Jessica Clark is the founder of Earth Worthy, a socially conscious enterprise that sells ethically crafted goods, including compostable jute bags created by former garment trade workers in Bangladesh.
Tell us a bit about yourself. What do you do?
Earth Worthy is a social enterprise and is part of the solution to provide safe, fair and flexible employment opportunities for former garment workers who made our bags.
Our blankets, throws and PLONK cushions are made by traditional artisans in rural Bangladesh. We celebrate their craft on traditional handlooms so that they can maintain their communities and not move into the city for factory work. Our bags are made from jute, one of the most sustainable fibres on the planet.
Jute has a short growth cycle before harvest, it requires a fraction of the water of cotton, little to no pesticides and leaves the soil in which it grows more enriched.
At the time there were still so many single-use plastic bags in circulation and we wanted to offer a jute alternative. It was a no-brainer to make a bag that was sturdy, but could eventually compost back into the earth in a full circular lifecycle, unlike plastic bags – where every plastic product ever made still exists on earth today!
The organisation we partner with in Bangladesh currently employ 15 people, the team has doubled since our first order in 2020. They are a fellow social enterprise and established their organisation for the rights of the worker.
Why did you start this business?
I lived and worked in Bangladesh in 2014/2015, a year after the Rana Plaza garment plaza factory collapse, where 1134 were killed and over 3000 injured. It was horrific and one of the largest factory collapses in history.
I was working in environmental advocacy. Being able to work and connect with organisations making a difference sparked thinking of how we could further build connections between Australia and Bangladesh, where many of the products we purchase here in Australia are made.
It is so hard to understand where the goods we purchase are made these days, who makes them and how they are treated. Also to understand what impact this has on the environment. Earth Worthy was an opportunity to build these connections and bring people in Australia closer to how products are made and who makes them, while also embracing celebrating traditional crafts and artisan talents.
The actual concept of Earth Worthy came about in 2019. The plastic bag ban was coming into effect in Australian supermarkets, but rather than removing plastic bags, thicker, more heavy duty plastic bags were sold, adding further to the plastic problem and often not being reused. Even the reusable green woven bags were made from plastic.
We will continue to make a significant impact on people and the planet by giving people genuine and local options for ethical and earth-friendly products in Bangladesh by providing further employment opportunities.
The team in Bangladesh has doubled in size since we’ve first begun. We want to continue to grow this team and create more safe and fair employment opportunities. We’ve found a great way to do this alongside our homewares range is through custom orders. We have already partnered with amazing local businesses, including Glenbernie Orchard, Easy Agile and Miller’s Local Bakehouse to create branded merch. They can be shopped, used for events, given to staff etc.
Who has helped you?
We could not have been where we are with Earth Worthy without the incredible support from our community.
Local businesses including Miller's Bakehouse, Easy Agile and Glenbernie Orchard have been wonderful customers of our custom-branded merchandise. Friends and family have helped out at markets and events, shopped our products and shared Earth Worthy on social media. Woonona Post Office nominated us for Local Business Hero in 2023 and we won!
Visit Earth Worthy at www.earthworthy.co and shop locally at Thirroul + Co and at ArtLock in Wollongong. For custom orders, email Jess at hello@earthworthy.co
