Information Pack

v.3

Company Information Company History

Jutexpo was founded in 2002. Barrie Turner, CEO, identified an opportunity to provide a practical solution to companies and consumers who wanted an ecological alternative to a plastic bag. Years spent in India working closely with the jute industry had developed strong relationships with the mills, and gave the CEO an established supply route from which to grow the business. Jutexpo is a company run for profit, but ethical and environmental concerns are at the heart of our operations.

Our responsibilities

Jutexpo is committed to the development of products and services that further the creation of an ecologically sustainable future. We are regularly independently audited and we expect all of our suppliers to support and uphold those beliefs. Our range of products is manufactured in West Bengal, India, the centre of the world's jute production. 5000 employees work at the factory in a vertical production process that guarantees the quality of the product and the principles by which the process takes place. The Jute industry employs millions of farmers throughout the Indian sub continent and over 400,000 adult workers in the West Bengal Jute Mills.

Our principles

Jutexpo recognises its responsibilities to workers for the conditions under which its products or services are made, and that these responsibilities extend to all workers producing products or services for Jutexpo whether or not they are employees of Jutexpo. Jutexpo requires its contractors, sub-contractors, principal suppliers and licensees to provide these conditions and observe these standards when producing or distributing products or components of products for Jutexpo.

Company Details Jutexpo Limited Orchard House, Evesham Road, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7HU, United Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0) 1386 834777 Fax: +44 (0) 1386 834888 Email: [email protected] Web: www.jutexpo.com Incorporated in England and Wales Company number: 4346277 VAT number: 784 0877 88

www.jutexpo.com

tel: +44 (0) 1386 834777

[email protected]

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Ethical Information We take our ethical responsibilities very seriously, as it is the key part of the integrity of our bag. Our factories are subject to a regular (every 6-12 months), independent audits, that cover both ethical and technical issues. These audits have notably been on behalf of Boots, Waitrose and Tesco but have a behalf for our customers.

The most recent/comprehensive audit was done in August 2008 by Intertek, an internationally recognised auditor (www.intertek.com).

These audits are loaded onto Sedex (www.sedex.com), a system that allows it’s members (many major retailers) to access any site information, any audits and any other supplier information. This is an invite only service, as users must be registered as a member on Sedex.

We offset our carbon emissions with Climate Care. (www.jpmorganclimatecare.com) These emissions are calculated quarterly based on average figures for the transportation and manufacting of the jute and the bags. Climate Care offsets carbon emissions by funding projects. These involve: • Renewable energy – this replaces non-renewable fuel such as coal • Energy efficiency – this reduces the amount of fuel needed • Forest restoration – this absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere as the trees grow For example,

100,000 bags

32 Tones of Co2 370 Double-Decker Buses 16,290,909 Liters of Co2 671,446 Boiling kettles of energy saved 2,250,676 Balloons of Co2 2,124 Years of TV on standby 8 Hot Air balloons of C02

Ethical Junction

We are a member of Ethical Junction (http://www.ethical-junction.org), a collective of ethical traders. This is a search engine that initially searches within its’ database of companies that have been certified (by themselves) as ethical traders.

Sustainability

Organic Jute has been grown in conversion, our first trial crop (a modest amount) has recently been harvested, Although Jute is grown in the organic ideals (it is grown in a crop rotation system, pesticides aren’t used, and it is GM free, it isn’t certified organic. Jute is natural and therefore biodegradable; however if the bags are lined, the lining is only degradable.

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Ethical Information Climate Care is involved with is installing treadle pumps in India. Many families in the state of Jharkhand in India depend on agriculture for their livelihood and irrigation is vital to ensure an income all year round. The treadle pump is a simple device using human power to pump water from wells, streams and lakes up to the fields. Treadle pump usage also means less migration for work so that fathers are not away for long periods - according to Acumen some families were separated for up to 7 months of the year. The impact of treadle pumps on the welfare of children was also studied and found 100% of households in Uttar Pradesh had changed their diet since installing the treadle pump, by eating green leafy vegetables, 83% of households were able to add milk to their diet on account of being able to afford to buy livestock. The pump is simple to install, operate and maintain and addresses the gap between demand for irrigation services and the ability of poorly paid farmers to purchase these services. Owning a pump gives the farmer greater independence and means he is better equipped to tend to his crops. This is an appropriate technology which farmers choose to invest in. More than 95% of Ugandans rely on wood or charcoal as fuel for cooking. The most common stoves are inefficient and use large amounts of fuel. Greenhouse gas emissions are released into the atmosphere during wood burning in the kitchen, and during charcoal production. Indoor use of such stoves is common and the release of dangerous particles is a serious health threat. UN studies show that worldwide indoor air pollution from cooking stoves causes around 1.5 million premature deaths each year and also causes debilitating illness for tens of millions more. The Uganda Stoves Project supports the sale of efficient charcoal and wood burning stoves throughout the country. These stoves use less fuel wood, saving families time and money, and reducing deforestation. The project has created jobs in manufacturing, retail and after-sales service for locals too. “Beforehand, we cooked the food on an open fire using stone stands and the room would be black with smoke. The new stoves have improved my life because I no longer have to work in a dirty environment. The new stoves are taller too, which means that I don’t have to crouch down and damage my back.” Sarah Nakabuyo Naloongo, Cook, Kibuye Primary School Photo by: Sue O’Connor

“Before the new stoves, we used to have to buy in three lorry loads of wood at 300,000 Ugandan Shillings a load. Now we only need half the wood – saving us 900,000 Ugandan Shillings a year [equivalent to $600]. We now have extra money to support the poorer children, many of whom can’t afford to pay for their school lunch.” Charles Tamale, Head Teacher. Kibuye Primary School, Kampala Photo by: Sue O’Connor

The project aims to install 20,000 household stoves per year in the initial years, with the intention of increasing the sales figures in later years. Each stove will have an average lifespan of 3 years, and save approximately 1 tonne of CO2 per year. An additional programme provides larger stoves for institutions and schools, each saving around 30 tonnes of CO2 per year.

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tel: +44 (0) 1386 834777

[email protected]

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The ETI Base Code The ETI Base Code

We adhere to the ETI Base Code. This is an internationally recognised standard that all major retailers have signed up to. The provisions of this code constitute minimum standards, which we always strive to exceed. For more information, please visit http://www.ethicaltrade.org/Z/home/index.shtml

1.

EMPLOYMENT IS FREELY CHOSEN

2.

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND THE RIGHT TO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ARE RESPECTED

3.

WORKING CONDITIONS ARE SAFE AND HYGIENIC

4.

CHILD LABOUR SHALL NOT BE USED

5.

LIVING WAGES ARE PAID

6.

WORKING HOURS ARE NOT EXCESSIVE

7.

NO DISCRIMINATION IS PRACTISED

8.

REGULAR EMPLOYMENT IS PROVIDED

9.

NO HARSH OR INHUMANE TREATMENT IS ALLOWED

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Product Information What is Jute?

Jute is a natural fibre, and like all natural fibres jute is totally biodegradable. The fibre grows the entire length of the plant stalk from roots to tip. Jute is grown on thousands of small family owned plots where the annual crop is sown in the hot dry spring of March until the end of May before the summer monsoon rains begin in June. Growth over four to six months can reach heights of 10 – 15ft / 3 – 4.5m. Harvested from July to October while in flower, the long reed like stalks are cut by hand, gathered into bundles and left to dry to let the leaves be stripped off easily. The fibre are extracted from the core by hand. The extracted fibres are then rinsed in water and hung up to dry on bamboo rails, before being rolled into bundles, and taken to the local market to be sold.

Jute Products

Traditionally the main types of jute cloth were • Hessian • sacking • bagging • tarpaulin Jute’s best known use is sacking, jute cloth is strong, durable, biodegradable, and inexpensive. Jute sacks and bags have carried goods from grain to letters, all over the world. Countless jute sandbags are used worldwide. Jute fabric is used for the • backing of carpets • upholstery lining • ventilated coal mines • encased underground cables Jute is often the hidden component of many goods. Agricultural, industry, transport and shipping, homes and offices, clothing, fashion accessories, footwear, luggage and bags, furnishings, building and technical applications.

Jute History

Raw jute fibre was first imported into Britain in 1791 by the East Indian Company, looking for new markets for its products. Jute was first spun successfully around 1832. From the 1840’s, growth in world trade meant an ever increasing demand for jute products, especially sacking. Dundee was an established trading and whaling port by the early 19th century. The import of raw jute from India and the export of jute products world-wide developed from this. The Dundee foundries by now had developed machinery for the production of jute, and exported the machines to India. A jute production had now been created in India; personnel with experience were leaving Dundee and setting up factories in West Bengal. Following this move the jute production in Dundee went into decline and has never recovered. India now produces over 50% of the world wide consumption.

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Technical Information The Bag

Our standard bags are made with the following components • Front Panel • Back Panel • Gusset (This provides the Sides and Bottom) • Handle However, any bag style can be made with Jute, as Jute is very versatile.

Fabric

It is woven on traditional style looms, and the weave can be done with different specifications. These specifications refer to the number of weaves per inch, the higher the number the tighter the weave • 13/13 – 13 strands by 13 strands • 14/15 • 17/17 • Juco – 75% Jute, 25% Cotton

Colours/Dying

The natural colour of Jute is very similar to a digestive biscuit, a light brown colour. In addition, Jute can by dyed into any colour, but is available in a stock range of colours Lining Our bags can be lined with a variety of different linings • No lining – Biodegradable • Laminated with Food Grade LDPE, splash resistant, wipe clean • Muslin Lined • Other fabrics, eg Fleece etc.

Printing Inks

The inks used are water based AZO free pigments. These can be matched to any pantone within reason, but it must be noted, that due to the natural properties of Jute, there can be some minor colour variation.

Stitching

Polyester is used in the stitching for strength.

Handles

The handles can be made of a number of different styles • Cotton webbing, filled with rope • Drawstring • Flat cotton webbing handle • Rope (with eyelets)

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Manufacturing Process Fabric ARRIVAL

Jute is grown on many farms. These are often small, and join with other farms to form a co-operative. The jute arrives in bales.

SELECTION/ BATCHING

As jute grown in different areas varies in strength, colour and fineness, the first step in preparing the fibre is "batching", consisting of blending the various fibres to obtain uniformity in strength and colour to give the precise quality of yarn for spinning. This involves the opening of various qualities of bales. These are then examined, sorted and mixed to form various batches.

SOFTENING

In the first mechanical operation in the mill, the jute is fed into a softener in which the jute, treated with an emulsion and water, passes between sets of heavy spiral fluted rollers. This process renders the fibre thoroughly pliant and removes any barky portions adhering to the fibre. The piled jute is cut in order to remove the roots.

CARDING

The fibres are then carded in machines, known as breaker cards and finisher cards, which reduces the average length of the fibres’ by teasing and combing, and deliver them in the form of a long continuous ribbon, 5" or 6" in width, called sliver.

DRAWING

The carded jute is next fed into drawing machines in three stages, which draw out and attenuate the sliver. By means of a doubling process, it produces a smoother, more even sliver. However, in case of sacking weft, the passage through, drawing frame is only done twice i.e., through first and second drawing frames.

SPINNING

The last operation in the preparing department is spinning, a process which imparts a slight twist to the sliver and delivers the material on to bobbins in the form of rove, a loose yarn ready for spinning. The spinning machinery known as sliver spinning, an extra drawing operation delivers a crimped sliver, which can be fed direct to the sliver spinning form. Spinning frames convert the rove to finished yarn.

BEAMING

After spinning, the yarns are wound into the form required - spools for warp yarn and cops for weft yarn - for subsequent processing. Jute yarn is processed much like other textile fibres, the yarn itself being dressed (i.e., sized or starched), before being passed on to the warp beam ready for weaving.

WEAVING

Jute fabrics are of simple construction and are woven on a variety of looms. Woven fabrics are inspected, damped and calendared to produce the desired smoothness of finish.

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Manufacturing Process

(cont’)

Bags LAMINATION Once the fabric is woven, if required, it’s sent for lamination. The entire roll is laminated with a LDPE lining. This is sent back to the factory, and put into stores. CUTTING

The cloth is laid out on large cutting boards, where a fabric saw is used to cut to the required size for each panel of the bag. Front, back, gussets, and the bottom are all cut, and bundled up ready for printing.

PRINTING

The panels are printed on prior to sewing. They are printed using a traditional screen print process. The inks are water-based, azo free pigments.

SEWING

Once the panels are all complete, the bags are assembled. Firstly the handles are assembled, and then attached to the panels which are all sewn by machine. They are then quality checked and sent for packing.

PACKING

The bags are packed in cartons, which can be to customer requirements, but usually in boxes of 40-50, depending on the size of the bag. Carton labels are put on the bags

DISTRIBUTION

Bags can be distributed via air or sea. Sea - They are put into 40 foot containers, which are put onto a feeder vessel at Kolkata, which then goes into the mother vessel at Colombo. Air - They are put onto a cargo plane at Kolkata, and arrive in Heathrow.



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tel: +44 (0) 1386 834777

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Logistics Production Capacity

Our factories in Kolkata, India are the country’s largest producer of jute bags. During 2007 alone we delivered 7 million jute bags to over 1,000 companies. Last year we delivered our 10 millionth jute bag in 5 years.

Distribution

We have our own fully Bonded Warehouse in Felixstowe Our Warehouse can hold stock, subject to agreed limits for customer drawdown facility In some cases, bags can be air freighted in to avoid shipping time Full UK delivery network Cartons are packaged as per customer requirements, palletised, carton labels etc.

FOB and CIF

We can also offer alternative delivery methods depending on the requirements of the customer.

Support Creative Support

Over 5 years experience has given us extensive knowledge of what designs work with our product. We can do designs in house, or we can also offer the services a design agency that we’ve worked with. Understanding the bag is integral to creating a design that works well.

Merchandising Support

Jutexpo can offer support to the customer depending on their requirements.

Point of Sale

We can offer a variety of point of sale support, some examples are below • Shippers • A-Frame Posters • Leaflets • In-store Advertising • Posters/Flyers • Targeted Staff support

Promotions

Jutexpo can support the customer in promotions, again some examples are listed below • Promotional Material • Incentives

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Ideas Below are some ideas on how Jute bags can be merchandised.

Retailers Bag for Life

Offer the Jute bag as part of a bag for life range. The aim for these ranges is to reduce Plastic Bag usage, and therefore the cost of giving away the plastic bags. The bags are sold at a competitive price that is low margin. The cost savings come as part of a reverse profit centre, from the savings of the giveaway bags. A well organised strategy can reduce giveaway plastic costs by around 25%. This model is well suited to regular repeat customers.

Spend £x and get bag free (or discounted)

One alternative is to offer the bag free with £xx purchase. Making the £xx purchase higher than the average in-store spend, can help cover the cost.

Part of a ‘Green’ launch

Our bags can be used to help a more widespread launch. This involves using the bags as a message product, with a consistent message

High End Brand Design

Another alternative approach is to deliver a more desirable designed bag. This needs to uses the strength of the brand to sell the product. This is a lifestyle sale.

Dual Branding

Often this can be with a chosen charity. The branding of the bag is both retailer and charity, but the bags are sold to cover the retailer’s cost, with the remaining profit to support the charity

Conference Bag

We have ideal bags for conferences, e.g. manager conferences, retail conferences.

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Ideas Drinks Retailer

Wine-bottle bags are an excellent encouragement to multi sale purchases. Similar to cardboard holder model, however, the jute bag provides a more persistent message for the retailer. Buy 6 bottles, get 6-bottle wine bag free. 1 bottle wine carrier can be an impulse purchase.

Franchised Chain

Often group buying is centralised, with franchisees ordering stock from central purchasing. Jutexpo offer the service to approach each store/franchise directly to educate/inform/administer sales. This helps the uptake of sales, along with offering a personal service for both the store and the central group.

Department Stores Combining multiple in-store messages Department stores often have many smaller labels/departments within their stores. One solution is to combine the labels/departments into one message, or to have a bag that covers all labels. Basket replacement A large bag can replace a trolley/basket. This can also be purchased along with goods, if goods exceed £x, bag is free/discounted.

Coffee Shops Sandwich/Meal Deal Bag Combining the bag with a larger promotion regarding multi purchases can increase sales. Coffee Cup Holder Using a similar model to the previous idea, a smaller bag is ideal for a 4-cup holder, more convenient and comfortable than a cardboard carrier. This is a potential profit centre.

Mobile Phone Retailers

As part of wider campaign, all phones sold in heavily branded bag. Costs can be offset by dual branding with handset manufacturer.

DIY/Garden Centres Heavy Duty Jute is hard wearing and heavy duty. A larger bag would be ideal for transporting larger goods items. Garden Tip Bag We have a garden tip bag, ideal for dealing with garden waste. This product has been very popular with councils across the UK. Packaging for Garden Products Specific sized bags can be used for carrying plants of all sizes. If linked in with multibuy, 12 plants for £10.

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In the Community INKBERROW EAGLES We are flying high after becoming the sponsors of Inkberrow Eagles under 12s team who compete in the Midland Junior Premier Football League. Barrie Turner CEO, said: “It’s great to lend our support and assist community projects such as Inkberrow FC. As well as having fun, football teaches the boys the importance of working together as a team. We wish them every success for the rest of the season.”

DEBEN JUTES We have sponsored the Deben Jutes basketball team now just under two years and this year they won the Suffolk Under 16s League Play-off Final. We are continuing to sponsor them and wish them good luck for the forth coming season.

GARDEN AWARDS 2008 This year we were very fortunate to be asked by Archant Life, publishers of the Worcestershire Life Magazine, to sponsor and judge the Primary School enteries in the Wildlife Garden of the Year category. Vikki Roberts and Peter Saunders were sent out from the office to Judge the final three Schools and chose Dodford First School as the overall winner for their wildlife and vegetable garden. We look forward to being involved next year.

AFRICAN HOUSE STORY We have been working with Jeremy Brown, Relationship Manager for Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking with his latest project to help children in South Africa who’s parents have died from the Aids virus. We produced and donated Jute bags from which all profits went towards the orphan housing projects in South Africa.

www.jutexpo.com

tel: +44 (0) 1386 834777

[email protected]

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