Coiled Recycled Poster Bowl
100% recycled paper
Reviewed by Jo on 12 September 2008
Rating: 
Adopted from a traditional basket-making technique, this bowl is made using rejected posters and magazines from a printing company. Artisans form the paper into flat strips, dip them in a glue mixture and hang them to dry.After this they re-wet the strips and coil them into a bowl form. The strips are held together with glue, forming a sturdy bowl. Each bowl is completely unique depending on the materials available.
 | Made from recycled materials |
 | Minimises the use of pesticides / fertilizers |
| Fairtrade |
| Aussie made |
| Sustainable |
| Minimises chemical use |
| Lifecycle impacts considered |
What does this table mean?
Options -
There are two sizes available:
Small - 27cm D x 5 cm H (AU$26)
Large - 34cm D x 6 cm H (AU$34)
Where to buy
The bowls are available through the Dharma Door website.
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Raw material - Rejected posters and magazines which otherwise would be recycled or disposed of. |
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Manufacturing – The bowls are made by Mai Vietamese handicrafts. This non-profit organisation started in 1991 as a program for street children in Ho Chi Minh City, aiming to assist poor and neglected children who could not afford to go to school due to lack of legal papers or lack of money for tuition. Mai handicrafts gave them work and encouraged them to attend informal classes. Now that all children are admitted to formal school free, Mai Handicrafts provides work to their mothers and older sisters to improve the family income. The sales fund various community development activities, including clean water projects. The paper and poster material is folded by hand and dipped into the glue mixture. They are let to air dry. The strips are then dipped in water, coiled and glued by hand. Fair Trade certification (and labelling) does not exist for craft products, only for commodities such as cocoa, tea and coffee. However, there are ten standards of Fair Trade which relate to working conditions, wages, child labour and the environment. The activities of the Mai Vietnamese Handicrafts organisation have been reviewed against these standards and the sustainability of operations has been reviewed by Dharma Door. |
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Distribution – Currently the rejected posters and magazines are obtained locally in Vietnam where the bowls are produced. The bowls are shipped to Australia in bulk and distributed within Australia by Australia Post. |
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Product use – The bowls are designed to contain dry products or to provide an ornamental table piece. They can withstand some heat and moisture, however it is advisable not to get them wet. |
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Waste management - The reject magazines and posters require no treatment prior to use. At the end of their life these bowls can themselves be recycled and are also biodegradable. Packaging is minimised during distribution and packaging material used to transport the pieces from Vietnam, is recyclable. |