Turning Waste into Purposeful Products with Community
At Hara Makers, we believe plastic doesn’t have to end its journey in a landfill. With the right skills, creativity, and community collaboration, it can become something useful, meaningful, and lasting.
That belief came to life at the ASEAN Circular Economy Forum 2025 (ACEF), where we partnered with KWAP Malaysia to transform 2,567 single-use plastic bags into functional, upcycled event products.
Together, we created 200 sets of toiletries bags and name card holders, while providing skills, income, and empowerment to members of our community — proving that sustainability can benefit both people and the planet.
Project Overview: Circular Economy in Action
Large events often generate significant waste, especially from single-use plastics. Instead of allowing these materials to be discarded, KWAP Malaysia chose a more responsible path — turning plastic waste into reusable, purpose-driven items.
Over the course of the project, Hara Makers worked closely with community artisans and student volunteers to recover, clean, and upcycle discarded plastic bags into durable products for event participants.
The result?
Practical everyday essentials made entirely from materials that would otherwise be thrown away.
This is what the circular economy looks like in practice: reuse, repurpose, and redesign — rather than dispose.
From Discarded Bags to Everyday Essentials
Every pouch and card holder began as a used plastic bag.
The journey from waste to product involved careful, hands-on steps:
- sorting and collecting plastics
- washing and sanitising materials
- cutting and fusing sheets
- stitching and assembling
- quality checks and finishing
This was not mass production. It was craftsmanship.
Each piece was handcrafted with care, ensuring durability while celebrating the unique textures and colours of repurposed plastic.
No two products were exactly alike — and that individuality tells a story.
People Behind the Process
What makes this project special isn’t just the products — it’s the people.
Community Artisans
13 community members, mostly women, were directly involved in production. Through paid, skills-based work, they gained:
- sewing and upcycling techniques
- practical craftsmanship experience
- stable income opportunities
- greater confidence and independence
For many, projects like this create pathways toward long-term economic stability and dignity through meaningful work.
Student Volunteers
The project also welcomed 17 student volunteers, who helped sort, clean, and prepare the plastics.
By participating in the process, students experienced sustainability firsthand — not just as a concept, but as action. They saw how discarded materials can be transformed into something valuable through teamwork and creativity.
This blend of community empowerment and youth engagement made the initiative especially impactful.
Environmental Impact: Reducing Plastic Waste Responsibly
Plastic waste is one of today’s biggest environmental challenges. While eliminating plastic entirely isn’t always feasible, responsible reuse and upcycling can significantly reduce its footprint.
Through this project:
- 2,567 plastic bags avoided landfill disposal
- waste materials were repurposed into long-lasting items
- new virgin materials were avoided
- sustainable products replaced disposable alternatives
By keeping materials in use longer, we reduce resource extraction and promote smarter consumption — key principles of sustainable event management and ESG practices.
Why Organisations Partner with Hara Makers
Collaborations like this show that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right approach, waste can become opportunity.
By working with Hara Makers, partners like KWAP Malaysia can:
✔ Reduce plastic waste responsibly
✔ Create traceable environmental outcomes
✔ Support community livelihoods
✔ Engage youth in sustainability education
✔ Source meaningful, eco-friendly event products
✔ Strengthen ESG and sustainability goals
Instead of generic merchandise, organisations receive products with purpose — items that carry real stories of impact.
Every Product Carries a Story
Each toiletries bag and name card holder from ACEF represents more than functionality.
It represents:
- resilience
- creativity
- shared responsibility
- and hope
Hope that waste can be reimagined.
Hope that sustainability can uplift communities.
Hope that small actions can lead to meaningful change.
Let’s Create Impact Together
If your organisation is planning an event, managing plastic waste, or sourcing bulk sustainable products, we’re here to help.
Hara Makers transforms waste into measurable social and environmental impact through upcycling, community empowerment, and circular design.
Ready to turn plastic into purpose?
Partner with Hara Makers to create solutions that benefit people, planet, and community.
