales and logistics and I will do all the creative direction as well as continually pushing for more ethically lead environmental aspects both with our operations in India and in the UK. As always focusing around our lovely county of Cornwall.

Five things for 2008. Leap Media www.leapmedia.co.uk (who just won awards at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards for best SME and Overall Winner and has even been called in for a 'meeting of minds' session with IKEA in january 08) and Go Jute are taking over an office and shop front in Alexandra Road, St Austell, Cornwall. More details to follow.

Two, New full time employee, yippee ... and as said she's creative, she's on the ball and she's full time... ace!

Three, we're waiting to get confirmation on becoming part of a very nice and right up our street eco-support scheme. All being well we'll be a member by March.

Four, We hope to have been awarded an ethics certification subject to passing of references from clients and suppliers to a panel.

Five, As Go Jute was born of Leap Media's client demand for jute products, that demand is now proving strong with clothing, promotional goods and office items so with partners and our own 7 years of eco-experience we will be launching an additonal site within Go Jute with lots of great eco products. Again more details to come as we finalise products and traceability issues.

Six, Subject to costs at the end of 08 we will be looking at a full traceability audit, a little different to other audits though as once done it becomes part of an ongoing website showing our whole supply chain from plant to you! It will mean an area of the website where you can see everything up front at any time. But as said this is subject to cost negotiations. We are new and this is something we want and believe all companies should have but it will mean a major spend for Go Jute that would normally be done by the likes of Waitrose etc. However we do want you to be able to see just how transparent a company can go.

Oh one other, we'll get the website working but we won't be doing single bag orders etc. However if you catch us on a bright and breezy day there is a good chance we'd still help you out!! There's loads more but I've written way to much. So instead I'll attach a photo of me (looking dumb) and Claire our Leap Media designer who has designed the Go Jute website and handles most of the bag designs and preperation for print. The shot was taken for the Objective One funded scheme Unlocking Cornish Potential. And has very nicely been in the press alot and appears on numerous websites. Shot taken by Simon Burt of Apex.

Have a great start the the new year and we hope to see or hear from you all over the course of 2008. Thank you for working with us and for assisting in making the environment plastic bag free and friendly. Matt, Gary, Clare, and Claire.

ps Thanks also to Gary's dad and brother Nick who have been excellent in sorting some of the paperwork and finance side of the business and advising us.

pramacare

Charity shows that eco bags can be chic

Local home care charity Pramacare was delighted to launch its very own environmentally friendly shopping bag on the same day as the Wimborne Ban the Plastic Bag Campaign launched.

"Pramacare started in Wimborne 25 years ago", says Pramacare spokesperson Fiona Julian. "The Wimborne Ban the Plastic Bag Campaign was the perfect opportunity for the charity to lend its support to local councillors who have sponsored Pramacare over the years and to launch its own special limited edition jute bag too."

Like many of the Wimborne town councillors, Town Mayor Cllr Anthony Oliver is a Pramacare supporter. He adds, "Pramacare was my charity of the year when I was mayor back in 1992 and I've followed its valuable work of help and care, helping people to remain living independently in their own homes."

The Pramacare jute bags will be available from the charity's five shops in Verwood, Ferndown, Winton, Tuckton and Canford Heath. They cost just £4.99 and with only 1000 bags in this style available, once they're gone they're gone.

For further details call 01202 599199.


Pramacare was established as a charity at Christchurch Hospital in 1982. The late Dr. Chris Moran realised the enormous need to support people at home and enable them to live independent lives. Chris’s vision was to provide Pain Relief and Management, from where the PRAMA name originated. Today the remit has broadened to include Personal Care. Pramacare currently has more than 200 care attendants who help around 700 people each week in the local area. They provide practical help from domestic jobs to personal care and night sitting. Pramacare understands that each person is an individual with individual needs and seeks to provide practical compassionate help, as though its care attendants were one of the family. Through its charity shops, ongoing fundraising, sponsorship & donations Pramacare endeavours to subsidise the cost of care it provides in order to meet the needs of as many people as possible.
www.pramacare.co.uk