In combating plastic waste, Toteally Green offers a fashionable alternative

AMMAN — Customized and hand-painted designs on pure cotton tote bags are rapidly becoming the default replacement for plastic bags. Environmental friendly shopping bags have become popularly used in the world as a more environmentally responsible way to reduce plastic consumption, however, plastic bags are still widely used in Jordan.اضافة اعلان



(Photos: Handouts from Janna Al-Sou’b)

“My main purpose is to help reduce the amount of plastic use in Jordan, so in 2019, I decided to paint on natural cotton tote bags and doing customize bags,” Janna Al-Sou’b, founder and owner of Toteally Green, said in an interview with Jordan News.

Soub studied international management MENA in London for three years, and during her studies she realized that sustainability, climate change, and plastic pollution were topics little discussed in Jordan.


(Photos: Handouts from Janna Al-Sou’b)

“I work on 100 percent natural cotton tote bags. I paint my designs on canvas and then sew it onto the bag,” the founder explained.

“Toteally Green”, a combination of the words “totally” and “tote”, aims to offer sustainable, ecofriendly bags. “I felt like this name is really suitable for my business,” she said. Her goal is to encourage the use of sustainable bags, or at least raise awareness for the overuse of plastic and encourage people to make ecological choices in their daily life. The plastic used in Jordan is not recyclable, and a simple change from single-use to reusable bags can make a big difference in environmental protection, she contended.


(Photos: Handouts from Janna Al-Sou’b)

The fashion business has grown into a powerful force that caused harm to the environment, Soub highlighted. “This is especially true in the case of fast fashion, a trend that emphasizes rapid change and consumerism,” the founder stressed. However, a new trend, she said, is tote bags, which are a fashion statement as well as a positive environmental choice, she explained.

Toteally Green offers a number of products alongside tote bags such as pencil cases, according to the owner, who said that she wants to expand the size and color selection of her bags.


(Photos: Handouts from Janna Al-Sou’b)

The founder added that she is working on launching a website in order to take more orders. “I will create my own designs because taking custom orders is time consuming,” she said.

Toteally Green tote bags are handmade from natural fibers like cotton and canvas, and Soub explained that she avoided using any chemicals in the manufacturing process to reduce the environmental impact.

“It is our responsibility to bring awareness about the environmental impact of using plastic, and part of my proceeds go towards environmental charities,” Soub concluded. 


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