ROPE

Though the Erode District of Tamil Nadu, India, is well known for its production of refined sugar cane and other agricultural products, ROPE supports artisans who recycle the byproducts of these popular industries. At ROPE, they make everything by hand, spinning banana leaves and natural fibers on looms into beautiful placemats and functional tabletop pieces. Through responsible production, ROPE employs thousands of workers, successfully addressing the underemployment that is so common in rural India while reducing the amount of waste made from local industries.