BlueAvocado has partnered with BuildASign.com and Open Arms to launch an eco-friendly, upcycled bag collection just in time for Earth Day - the Banner Bag Collection by BlueAvocado. The collection consists of unique one-of-a-kind bags made from donated vinyl banner waste from BuildASign.com, which is then transformed by women refugee war survivors working for Austin manufacturer Open Arms into unique hand-made products. The bags come in two styles, tote and messenger, and can be ordered in black and white or multi-color. Each bag repurposes roughly six square feet of vinyl, is lined with 100% upcycled t-shirt material, has seat belt strapping and provides roughly an hour of employment for a refugee woman. These eco-friendly bags are now available for purchase at www.blueavocado.com/bannerbags or www.wearablehope.com for an introductory price of $49.99.

“We’re excited to introduce the Banner Bag Collection to the public and let them see what all the buzz is about,” said Amy George, CEO of BlueAvocado. “The partnership between our three Austin-based companies is a great sustainability case study on leveraging innovation to create impact. By utilizing a local supply chain and having a joint focus on recycling the excess banner waste, we have created truly unique bags that we are proud and excited to showcase.”

“As a result of this partnership, we have already hired a full-time employee dedicated to the Banner Bag Collection,” said Leslie Beasley, CEO of Open Arms. “The profound impact this project is making in the lives of the refugee women we employ is immeasurable. It gives them hope and a living wage job - both of which are essential for them to move forward with the next phase of their lives.”

This summer the Banner Bag Collection will be on sale at select Whole Foods Market locations and Staples.com - just in time for back to school. For more information about the collection, visit: www.blueavocado.com/bannerbags.

About BlueAvocado®
A lifestyle brand synonymous with thoughtful designs and creative solutions for a greener, clutter-free life. BlueAvocado’s iconic (re)zip family of products that minimize the use of disposable plastic baggies, and its reusable shopping and lunch systems exemplify the company’s commitment to smart solutions for life’s throw-away problems. The company strives to promote reusability and sustainability through its products, by engaging employees and community, and supporting local ecosystems with initiatives that alleviate poverty through microcredit in communities worldwide. To date, the company has avoided 128 million disposables, upcycled 3 million plastic bottles through its fabric, and empowered over 450 women entrepreneurs globally.  The company founded in 2008, is a certified B Corporation, headquartered in Austin, Texas. Find out more about BlueAvocado’s thoughtful solutions for a greener, simpler life at BlueAvocado.com.

About BuildASign.com
BuildASign.com is a leading online custom printing provider of signage and home decor items. Products include signs, canvas, apparel, business cards, car wraps and more. Founded in 2005, the Austin, Texas-based company now operates over 40 websites with operations in four countries. Through the BuilASign.com Giving Program, the company has contributed more than $800,000 to over 1,700 local and national nonprofit organizations. It has also received national recognition for its donation of more than 325,000 Welcome Home banners (valued at more than $9.5 million) to the friends and families of military service members returning home from a deployment. To learn more visit BuildASign.com.

About Open Arms
Open Arms is a social enterprise committed to empowering women through employment. It is a humanitarian manufacturing company based in Austin, TX, providing living wage employment, ESL classes, and a family-friendly work schedule to refugee women who have been resettled in Austin. The vision is to give refugee women who have lived a life of extreme oppression the opportunity to tell a new story of dignity and self-sufficiency by facilitating their adjustment to America and breaking the cycle of poverty. In addition to their own brand, Open Arms offers other socially conscious companies the opportunity to partner with Open Arms to add the value of USA-made manufacturing to their brand. www.theopenarmsshop.com

For more information, visit www.blueavocado.com/bannerbags. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.

BlueAvocado

BlueAvocado

Started in Austin Texas in 2008, the company has maintained the vision of its founders, Melissa Nathan, Paige Davis and Amy George. The original vision of these three women was inspired by the then nascent movement to ban plastic bags and to raise consumer consciousness around disposable lifestyle to a more mindful, conscious focused on re-use. The company's first product was a reusable shopping kit that eliminated 1000 plastic bags from a customers' routine annually, and fit neatly in a car. Since inception, BlueAvocado's mission has been to create affordable, durable products backed by stylish and thoughtful designs. Every BlueAvocado product has an impact label showing the waste avoided or upcycled with each use. To inspire new market segments to reduce waste, the company continues to partner with top celebrity designers including Lauren Conrad and Ross Bennett. Find out more about BlueAvocado’s mission to “smile more and waste less” at BlueAvocado.com.

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