A Fair Trade Journey, The Biborton Handmade paper project

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Entering Biborton Hand made Paper Project in Barisal in south western Bangladesh was like walking into some form of abstract art gallery. As we passed the beautiful little red rose garden, beside the water pond, an array of red, yellow and white "art forms" were shining on the green lawn in the suns brilliance. The "art gallery" was row on row of handmade paper secured in wooden frames drying naturally with the heat from the sun.
Biborton Handmade Paper Project commenced in 1993. M.C.C. ( the products are purchased from Prokritee) developed the technology to make hand made paper in response to the need for job creation in Bangladesh.
Twelve producers were originally employed in 1993. They were home based.Today there are 75 full time producers and 62 seasonal producers( depending on product demand).There are also 12 management staff. The focus for the producers employed at Biborton are women who are heads of their households, have low or no income and are landless.

As we walked around the complex, it felt like going back in time, going back to the grassroots of paper production. The different processes were explained to us, no high technology here! Big black vats soak the pulp for approximately three and a half hours before being boiled. The waste from the sawmill is used to furnace the fires. Two ladies were using dangerous looking sickles to hand cut the jute fibre. One lady was even standing in a large vat up to her waist filled with water and jute pulp. She was "mashing"it with her feet. However when the wet season arrives, the paper is dried mechanically instead of in the sun.
The Biborton project specializes in the making of paper from the water hyacinth plant( the stem is used) This plant which is not native to Bangladesh is causing immense problems destructively clogging the waterways and ponds. The river beside where we were staying was clogged in parts with water hyacinth plants. A small boat was struggling to move through it. Making paper is a creative response to a difficult environmental problem. Although specializing in paper made from the water hyacinth plant, paper and paper products such as journals, gift boxes and Christmas decorations are also made from jute, cotton and bamboo silk.
This producer group has received regular orders for several years and so thankfully the women have had regular work. Profit sharing is also divided between the producers.Whilst we were there they were making paper which will be heading for Australia!
The women walk to and from their villages daily to the Biborton project. Some people have seen this opportunity and set up small retail businesses, called dokans beside the road/ pathway. Well women do love to shop even if it is only to purchase a small snack to eat!